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Eleco 'Goldern Ray' GR100, 90w SOX lantern

Originally manufactured by Philips as their MA9, this ‘gearless’ 90w SOX lantern later became part of Eleco’s Golden-Ray' range of sodium lanterns, and was re-designated ‘GR100’. The lantern remained in production until the1980’s, but by this time production of the GR100 had passed to Davis Engineering, and finally to Chalmit Engineering; both part of the Eleco group of companies.

Earlier models have an aluminium canopy with a ‘coffin’ shaped vacuum-formed plastic bowl for use with 100w SOX lamps (later re-rated 90w SOX); hence GR100 = Golden Ray 100w. Later models of the GR100 had canopies made of fibreglass (GRP), and these can easily be identified because they are white in colour. When the GRP GR100's appeared they still used the same 'coffin' shaped bowl as the earlier models, but the final MKIII version employed a shallower, but more rounded design of bowl that was made from injection moulded plastic. Because the GR100 was very popular with many local authority lighting departments, and because of the long production run, thousands are still in evidence throughout the UK in 2006.

An Eleco GR100 with aluminium canopy and 'coffin' shaped bowl; this one was from the West Midlands and uses the later type of bowl fixing. It also has the bonded type of refractor panel in the bowl.

Left is the older MA9/GR100 with bowl-locking ring, and right is the later non-locking ring type. On the older GR100, the refractor plates inside of the bowl are riveted into place, rather than bonded.

There are several examples of GR100s in the collection. The oldest came from Dolgellau in the County of Gywnedd, North Wales, which is a little unusual because Gywnedd was a REVO / Relite / Simplex stronghold. Being an earlier example, the lantern is constructed from cast aluminium, and uses a fine cast-aluminum rim that fits around the edge of the bowl to secure the bowl to the canopy, and has no fitting for photocell control. Later examples didn't have the cast-aluminium rim, but instead relied on the flaired edges of the bowl and thin stainless steel clips mounted directly to the bowl for fixing. Access to the lamp and the lantern's interior is gained by releasing the metal spring-clips on the bowl and allowing the bowl to hinge downwards on side mounted hinges.

The final Davis/Chalmit GR100 MKIII version with GRP canopy, and later type 'rounded' style bowl.

A rather grimey GRP-canopied GR100 with 'coffin' type bowl, seen in Northwood Park Estate, Wolverhampton in August 2005. It was replaced by an Urbis ZX2 a few weeks later.

The shape of the GR100 is unmistakable, even at night. This earlier aluminium canopied example with bowl locking rim was still in use in Castlecroft Road Wolverhampton in August 2005.

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Please note that all pictures are by Claire Pendrous, or are part of the Claire Pendrous photographic collection unless otherwise stated; none of these images can be copied without obtaining prior permission.