My Collection: Phosco P109
| Manufacturer | Phosco Lighting |
| Catalogue Number (model) | P109 |
| Wattage | 55W |
| Lamp-Type | SOX |
| Gear | Modified |
| Ballast | Parmar SZ355K245 |
| Ignitor | Parmar PB055K245 |
| Photocell | Royce Thompson MICROSTAR 2000 ST |
| IP Rating (when new) | IP54 |
| Date of Manufacture | ~1980s |
| Date On Photocell | ~~/10/2020 |
| Date Acquired | 28/11/2024 |
| Restoration Status | Cleaned |
| Collection Number | #121 |
The Phosco P109 is a huge lantern, measuring approximately 42 inches (or just over a meter) tall. This one was for 50W SON originally, but I decided it was worthy of a 55W SOX conversion. It's fitted with an opal bowl, and decorative supports to give a more traditional look. Subtracting from this appearance is the fact it has lost it's decorative crown. It appears this example was heavily vandalised during it's service, but somehow the cone remained intact!
A section of column remains firmly in the spigot, despite the fact that 2/3 of the grub-screws turn.
The lantern's misshapen hat had to be hammered back into shape around the rim. The finial can be twisted and unscrewed, allowing the hat to be removed in it's entirety.
A rusted tray supports the identification-sticker.
The tray is made of two parts: a reflector ring and a support ring. The gear-tray and part of the reflector are separate, removed by loosening two wing nuts.
Three rods support the reflector and gear-tray.
The original SON gear was similarly positioned to the 55W SOX gear I added, crammed into the awkward triangular hat-support. For such a large lantern they sure did choose a fiddly place for the gear!
This gear was actually pulled from a P107, another post-top lantern by Phosco.
The lantern's minicell: a later addition which may have replaced an older minicell.
The SOX conversion lit:
