Models page 6: Tamlite, Thorn, Wardle & WRTL
     
TAMLITE    
     
TMOX 55SX 'Tamcourt' lantern, 55W, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, June 2007 (Claire Pendrous)
     
THORN    
     
Alpha 1, manufactured as 55W or 90W (Mike Barford)

Alpha 4, 90W, Carlton Hill, Nottingham, 2005
(Claire Pendrous)
Alpha 5, older SLI-H type and previously AEI Amberline, 140W, Derby, Apr 2007 (Claire Pendrous)
Alpha 6, SLI/H (Colin Grimes) Alpha 4, 135W, Bilborough, Nottingham, 2006 (Claire Pendrous)
Alpha 5, 135W
(Jonathan Salmon). A 1960s design.
Alpha 9, deeper short bowl, 90W, Dorking, Surrey (Jonathan Salmon)
Alpha 9, long and deep bowl, 90W, Chichester, West Sussex (Jonathan Salmon)
Alpha 9, same canopy, no bowl, 90W, Chichester (Jonathan Salmon)
Beta 2, 55W. An elongated version of the Beta 5 to accommodate a 55W tube, it was brought out in the 1980s. (Mike Barford)
Alpha 9, short bowl,
90W, Guildford,
Surrey (Jonathan Salmon)
Alpha 10, 90W cut-off, Derbyshire, July 2005
(Claire Pendrous)
Beta 8 (AEI Junior Amberline), 35W, Epsom, Surrey (Jonathan Salmon)

Beta 3, 35W, Wokingham,
Berkshire, 1990 (Tim Luckett)

 Beta 8

The Thorn Beta 8 is a smaller version of the Alpha 9. At first it was made by AEI as a 35W lamp and called the Junior Amberline. As the Beta 8 it is 55W (and also used to be made as 60W SLI/H). This and the Alpha 9 are one (two?) of my favourite designs.
Beta 8, 60W SLI/H, Derby (Mike Barford) Beta 8 just switched on, Wrexham, 2004
Gamma 6 — with and
without canopy. These lamps
existed as SOX and in
other forms. (Colin Grimes)
Gamma 6s: SOX (left), MBF (centre)
and SON (right) – all just lit. I
normally just use fairy lights at Christmas! (Davy Warren)
Gamma 8 (Tim Luckett)
     
Beta 5    
     
This 35W lamp was the most widely-used for minor roads in the late 20th century (at one time an 18W version was also made). Thousands upon thousands still exist all around the country, and the model is still being made.
Early Thorn Beta 5 (Tim Luckett)
Early Beta 5 at Ponyberem, Carmarthenshire (Ian Young, WWSL)
1960s Beta 5 (Jonathan Salmon)
AEI Junior Amber Minor (early 1960s) , 35W, Darley Abbey, Derbyshire (Mike Barford) 1970s-1980s Beta 5, Clitheroe, Lancashire, 2002
1970s-1980s Beta 5, Penymynydd, Flintshire, 2004.
More modern Beta 5 (Mike Barford) More modern Beta 5, Clitheroe, Lancashire, 2002. Note the shallower bowl.
Beta 5, latest design (1989 to present) (Jonathan Salmon)
 
Two more images of modern Beta 5 designs, corresponding to the photos above (these photos via Fluorescents Plus)
     
WARDLE    
     
Wardle Atholl, 90W, Mumbles, Swansea (Ian Young, WWSL) Wardle Aureole, with air conditioning and dead flies,
90W, Chichester, West
Sussex (Jonathan Salmon)		 Wardle Liverpool, 90W SOX (Colin Grimes)
     
WRTL    
     
2601, 35W (from WRTL catalogue) GR355/55, 35W and 55W (from WRTL catalogue)
Whitecroft SRL 355/55, 35W (also exists as GEC Z9538) (Tim Luckett)

 (left) Nightwatch NW18, 18W. This lamp is a “bulkhead” and can occasionally be seen attached to the walls of buildings.

 

(right) Nightwatch NW55, 55W (Fluorescents Plus, Ballymena)

 

IRIS-90, 90W,
Calverton, Nottinghamshire,
Jun 2006 (Claire Pendrous)		 MRL90, 90W (formerly GEC Z9454), Watnall, Nottinghamshire, June 2006 (Claire Pendrous) PTBTL55N, 55W, Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, June 2006 (Claire Pendrous)

 

 

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© Matthew Eagles 2005. Page created July 2006; last updated 2nd February 2009.