In 1946, the 8000 lamp is shown with two distinct forms of mounting. In one case it constitutes the ideal conversion unit for bringing old gas installations up to date at the lowest possible cost. With the new Sugg C.U. concrete bracket ('G') and column it provides a completely modern lighting unit, suitable for new housing schemes. The clean outline of this design will appeal to all as a great improvement in appearance. The high efficiency of the lighting unit is already well known, and some detail improvements recently made have reduced maintenance costs still further. Also, the burners were given a "streamlined interior" which gave 240 lumens per cubic foot of gas per hour (as compared to 220/230).

It is built up on a one-piece light alloy casting approximately 1/8" thick. The burner can be entirely cleaned internally without major dismantling and can be put back into lighting without even a fractional change in its adjustment. The 5½ square feet of glass of the traditional lantern is replaced by a small heat-resisting globe completely detachable for cleaning. The reflectors, of a well-known type, do not tend to collect dirt and are readily restored to their new condition by wiping, having a smooth-glass-surface and being very rigidly mounted.

The unit shown at Southport Corporation Gas Department, and by arrangement with the South Metropolitan Gas Company was fitted with the low-pressure 'Supervia' strip mantle. It will also be available fitted with ordinary medium mantles in cluster formation. Separate supplies are taken to each of the two burners from the dual supply Horstmann Controller. This permits the reduction of power of the lamps by 50% at midnight if required.

A modern form of light distribution designed to give even road surface brightness and good visibility without excessive glare is produced by the specially designed Holophane refractor plates which have oval prisms of graduated shape. These give a lateral spread to the light distribution whihc is valuable in lighting curved roads or open spaces.

The refractors are smooth on one side and the prismatic surfces are protected by smooth cover glasses to facilitate cleaning. The burners used are of the dual injector "Aeromatic" type which render them completely stable in operation under all normal circumstances - it completely eliminates the possibility of back-firing to the ejector.

After the war, the question of renewals became an urgent priorty. Southport required something special in the direction of street lighting for more important thoroughfares. Various manufacturers were approached by the Gas Department and one company was found (Sugg) which was engaged on the development (in conjunction with Holophane) of a panel refractor lantern or radically new design and attractive appearance. After considerable modification and introduction of special features suggested by the Southport Corporation Gas Department, new Group A and Group B units were evolved, subjected to extensive trials, and it is now known as the Southport Lamp. Detailed consideration was given to the particular requirements i.e. intensity of lighting, mounting and control facilities, and the idea was originated of mounting the new lamp in double units, clamped directly onto the horizontal bracket arms and with a control mechanism housed on the column end of the unit. Thsi form of mounting provided the most flexible design for varying degrees of overhang, particularly essential for use in tree-lined roads, and provided a standard self-contained lighting unit requiring only the connection of a gas supply to the bracket arm, there being no accessories within the column base.

Meanwhile with the assistance of the South Metropolitan Gas Company, a number of small lighting units of the Supervia type were installed at 15ft. mounting heights on the swan necks fitted to existing columns in certain streets. These lamps used the well-known Supervia strip-mantles in conjunction with the Holophane refracting dish and were an immediate success. It was therefore decided to adopt this type of burner in conjunction with the Southport Lamp and encouragement being received from the South Metropolitan Gas Company in this project, it was successfully carried out. Six mantles, three to each burner of the lamp, were fitted.

The basic design of the unit being therefore evolved, various refinements were incorporated by the makers to facilitate maintenance. The burner equipment was arranged to be removeable by slakening one union only. The prismatic surfaces of the refractor were protected by cover glasses so that smooth surfaces only were presented for cleaning, and some features were included to ensure satisfactory operation under exceptionally cold weather conditions and to provide excellent access to all components.

The polar distribution curve of the lamp shows a distribution peak of 4,500 candle power at an angle of 10° below horizontal; that the candle power above 80° runs back sharply to reduce glare effects and very little light is emitted above the horizontal. The polar curve below the angle of peak power is modified by graduation of the prisms in the refractors, and near to the lamp, the prismatic bottom glasses take over the distribution duties gradually from the main Holophane refractor plates in the doors. Adequate lateral spread of the light is ensured by the oval refractor prisms and the linear shape of the source employed. The ends of the lamp are glazed with fluted glass and the different is such that no direct view of the source is obtainable from street level.

A keynote of the design is simplicity of construction and maintenance.

Entirely of post-war design and will shortly be available (1946).

Was eventually designed with two units (for a Southport Group A) and a single unit (for a Southport Group B). See SouthPort (Group A) for more information about the design of the lantern post 1946.

In 1948, this single unit was being described as having similar features to the double-unit (see above). The main differences being in the number of mantles employed and in certain simplification in construction which is permissible when the unit is used at a lower mounting height. Provides lighting to the higher limits of Group 'B'.