My Collection: Siemens Nightwatch 35

Manufacturer Siemens
Catalogue Number (model) Nightwatch 35 NW35
Wattage 35W
Lamp-Type SOX
Gear Original
Ballast Vossloh Schwabe BSX 35 LL - S (35.122)
Ignitor Siemens ISX35-P
Capacitor DNA CA/250 8μF
IP Rating (when new) IP54
Date Of Manufacture 1990s
Date on Photocell Socket 11/07/1994 - 17/07/1994
Date on Capacitor ~~/07/1994
Date Acquired 05/03/2025
Restoration Status Cleaned
Collection Number #152

This collection asset perfectly showcases how the GEC/Osram/Siemens/WRTL Z9580/SRL 35 was sold for security lighting. This one was listed on eBay for just £20 - a low price for something like this; It was sold as a barn find. It came complete with a wall bracket, and an interesting modification inside.

It was fitted with a domestic CFL lamp - I presume after the ignitor failed (and whoever owned it saw the price of SOX lamps nowadays!) an attempt to relight it was made by fitting a CFL lamp. This wouldn't have worked on the SOX gear which was still connected, and so the lantern was removed entirely.

The bowl is incredible on this example, having no cracks!

The wall bracket is stuck solid in the spigot, and will need to be persuaded out. The lantern will keep its bracket however.

The original lamp smashed during transit, but I fitted one of an identical type/brand from my own collection as a visual demonstration, showcasing how it would have looked with it installed.

The lantern features a NEMA socket on its canopy, which is ten years older than I am: July 1994.

The gear is crammed onto the tray inside - as the Z9580 was the smallest side-entry SOX lantern produced, it's a tight fit!

I will need to find an identical ignitor to get the lantern running again.