GEC Z9580 Lantern Installations

The GEC Z9580 was the smallest 26W SOX-E/35W SOX lantern. It was quite common throughout the UK, rivalling the Philips MI50. It's small size and aluminium construction made it ideal for residential and security lighting. There was little room for a gear, but integral-geared versions were squeezed together and available in the form of the GEC Z9582, which was exactly the same size as the Z9580. It was a side-entry only lantern.

Amington, Tamworth

GEC Z9580s are still plentiful in Tamworth, though you may not notice them. They're very small lanterns and are often hidden away on side roads and unpaved lanes on concrete columns, covered in trees. This example on Hodge Lane though, shines brightly through the trees, letting everyone know of it's presence. This one runs a 26W SOX-E lamp.

As of October 2023, this lantern is no longer day-burning, and was later replaced on 14th April 2024.

Other examples that were on the same lane, not hidden beneath the branches...

Even further down the lane, is this one on a leaning column. Due to being right on a steep verge, over the years rain and moisture has caused the column to shift through the loose soil, leaning backwards. This column was replaced in November of 2023.

As of April 2024, only one of these GEC Z9580s remains. The rest have been replaced with Holophane S-Lines.

Sandy Way is an area with an explosive variety of SOX lanterns, so, of course there would be one of these there! This GEC Z9580 is the only one left on the estate. I believe it runs 35W SOX. Poking out of the top is a two-part photocell detector.

Alexandra Mews, Tamworth

Not all of the Z9580s are hidden on quiet lanes however, this one was located on a much newer column in the town centre, on Alexandra Mews. There were more examples situated on this street, too. These were replaced on 31/01/2024. They ran 26W SOX-E.

Two-Gates, Tamworth

While out photographing the doomed Hyperion B lanterns, I stumbled across this. I first saw them at night, and assumed they were MI26s. Boy was I wrong!

looking closer, I saw that it was too small to be an MI26, so when I went back the next day to get daytime pictures of the Hyperion Bs, I payed them a visit. I was not expecting these! St Peter's close was lined with these lanterns! the one at the end even day-burns, and the second closest one didn't work at all! These have since been replaced.

Littlecote, Tamworth

This Z9580 is situated on Littlecote, running 26W SOX-E along side several Simplex Aries.

Whittington

Column E7 of Bramley Way supports a GEC Z9580, used to light a small access path to a park-area.

A 26W SOX-E lamp can be seen inside.