Philips MA50 Lantern Installations

The Philips MA50 is the 135W SOX/91W SOX-E version of the MA series of lanterns. It can come in both integral and remote-geared versions, and the integral geared versions can even be converted to MA60s (180W SOX/131W SOX-E) with removal of the gear. Integral geared MA90s can also be converted to remote geared MA50s with the same process due to the cross-compatibility of the components and gear trays.

A51, Tamworth

MA50s are an increasingly rare time-capsule, a reminder of the past when they once dominated the streets of not just Tamworth, not just England but most of Europe! These are located on the A51, and are integral geared MA50s running 91W SOX-E.

The same lantern viewed from a different angle.

From this angle you can clearly see the gear through the refractor bowl!

From a side angle, we can see what appears to be a mini-photocell mounted towards the back of the lanterns canopy, near to its mounting spigot!

Zooming out, we can see more integral geared MA50s in the background, lining the road with Thorn Civic 2s and GEC Z9554Ms.

Two Gates, Tamworth

More examples of this lantern can be seen on Tamworth Road, Two Gates, although these are due to be replaced on December the 1st 2023.

If you look closely in the gear compartment on this one, you can see one of the choc block wire connectors.

A different lantern on the same road, taken at sunset.

Lichfield Industrial Estate

More of these lanterns litter Lichfield Industrial Estate. Nearly all of them have no concrete around the mounting spigot. It also looks as if the front clip has come loose! Luckily, theres 6 more clips to pick up the slack, so it's unlikely it will fall down...

While walking, I discovered one of them with the door open, allowing us to see the isolator inside!

County Drive, Tamworth

An MA50 remote geared lantern can be seen at the other end of County Drive, like a pot of gold at the end of the SOX rainbow... okay, it's all gold...