Thorn Beta 79 Lantern Installations
A side-entry only lantern, the Thorn Beta 79 was a 50W-100W SON-T or 80W-125W MBF/U lantern. The gear was mounted inside, underneath the rear access door on the underside of the lantern. Early versions of this lantern were of fully-aluminium construction, whereas later versions were fitted with fibreglass canopies; easily identifiable by their white colour.
Rugby
Common in Rugby are cast-iron columns with various side-entry lanterns fitted. In most cases these are Urbis Opalos or Thorn Beta 79s. This installation is located opposite a pub on Albert Square.
The ladder-bars dont appear to be part of the column itself, instead being a separate accessory that are clamped to it.
As is typical with older columns like this, the door is cable-tied shut.
The next installation is on Moultrie Road, where a blanket of perpetual shadows hide it from main road view quite well.
Although obscured by grime, the text on the junction box reads "BTH" - which may mean a BTH lantern (such as a Rural) was fitted previously. The cable-tie theme is also continued.
This column appears to have supported a gas lantern before the BTH bracket, as there is no inspection door.
Another cast-iron-mounted Beta 79 is located within the grounds of Northlands Primary School. It remains unknown if the installation is now owned by the school, or Rugby council/PFI.
With the bowl and clip having sustained damage, a length of insulation tape secures the bowl.
A HBE time-switch box is installed - giving an indication as to how the original lantern was controlled.
Paradise Street has another ex-gas column featuring a HBE time-switch box fitted to a swan-neck bracket.
Inside the Beta 79 is a Philips TrueForce LED retrofit lamp.
The next column along the road on the same side is an identical installation.
A 1950s cast-iron REVO "Moseley" column exists on Caldecott Street.
This Beta 79, too, is retrofitted to LED.
Another REVO "Moseley" column exists at the junction between Sidney Road and Stanley Road.
The next street along the A428 has a rather precariously-positioned Beta 79. This damage has occurred within the two years before photographing, according to street view.
This example also stands out against the other Beta 79s in Rugby, in that it's one of the rare examples that has not undergone retrofitting yet. Inside is a 50W SON-T lamp.
This installation appears to consist of a newer column when compared to it's REVO-mounted counterparts.
Another Beta 79 is apparent in the distance, along the same road.
A Beta 79 on a hockey-stick column was spotted along Temple Street.
Another cast-iron column is situated on a driveway along Church Walk.
Another HBE time-switch box is installed here.
This next installation is on Duke Street.
Nearly all of Rugby's lanterns seem to be fitted with radio controls, instead of usual photocells.
Column 2 of Duke Street is another Beta 79. This one is taped shut, as the clip has broken.
I'd imagine the lantern provides quite a unique light-distribution pattern at night.
A mangled Beta 79 exists on Regent Place. The column is leaning backwards due to a low-speed vehicle impact.
The gear-tray is insecure, hanging open on one side where the hinge has failed.
Shuttington
In a nearby village called Shuttington, Beta 79s line the roads, accommodating for most of the street lamps. A considerable amount are on hockey stick columns, while the others are mounted onto telegraph poles. They run a mix of 50W and 70W SON. They are all also fitted with radio nodes instead of photocells.
This Beta 79 has a post-top adaptor.
It also has industrial tape holding the gear compartment shut.
This installation at night:
There are a couple of telegraph pole-mounted installations.
The same installation at night:
Just opposite the last installation on it's pole bracket, is this 5m hockey stick column supporting a THORN Beta 79 with a bowl held on by electrical tape.
Tamworth
Thorn Beta 79s are commonly used here on private lots. This first example runs 50W SON-T and is mounted on a 3m column in a private car park. It has a Zodion SS2 photocell. As you can see, the 3m mounting height hasn't done it any favours for the lantern. It is covered in bird muck and cobwebs, and I'd imagine the gear is infested with spiders!
This doesn't stop the lamp from shining brightly at night-time though! (Very brightly considering it's mounting height, though this was taken as it warmed up)
Another privately owned lantern, this one wall-mounted on an outreach bracket (Again in Two Gates Industrial estate). There did used to be more of these here, however they were replaced with LED floods leaving this one as the last survivor.
Wood End
A wooden column along Boulters lane has, installed upon it, a Beta 79 lantern on a telegraph pole bracket.
This time, the often-accompanying tape is wrapped around the isolation box, as one of the screws is missing.
