The swan neck was easy to manufacture from a iron or steel rolled tube. They were either fully formed to support the lantern directly, or finished on the horizontal so a decorative finial was required. Other decorations included the purely aesthetic scrollwork and collars, whilst tulip and leaf husks not only beautified the spigot cap, but also provided additional protection from rust at the joint between the bracket and spigot.

The swan neck was a popular choice for a "gas conversion" in the 1940s and 1950s where the original gas post-top lantern was removed and replaced with a swan neck and high level termination. As columns were originally made in various heights, swan neck brackets were also made in different sizes so the lantern height above the road could be standardised.

By the 1950s, the swan neck bracket was still extremely popular, as manufacturers were still producing large numbers of top-entry lanterns. However, the lines became simpler, and the decoration was eventually scaled down and finally removed entirely. It was a practical move: scrollwork and spigot joints formed dirt and moisture traps where corrosion could set in.

As side entry lanterns became popular, the swan neck declined in numbers. Brackets evolved into simple bracket arms, or became part of the column (as with the popular "hockey stick" column). However, the swan neck does live on, albeit in smaller numbers, and is still available as a "traditional" option for decorative and/or heritage style street lighting.

Name: Lucy Medium Swan Neck Bracket
Date: Circa 1920s - 1960s
Dimensions: 1.3M 4'3" (height), 0.6M 2'0" (width)
Specs: Large flower finial with Lucy circular fuse box.
Lantern: ESLA Bi-Multi Group "A" Two-Way 175° 7½°

The bracket is of typical Lucy design and is fitted with their large "flower" finial.

facing profile This bracket (and ESLA Bi-Multi lantern) was purchased from a house in Wimbledon, South London. The owner was remodelling the house and garden and didn't want the street light. So, the builders rescued it and offered it to me.

front profile This type of swan-neck and lantern was very popular in Wimbledon where they were installed by the Municipal Borough of Wimbledon in large numbers during the 1930s. I suspect this example was rescued by the house owner when the street was relit and planted in their back garden. It has been painted white which was the colour scheme used by the Municipal Borough of Wimbledon.

trailing profile The bracket was around 4'3" tall. This would've been designed for a 10'-11' column, ensuring the lamp was positioned around the required 15' mounting height (assuming it was installed post-1937 and so was designed in accordance with the MOT Final Report). The bracket was also extremely wide. I suspect this was to create space for the newly introduced low-pressure sodium lanterns which were just starting to appear in the 1930s. Or it may have simply been an artistic statement. At some point in its history, the top of the swan-neck suffered damage, becoming bent downwards. This gives the lantern its rather downcast appearance. This is a mystery as the finial isn't damaged. It gives the whole unit some extra character so I've left it.

finial The finial is enormous and completely out-of-character with the proportions of the rest of the bracket. Such large "flower" finials were used on brackets made from 1" BSP but this is ¾" BSP. It was an enlarged version of the standard "flower" finial but with extra crenellations on the road-facing point.

base of bracket The bracket was fitted with a circular fuse box and spigot cap. Both were cast into the same unit.

time switch box: road side Both sides of the fuse box had a circular cover secured by three screws. Removal of the front cover would've originally revealed two fuses. The covers had "Lucy & Co. Ltd. Oxford" written on them suggesting that the fuse box could've been configured to have the fuses fitted on either side.

lucy bracket: as aquired I collected this lantern and bracket from Wimbledon in late 2019. It had been used as garden lighting and was fited with a darkened and broken CFL lamp. This type of swan-neck and lantern was very popular in Wimbledon where they were installed by the Municipal Borough of Wimbledon in large numbers during the 1930s. I suspect this example was rescued by the house owner when the street was relit and planted in their back garden. It was painted blue with a dark green undercoat. Neither colour was original and so all this paint was removed.