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Poles Ltd
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Poles Limited
98 Park Lane, W1
England
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Sectional steel lighting columns were first introduced in 1936. - Public Lighting #54
This new pole is made up of tapering steel sections which can be packed inside one another for transport
(twenty 35-ft. poles can go on a 30-cwt. truck with no overhang) and which are laid out loosely on the site
and strained together by a tightening wire, hangers and cross-arms being added where necessary. Elliptical sections
are used to reduce wind resistance, the major axis being at right angles to the run of the power line. - Advert 1938
16 different designs were available in 1938. - Advert 1938
The Adastra Pole is manufactured from high quality steel, and built up of tapered
elliptical or circular sections. The sections overlap when assembled, and are drawn tightly
together by means of cable and winch straining gear, thus forming a strong friction joint.
When nested, the sections occupy a minimum of space. Transport charges are accordingly greatly
reduced and portability much facilited. The cross-arms and brackets have tapered sleeves.
Erection is very simple, reducing labour costs to an absolute minimum. By virtue of its design
and the protection afforded by galvanising, maintenance costs are negligible. Precast stone
bases of very attractive design can be supplied if ornamentation is considered desirable
and for abnormal soil conditions a concrete plinth may be cast round the pole in-situ - APLE Conference Programme 1939
The firm mention that they have made efforts to achieve the ideas put forward by the Royal Arts Commission
which were simplicity, efficiency and refinement - but they don't actually state that their designs were approved! Columns
were manufactured from tapered hexagonal, elliptical or circular sections. The sections overlap
when assembled and are drawn together using straining gear, thus forming a strong friction joint. Sections only
occupy a small space during transportation, aiding costs. Cross arms and brackets have tapered sleeves. There is
accommodation in the base for auxiliary apparatus such as chokes, condensers etc. Cast bases of attractive design can
be supplied if desired. - APLE Conference Programme 1945
The "Adastra" construction and finish has been used throughout the war by all three Services as the standard
equipment for aerial masts. - Public Lighting #38, 1945
In addition to small-scale models, there is a display of photographs of 16 standard type of column suitable for Group "A" and Group "B"
lighting and for supporting ornamental lanterns. Components such as standard bracket arms in galvanized steel and spigot adaptors in cast
aluminium alloy will be on view, together with a ful sized base section with inspection door and detachable slotted steel instrumental pabel
fixed inside the column. Galvanized stel had withstood the rigours of the war-years without noticeable corrosion effects,
fully justifying the foresight of those engineers who had installed Adastra. columns. Special
mention has been made in the saving of maintenance cost effected by the use of these columns. The pleasing
appearance of the column is expressed in the perfect proportion of taper and elimination
of superfluous ornamentation. Two types of column are produced: Circular and Hexagonal. - APLE Conference Programme 1946
Standards of a design pleasing in appearance, strong yet light in weight, with an assurance of lasting protection
in the finish provided by hot spelter galvanising. These features combined, produce a column durable in service,
easy to erect, economical to maintain, and low in first cost. The columns are assembled from tapering steel sections
of circular or hexagonal form. The sections overlap in assembly, forming a strong friction joint. For storage or transport the
sections are nested one inside another, and complete column occupies only the space of its largest section. Two
classes of column are produced: Hexagonal and Circular. Both classes cover the 25ft. and 15ft. mounting heights.
The standard outreaches of the tapering bracket are 3ft. 0in., 4ft. 6in. and 6ft. 0in. for 25ft. mounting height. Tubular
arms braced by tie rods are recommended for outreaches above 6ft. 0in. All columns can be equipped with inspection
doors and an adjustable slotted steel instrument panel suitable for the accommodation of gaseous discharge lighting
auxiliaries and control apparatus inside the base section. Small fittings, including spigot adaptors, finials and
base collars have been redesigned to utilise a light alloy for their production, resulting in a considerable reduction
in weight. A concrete base plinth is easily csat onto the columns at ground level, steel shuttering in sizes
to suit the various types is supplied specially for this purpose. - APLE Conference Programme 1947
Columns were available in elliptical, hexagonal and circular cross-sections. By 1947, only the hexagonal and circular
versions were being exhibited. The columns were equipped with inspection doors and an adjustable slotted steel instrument panel suitable for the
accommodation of gaseous discharge lighting auxiliaries and control apparatus is fitted inside the the base section.
