My Collection: Simplex Jupiter
| Manufacturer | Simplex Lighting Limited |
| Catalogue Number (model) | Jupiter |
| Wattage | 250W |
| Lamp-Type | SON-E |
| Gear | None (remote) |
| Photocell | Zodion SS3 |
| Date Of Manufacture | ~1985 |
| Date On Photocell | ~~/02/2014 & ~~/06/2014 |
| Date on Photocell Socket | ~~/12/1985 |
| Date on Lamp | NOS |
| Date Acquired | 06/10/2025 |
| Restoration Status | Cleaned |
| Collection Number | #183 |
With thanks to MidlandCountiesStreetLighting for this lantern. This one was removed from Stafford Street in Wolverhampton in 2006. Before the Simplex Jupiters, in this area existed REVO Helion lanterns. This is the remote-geared version of the lantern for 250W-400W SON. I've placed a 250W clear SON-E lamp inside for these photos. I've given these lanterns the nickname "Saucepans" (especially the Jupiter Major) - and I'm sure I'm not the first to have thought of this, given their similitude to them.
This resemblance is reinforced by looking at the lantern from above. It is easily larger than my remote-geared Atlas Alpha 3 in terms of volume.
A Zodion SS3 photocell sits perched atop the aluminium shoe. This is a much-newer addition, with the cell dating to 2014, but it would likely have had its NEMA socket from the factory. It is possible that this isn't the second cell installed here, but the third or fourth.
The cell socket dates the lantern to the mid 1980s, with 12/85 on the socket.
From underneath, the bowl really doesn't help the saucepan-likeness, especially the large white diffusing circle on the bowl!
Inside is one of my SON-E lamps - 250W. Two curved reflectors situated either side of the lamp aid in light-distribution.
The Simplex sticker is still complete on the door to the shoe, many of these came off by the time these lanterns were removed, so it was nice to be able to identify this as a Simplex example - as the Jupiter was also sold by Relite, and a primitive version (quite visually different) was also sold by REVO.
This is the remote-geared example, which features four grub-screws inside the small shoe, which may seem a bit overkill until you remember the enormous windage of the lantern. It is also worth mentioning that this version of the Jupiter is incredibly light-weight. The ceramic connectors are wired so that the one with three terminals is wired to the photocell, and the one with two terminals to the lamp. I disconnected the photocell terminals and wired the supply cable straight into the lamp terminals.
The lantern was wired up to an external gear on the 11/10/2025, and was subsequently lit:
