1. Derby, UK. Many Thorn Alpha 1s never had photocell sockets in them. (At least not in Derby.) The photocell was instead mounted at the top of the column (the columns and brackets were at 90° to each other). Occasionally, where an Alpha 1 has been replaced, the old photocell has not been removed from the top of the column. As many modern lanterns now have their own photocells on them, the old photocell is no longer necessary and is only left to stop water from getting into the photocell socket, instead of removing the entire socket.
2. Boston, Lincolnshire, UK. On one side of the town hall, there is a Philips SGS 203 lantern mounted on a cream coloured bracket. If you follow the cables from where the bracket reaches the wall to the ground, you will see two boxes with the cables running through. They are also cream coloured. One has the words 'Osira lamps and GEC equipment' and the other says 'Venner Time switch.' I believe Osira lamps were mercury lamps. Venner were the big name in time switches in days gone by.
From what I have seen in videos, a Thorn Alpha 3 lantern was there for a time. Alpha 3's were originally designed for mercury lamps, but were eventually converted to High Pressure Sodium. This lantern only dates from the 1960's, so I believe an even older lantern was here before this one. It is unlikely any control gear remains inside this box as the SGS 203 has its own integral gear. If the time switch is still in the other box, and still works, it would be an interesting find.
The picture on the left shows where abouts the boxes are; and the zoomed-in picture on the right shows the text on the boxes. You can just about see the reflection of the lantern in the curved window. The grey box at the top of the picture is a telephone connection box. It is not in any way related to the control boxes.
I like the way on this picture we have these two relics right next to the much newer 'one way' sign.