Small fittings, including spigot adaptors, finials and base collars have been redesigned to utilise a light alloy for their production,
resulting in a considerable reduction in weight. - Public Lighting #47
Designs are available in hexagonal and circular sections. Adequate accommodation is provided for auxiliary equipment in
the base of the column with inspection door and slotted steel instrument panel. The
columns are strong yet light in weight and all sections for one column nest into the space occupied by the
largest section. Convenience in transportation plus ease in erection are factors which influence an ever
increasing number of users i.e. the weight of the circular column for 25 foot mounting height is just under
2 cwts. and nests into a space 79-in. long x 11¼-in. diameter. The basic finish of all columns is
hot spelter galvanizing. The heavy coating of zinc provided by this finish is recognised as the
proved method of protecting steelwork in all climates and has stood the test of time in inland and
coastal atmospheres. - APLE Conference Programme 1948
These columns were introduced about thirteen years ago. They are
very popular in the export market. The column is made up of a number of tubular steel sections
of varying sizes which all taper in the form of a truncated cone.
These sections, for transport or storage, nest one inside the another so that a complete pole occupies
the space of the largest section.
The pole is assembled by laying out out the sections on the
ground and entering the small end of one section into the large end of the section above it.
There is a special winch for straining sections together and this is most often used for
assembly. Occasionally where small quantities of poles are involved, sections are driven
one onto another using a sledge-hammer, commencing with the largest section and protecting
the ends by means of pieces of timber.
Bracket arms, designed in conformity with the tapering lines of poles, are provided
with tapering sleeves which enable them to be fitted without the use of bolts. The tapering fit,
ensuring a rigid joint, is almost imperceptible after assembly.
There are two basic types of column available for 25ft. mounting height. One employs circular
sections in its construction whilst the other uses hexagonal sections. Circular and hexagonal
columns for 15ft. mounting height can be used with swan-necks or provided with a spigot
cap when post-top lanterns are used.
Inspection doors are provided where required near the base of the pole as standard items.
25ft. circular and hexagonal columns<
The tapering design permits considerable economies to be effected in the weight of
steel used. The grading of the thickness of sections also contributes to a saving in weight.
The result of this is that a column of far lighter weight than any other steel or concrete
design of equivalent strength is produced. The tapering feature produces a base which is naturally
of sufficient dimensions on the 25ft. mounting height to accommodate all standard types
of apparatus inside the pole without the necessity for special cast-iron base fittings.
The weight of the circular column suitable for 25ft. mounting height complete with 4ft. 6in.
outreach arm is only 205lbs. The deflection of this column with a lantern weighing 50lbs.
would only be ¾in.
15ft. circular column with swan neck (and base compartment on the right)
The columns has low weight and low-nested volume; the advantages of which are low
transportation costs, low handling charges, compact storage facilities and low erection costs.
In many instances, it has been said that the weight of these sectional steel columns is
no greater than the weight of reinforcement used in concrete columns.
15ft. hexagonal column with swan neck (and base compartment on the right)
The finish is hot spelter galvanising in which the steel sections are pickled in acid to
remove the scale and then completely immersed in a bath of molten zinc. Upon removal
and cooling, the sections are thus heavily coated both inside and outside and enabled to
withstand the rigours of all climates far better than any painted steel structure. When
galvanised, the columns do not readily take paint owning to the absence of keying on the
smooth surface, but after weathering for six or twelve months then there's no difficulty
in painting. Alternatively, solutions are available which will etch the surface so that
it forms a good base for painting.
The columns are available for home and export market, but in the case of the home market,
the manufacturers require an authorisation to cover the amount of steel necessary for fabricating any
particular order. - Public Lighting #54
Are exhibiting a large number of columns at the conference. The above columns are all hot spelter galvanised after manufacture
which is the standard finish for all Adastra columns. The durability ensured by the heavy coating provides
a vastly extended life factor over any other practicable form of protection. The columns are provided with all the usual
facilities for accommodation of apparatus such as access doors in the base and bracket arms or top fittings to accomodate
any type of lantern. - APLE Conference Programme 1949
References:
APLE Conference Programme Glasgow 1939
APLE Conference Programme Glasgow 1945
APLE Conference Programme London 1946
APLE Conference Programme Southport 1947
APLE Conference Programme Eastbourne 1948
APLE Conference Programme Llandudno 1949
- External Links:
- Grace's Guide
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