ELECO GR100 Lantern Installations
The 90W SOX/66W SOX-E variant of the Golden-Ray series by ELECO was the GR100. It was apparent along main roads, and in some areas still is. It was also sold under the Davis branding as the Davis GR100. It's canopy was made of diecast aluminium, with an acrylic bowl. Refractor strips were often added to the bowl to enhance light-output.
Lichfield Industrial Estate, Tamworth
The Eleco GR100 can be found dotted about Northern Tamworth. The following examples can be seen in Lichfield Industrial Estate. The first one is on Lagrange. You can see the 55 LUX photocell fitted to the top, made by Zodion.
A small amount of dirty water has started to collect in the bowl, maybe giving a sign that it's the beginning of the end for this lantern.
The lantern is mounted at 8m, on a Stanton and Staveley concrete column, with a short, curved outreach bracket.
The same lantern at night, lighting the junction with a golden glow...
More columns (also supporting GR100s) can be seen to the right of this image, which was taken on Gerard.
A close up of the first lantern shows the 90W SOX lamp slightly visible through the refractor on the bowl. Rather luckily, this lantern seems to have been shot at in a way which allows any excess water to drain.
A view of the second lantern reveals the bowl is in better condition than the last one.
Another example in the same area reveals it's fracturing concrete bracket.
Buckingham Road & Chartwell, Tamworth
More ELECO GR100s can be seen on and around Buckingham Road, Tamworth, within a variative mix of Philips MA90s, Philips SGS201s and Thorn Civic 2s.
The first example I photographed was column 14 of Chartwell. This one has a small amount of rust from the lamp-holder-holder in the bowl.
This is normal for these fixtures, although column 12 supports an Eleco GR100 with an immaculate bowl!
This trend continues down Chartwell, with column 11 having a pristine bowl as well.
While mucky, column 10, too, lacks a rust-red coating on the bowl.
I continued following the road around, until it the point where it connects to Buckingham Road via a T junction. This photo of column 7 and it's lantern showcase the refractors glued to the bowl's side in great detail.
Two pins can be sighted on either-side of the refractor, further-securing it to the bowl.
Column 8 on the same road has rust lying in the base of the bowl, creating a mesmerising pattern. The 90W SOX lamp can be seen particularly well from this angle.
Column 5s concrete out-reach bracket has began to fracture at the joint to the lantern. This has left the inner steel tube exposed.
Tape can be seen wrapped round the tarnished bracket.
A similar situation has materialised on column 3. This development has occurred within the last 11 months.
Eleco GR100s continue to line Buckingham Road, although not as numerous as Chartwell. To the south, they continue uninterrupted until the road joins to the A51.
Following Buckingham Road to the north, a slew of integral geared Philips MA90s, Thorn Civic 2s and Philips SGS201s divide the GR100s. Consequently, the next columns to support GR100s after Column 10 are columns 14, 25 and 26 where they terminate.
Column 14:
Column 25:
Amington, Tamworth
A couple of GR100s could be spotted on Sandy Way, Tamworth. Photographed first was column T19.
The column's base had accumulated some damage over the decades...
A closer look at the lantern revealed the remains of a wasp nest inside.
Column T20's lantern is slightly wonky, allowing us to partially see the top of the aluminium canopy. These run 66W SOX-E.
These installations were removed in July 2024.