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publications | books
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the roadmaker's library volume 12: street lighting
waldram
Edward Arnold 1952
In this volume, Waldram's succinctly sums up every aspect of street lighting theory, thought and practise. From
the laws behind light, perspective, reflection and refraction, he expands on the aims and practise of street lighting itself and includes
chapters on every aspect of the subject.
Although written in the early 1950s, and before the British Standard Specification CP:1004, Waldram's book
describes many of the theories and practises which would be continued for many years. It's almost the foundation stone for many of the street
lighting practises of today.
Quite simply: any street lighting enthusiast should have a copy of this book.
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the theory and design of illuminating engineering equipment
jolley, waldram and wilson
Chapman And Hall 1930
Written by staff at the GEC, this large volume deals with all aspects of illuminating engineering
design starting with theory before exhaustively covering almost every aspect of the subject.
This excellent book gives a historical insight into the theory and design of street lighting equipment as the
scientific approaches developed in the 1920s are implemented and discussed. The precursors of the MA lamp (which
was three years away) are studied; Waldram has just started to describe what would become 'silhouette lighting';
the lighting distributions described don't last beyond the mid 1930s; and the British Standard Specification (BS:307) for
street lighting is partly reproduced - it was obsoleted several years later.
Whilst not as important as Waldram's 1952 publication, this book is extremely important as many
of the foundations for the future theory of street lighting have just been put in place.
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anatomy of a merger
robert jones & oliver marriott
Pan Books 1970
ISBN 0 330 23213 4
Written two years after the huge mergers which shook the British electrical manufacturing base in the late
1960s, this book details the assimilation of English Electric and Associated Electrical Industries (AEI) by
the General Electric Company (GEC).
The formation of the major players is documented, starting from the humble beginnings of many as lamp
producers. As the foundations are laid, the emergence of the GEC, British Thomson-Houston (BTH),
Metropolian Vickers (MV) and Siemens are covered. Through mergers, and overseas attempts of control (through
cartel manipulation and share purchasing by American giants General Electric (GE) and Westinghouse), the
fates of companies is examined and dissected.
Young upstarts, such as Philips, Thorn and Crompton also get brief mentions; and it’s interesting looking
back, at how they were completely underestimated even then.
So, if you were confused by the sheer number of manufacturers, and why several all seemed to make the
same thing, then this book is a must.
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the bigglestons of canterbury
the oaten hill and district society
published by thanet district council
ISBN 0 951 4891 5-1
This booklet (weighing in at 40 pages) covers the history of Bigglestons, a Canterbury firm who traded for 150
years in the centre of the city. Starting as purely a blacksmiths and foundry, the firm diversified hugely throughout its long life,
primarily being involved with metal working and casting, before switching to gardening machinery.
Lamp posts were part of the firm's staple work, and the Biggleston's columns can still be found around the city. However,
it was Haydn Harrison (a friend of one of the firm's long line of Biggleston directors) who hugely
increased its workload by commissioning the firm to produce his electric street lighting units; culminating in the hugely popular
Bi-Multi range introduced in 1927.
Street lighting is only a small part of the booklet's contents, which features pictures of the founders, the foundry itself, and various
examples of their output (from clocks through to bridges and cast iron posts and poles).
Produced by the Oaten Hill and District Society, copies were available around the city in local bookstores. However,
Albion Bookstop have long since sold out of their stock (and the website which is taking orders on their behalf is a very sore point
with them) and the society have since disbanded. I'll see if I can find any members of the society to see if they have any copies left,
or if they'll allow publication of it on the Internet.
Until then, the small sections about ESLA can be read here.
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