My Collection: GEC Z5681

Manufacturer	GEC
Catalogue Number (model)	Z5681
Wattage	80W
Lamp-Type	MBF/U
Gear	None (remote)
Ballast	GEC (unknown but similar to Z1813)
Photocell	Royce-Thompson P42 detector, Zodion SS55 base.
Date Of Manufacture	1972-1978
Date On Photocell Base	~~/05/1999
Date on Ballast	??20BH (Very difficult to read, but thats what appears to be left of the code)
Date Acquired	21/06/2026
Collection Number	#155

This lantern is extremely special to me, this Z5681 is one of the lanterns that grew my interest in street lighting when I was young. I had always wondered why it glowed green, rather than yellow or orange - as all of the other lights in the area did. Of course, now I know the reason for this, but back then (going on 17 years ago) I was convinced the reason it was emitting the "wrong" colour of light was that it was broken in some way. Fast forward all these years, and now I have the opportunity to open it up an examine it in greater detail than ever!

I believe this is a rare Mk.2 version, distinguishable via the top screw cap keeping the canopy closed. Later versions of this made the canopy itself unscrew. Notice as well that a Royce Thompson P42 is drilled into the canopy.

Despite using a P42 detector, the lantern was wired to an SS55 base, which would not work with a Cadmium Sulphide detector.

The GEC logo is cast into the base of the lantern:

With the hat removed, we can see the other side of the detector.

Originally, I was expecting a horizontal lamp, not a vertical one. This did mean the layout was essentially a miniature post-top lantern spine with a massive dish-shaped bowl and canopy around it, comprising most of the lanterns size.