Thorn Alpha 3 250/400w MBF lantern. Originally starting life as the Atlas Alpha 3, the Thorn Alpha 3 is a large aluminium canopied lantern that dates from the 1960's -1970's. Designed for use with large elliptical lamps, it found use as a main road lantern in towns and cities, but also enjoyed widespread use for lighting petrol station forecourts and factory premises! The Alpha-3 is not an uncommon lantern even in 2005, and many examples can be found throughout the UK. The lantern in the collection originally came from a district in Nottinghamshire.

Thorn Alpha-3 seen resting on the roof of my car gives some idea of how big these lanterns are.

Dating from the 1970's this lantern is in remarkably good overall condition. The acrylic bowls on these lanterns tend to crack either side of the rear mounted hinged points. Access to the lantern is gained by releasing the two toggle-action clips on the front sides of the lantern (there are four clips on the earlier versions). These lanterns originally ran 250-watt or 400-watt mercury lamps, but many have been converted to run 250-watt or 400-watt SON lamps. The example in the collection is no exception and was fitted with a 250-watt SON-T (tubed) lamp.

 Pictured in Nottingham in July 2005, this neglected Thorn Alpha-3 was day-burning its 250 watt mercury lamp for months. Note the two-part cell hanging from the far side of the shoe.