Collection: FGS103 (1) (MI26)
| Manufacturer | Philips |
| Catalogue Number (model) | FGS103 |
| Wattage | 35W |
| Lamp-Type | SOX |
| Gear | Original |
| Ballast | Philips BSX 355L (82?) |
| Ignitor | Philips SX 72 |
| Capacitor | Cambridge Capacitors EN61048/A2 (6.5μF) |
| IP Rating (when new) | IP65 |
| Date Of Manufacture | ~~/01/2003 |
| Date On Photocell Socket | ~~/12/2002 |
| Date On Capacitor | ~~/02/2003 |
| Date Acquired | 03/01/2024 |
| Restoration Status | Cleaned |
| Collection Number | #18 |
This FGS103 lantern was obtained on 03/01/24. What makes this unusual is that it bears the FGS label, meaning it should accommodate fluorescent lamps, but it doesn't! It's a 35W SOX lantern and during it's service was running 26W SOX-E, so it should have bared the XGS103 tag. The earlier versions of this lantern are called MI26s. MI stands for Minor Roads, and 26 was the wattage of SOX-E lamp they were intended to run, so MInor Roads 26W lantern: MI26.
The FGS tag also means that it is one of the newest (and last) MI26 lanterns made. This can be confirmed by looking at the various date compasses and codes around the lantern. The date code on the capacitor is 06/03, meaning it was made in the 6th week of 2003. The compass mark on the photocell socket states that the socket was made in December of 2002. There is also a compass mark on the bowl stating January 2003. From this we can deduce that these parts are all the original parts, and the lantern was likely put into service around 2003-2004.
It has an SX72 Philips ignitor, and (from what I can make out) a Philips BSX 355L (82?) ballast. It is very hard to read however it's the same ballast -and ignitor- that are in my other Philips MI26.
A view from below and above the lantern.
