My Visits: Mike Barford
On the 28th February 2025, a surprise trip to Mike Barford's was organised for me by fellow collectors AgentHalogen_87 and Mike Barford. I had not actually realised where we were until I saw the familiar "JPS-573" painted onto the cast-iron column outside the front of the house. These are the late Jeremy Skertchly's initials, and his personal two-way radio number during the period Mike Barford worked with him on work experience in 2003.
In place of a swan-neck bracket is this strange outreach. It may have been placed too close to a wall for a swan-neck bracket to be installed. The column was installed in this location in 2003 meaning in 2025 it has been over two decades since it's restoration and re-installation.
The lantern is fitted with an LED GLS lamp. REVO Tipton branding can be seen at the base of the column, on the column door and on the column itself.
The time-switch and cut-out are present in the base compartment, but the lantern now runs on photocell control.
Once inside, I was offered tea, and got to witness the first warm-up of the day: a Gamma Four for 2x150W SON-E lamps. The position of both lamps can be seen through the translucent bowl.
Across the room is this pristine 1970 Thorn Beta Five (Amber Minor). Notice this version features a bowl-ring in which the bowl sits, rather than having the hinge attached to the bowl directly. The bowl on this lantern also appears to be a vacuum-formed polycarbonate replacement.
Installed next to the Amber Minor is this Atlas Alpha Three for 250W MBF lamps. This one was also warmed up. Later on, I would also get to see another Alpha Three fired up, this one a Thorn Version.
The next room I would visit was the (first) overspill lantern room. Seeing them all installed in a grid on every wall was quite the sight! There are thirteen lanterns visible in the first image! The lanterns from left to right are: Thorn Isaro Pro, Holophane QSM, WRTL MRL6, Thorn Alpha 4, Thorn Civic 2, Thorn Pilote T2, AC Ford AC730, Philips MA90-GO, GEC Z9464, WRTL Vectra, WRTL Arc 90, Simplex Lucidor, CU Phosco P567A, GEC Z9539, Wardle Avon, GEC Z5580, and a Wardle Murray.
The opposite wall has a significantly higher population! From left to right the lanterns visible are: Philips SGS203, Low Carbon Lighting LuxOn Street, GEC Z3430, Philips SGS204, Thorn Alpha 8 (new), Atlas Alpha 8, Philips SGS306, Thorn Triumph T2, REVO Dalek, GEC Z9450, Philips MA 5C, Thorn Alpha 9, Atlas Alpha 10, Thorn Beta 79, Urbis ZX1, Thorn Celest, AEC Uno, Thorn Beta 5 (2008), Thorn Beta 5 (1989), WRTL 2500, WRTL Libra, ELECO HW-727, Philips Delta, Thorn Beta 2, Philips XGS103, Thorn Triumph 1, WRTL Pathfinder, ASD Highway Diamo0nd Micro
