Thorn Alpha 5 Lantern Installations

The Alpha 5 was a 140W-200W SLI/H or 135W SOX lantern. Not many remain nowadays, and the few that do will not be around much longer. They were never made as integral-geared lanterns, so the gear was often in the column's base. Their canopy was made from die-cast aluminium and the bowl from acrylic, with two sturdy clips to ensure durability.

Mariner, Tamworth

I know of several Alpha 5s (on Mariner, Lichfield Industrial Estate), though admittedly I may have overlooked some. They blend into the GEC Z9554s along roads quite well, and I thought it was the aluminium canopied version of that lantern at first. After a closer look at the picture I realized the proportions didn't quite match. I then realized what it was I was looking at! I'm glad I noticed or I probably wouldn't have pictured it.

Though it looks grubby, I'll bet that thing shines brightly at night! It's mounted on a 8m Stanton and Staveley column. These lanterns are usually seen running 140W or 200W SLI lamps, but they might have been converted to SOX.

You can see the bowls grubby-ness better from a different angle.

A special thank you to AgentHalogen_87 for the next two images of the above Atlas/Thorn Alpha 5!

It is amazing to see such a rare lantern up-close and personal!

After walking down slightly further, another! This one seems to have electrical tape stuck to it's bowl.

This could be due to a past clip/bowl repair or accidental. I'm not sure how it hasn't been washed off, so it might be a recent development.

I revisited this installation on the 14th December 2023, to see it was filling with water! A sad end to what might be one of the UK's last in-service Alpha 5s. I plan to try and rescue this very Alpha 5.

The same installation pictured on 29th April 2024. You're holding on well, piece of tape! The water was drained but it seems to be filling again at a slow rate.

Another photo taken on 28/08/2024.

This Alpha 5 is misaligned to the road and no longer works (neither do the two in the background).

I returned on the 29th April 2024 to see the bowl had been secured with electrical tape.

Another Alpha 5 pictured along Mariner, Tamworth.

The same lantern at night.

An amazing development, recently two of the Alpha 5s were repaired. They now glow brightly throughout the night! Looks like electrical tape was needed to keep the bowl up there!

Sadly, on a trip to Mariner on the 30/08/2024, I noticed one of the Alpha 5s was gone. Taking it's place, an Urbis Altra 3, quite the downgrade!