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REVO C.9225 85w SO open lantern. This strange looking, angular, open lantern is more reminiscent of an ESLA product than something you might associate with REVO. The lantern was one of a small range of mirrored open reflector lanterns produced by REVO that catered for 45w, 60w, 85w, and 140w SO/H sodium lamps, and was probably made to compete with ESLA's open reflector sodium lanterns.

I have no dates for when these open lanterns were available from REVO, but it was probably in the immediate pre-war and post WWII period? It would appear that these lanterns were only manufactured for top-entry mounting, but could be ordered to fit either 3/4" or 1" B.S.P. threaded fittings.

The REVO Catalogue of the time reads: "The fittings are designed for use with horizontal burning sodium vapour discharge lamps and are suitable for centre or side road lighting as indicated. The unit comprises of specially designed guaranteed silvered mirror reflectors, embedded in a one piece cast iron frame, with waterproof wiring channel to lampholder for leads and with a porcelain shockproof lampholder and lamp support".

I came by three of these lanterns in a West Midlands reclaim yard in 2001, and was told that they had come from a local factory that had recently been demolished. Having bought all three lanterns, I later passed two of them on to Bob Cookson and Simon Cornwell, in whose collections they now reside; I don't know of any other examples in preservation or otherwise. The lantern in the collection remains in acquired condition, stored away until it can be renovated.

Aside of some of the mirrors being damaged, the C9225 lantern is complete and is still attached to its REVO wall bracket.

This is not an overly big lantern (as the mobile phone demonstrates), but being made of cast iron and still being attached to its heavy ornate bracket, it's quite a handful to move around.

This top view of the canopy show s the C9225 was only suitable for top-entry bracket mounting. The raised section that runs from the centre mounting to the lampholder hood at the back of the lantern is the waterproof wiring channel referred to in the extract from the REVO catalogue above.

The porcelain lampholder would once have held an 85w SO/H sodium lamp, and is recessed into the back of the lantern to protect it from the elements. The bottom pointed cast iron back section is actually a separate extension piece that would also have carried a mirror, presumably to throw some of the lamp light forward on to the road surface. This extension piece was missing on the other two lanterns, but Bob Cookson has made a fantastic job of fabricating a new replica extension piece for his lantern during its renovation.

The lantern from the front showing the position of the lamp in respect to the canopy and back reflector plate. The spring-loaded lamp support hoop is typically REVO and can be seen in their other lantern designs.

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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.