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columns

The nomenclature of columns and brackets first appeared to be either functional (in the case of the Fluted) or after local authorities or towns who first specified, or installed, the design. The exception to this naming scheme was the Avenue which became the most prolific design and which featured in many of the early adverts.


Liverpool No. 1 (1931)
Concrete
15' (to light)

First reinforced concrete street lighting column to be installed in Europe. Installed in the City of Liverpool, as chosen by the City Electrical Engineer P. J. Robinson. Liverpool used concrete columns for all its side street lighting.

Fluted (1935)
Concrete
15' (to light)

A very popular design which was continued into 1980s-1990s. The C.U. Museum had three examples in the 1970s: 14'3", 12'3" and 10'6". All had various different sizes and designs of the base compartment. It was the first concrete fluted design installed in Europe for the Gas Light and Coke Company.

Concrete Utilities Museum.


The Avenue column first made an appearance in 1936. It is believed to be the first 25' concrete column to be installed in Europe. The first examples were installed in Blackpool.

The name refered to just the column which stood at 24' and supported a multitude of different bracket styles. The brackets were named after the towns and cities in which they were first installed.


The flat surface of the column reflects the light from the lantern and from the headlights of vehicles and so increases their safety value as beacons. This is most useful to motorists in the early hours of the morning when lamps are extinguished. - 1937 APLE Conference Programme


Avenue (with Shakespeare Bracket) (1936)
Concrete
25' (to light)

The column (pictured) was fitted with the Shakespeare bracket.

The column was later renamed the Avenue 4D.

Gallery

1936 Advert
1936 Journal
1938 Catalogue
1939 Journal

Avenue 4D (with Shakespeare Bracket / 5 Ft. Arm) (1937)
Concrete
25' (to light)
Registered Design: No. 813529

This column was originally sold as the Avenue but by 1937 was now the Avenue 4D. Columns available in 23' 6", 22' and 20' 6" heights with 21" x 8" door with teak backing panel. Brackets described include the Canop (3' 6") (designed with Mr. Wm. L. Whittle, Surveyor, Hitchin), Shakespeare (6') and Eagle (4' 6") - 1937 Programme

These columns and brackets were also rebadged and sold by the GEC and sold as part of their concrete column range. (It was marketed as the Avenue Z4720 column).

The bracket was rebranded the 5 Ft. Bracket a year later.

The Avenue 4D was now approved by the Royal Fine Art Commission. - 1939 Programme

Advertisement: Some Towns Using Our Columns (1937)
Advertisement: A Concrete Utilities Design (1938)
Advertisement: Modern Lamp Columns (1938)
1938 Catalogue
1938 Catalogue
Advertisement: Concrete Utilities (1939)
Advertisement: Southern Electricity Service (1939)
Advertisement: Concrete Lamp Columns (1943)
Advertisement: Concrete Utilities (1945)


Broadway (with 3 Ft. Arm) (1936)
Concrete
25' (to light)
Registered Design: No 813530

The Broadway column was mentioned as being installed in Hertford. It is 25'6" high with a 3'6" projection.

1936 Journal
1938 Catalogue



Avenue 3D (with R. L. Bracket / Canop Bracket / 3 Ft. 6 In. Bracket) (1937)
Concrete
25' (to light)
Registered Design: No. 807127

The Avenue 3D was the same height as the Avenue 4D which allowed it to be used on Group A routes and support the full range of brackets. However, it was slightly slimmer, so was probably provided as an option for smaller outreach brackets, enabling all the dimensions to be kept in proportion.

More significantly the Avenue 3D had a larger base compartment. This allowed it to accommodate extra components such as winches, which is why the Avenue 3D was often pictured with winch gear.

The bracket may have been called the Canop Bracket.

An Avenue 3D of height 20' 6" with RL Type bracket (for Raising And Lowering gear) was exhibited at Folkestone in 1937 - 1937 Programme

1937 APLE Conference Programme
1938 Catalogue




Avenue 4D (with Fulham Bracket) (1937)
Concrete
25' (to light)

The Fulham Bracket was originally desgined for Fulham.

These columns and brackets were also rebadged and sold by the GEC and sold as part of their concrete column range. (It was marketed as the Fulham Z4725 column).

1937 Advert

Eddystone (1937)
Concrete
15' (to light)
Believed to be called the Eddystone column as it's mentioned in a journal.

1937 Journal
Advertisement: Concrete Utilities (1937)

Avenue 2D (with Banstead Bracket) (1937)
Concrete
15' (to light)
First appears, unamed, in an advert from 1937 installed in Banstead.

The C.U. Museum has an example of a Avenue 2D Square which has a square profile instead of triangular. This is fitted with an 1' 6" Avenue Bracket which is the same as the Banstead Bracket.

Advertisement: Concrete Utilities (1937)
1938 Catalogue
Advertisement: A Concrete Utilities Design (1939)
Concrete Utilities Museum.

Avenue 4D (with 2 Ft. 6 In. Arm) (1937)
Concrete
25' (to light)
Registered Design: No. 807127

These columns and brackets were also rebadged and sold by the GEC and sold as part of their concrete column range. (It was marketed as the Ware Z4721 column and the picture shows the GEC Z8005 lantern).

Advertisement: A Concrete Utilities Design (1938)
1938 Catalogue
1938 Catalogue
1938 Catalogue
Advertisement: A Concrete Utilities Design (1939)



Avenue 4D (with Shakespeare Bracket / 6 Ft. Arm) (1938)
Concrete
25' (to light)
Registered Design: No. 813531

The bracket may have been called the Shakespeare bracket.

1938 Catalogue



Avenue Square (with Double 4 Ft. Arm) (1937)
Concrete
25' (to light)

One of the firm's most popular designs.

1937 Advert
1938 Catalogue
1938 Catalogue
1939 Journal



Avenue Square (with Double 6 Ft. Arm) (1937)
Concrete
25' (to light)

1937 Advert
1937 Journal
1938 Catalogue



Blackpool New Type (1937)
Concrete
25' (to light)

Designed for Princes Way, Blackpool.

1938 Catalogue



Avenue 4D / Avenue 4D Special (with 4 Ft. 6 In. Bird / Eagle Bracket) (1937)
Concrete
25' (to light)
Registered Design: No. 814505

The column was also sometimes called the Avenue 4D Special.

Bracket was possibly also called the Eagle bracket. - 1937 Programme

The building is Hackney Town Hall where two of these columns were erected. They were later saved and donated to CU Phosco museum.

The most famous installation was of 75 units along Morecombe Promenade which was probably installed in late 1937/early 1938. This was covered in the 1938 Journal of Public Lighting.

1937 Programme
1938 Catalogue
1938 Journal
Gallery



Civictus (1937)
Concrete
25' (to light)

This column and bracket were installed in Watford by 1937. Its base and column design is similar to the Liverpool No. 1. The same columns and lanterns were installed in front of the Civic Centre, Southampton.

1937 Advert
1938 Catalogue
1938 Catalogue
1939 Journal



??? (1938)
Concrete
25' (to light)

Installed in Dublin.

1938 Catalogue



Utility Major (1938)
Concrete
Avenue 4D (with 6 Ft. New Arc Arm / Arc 1 Bracket) (1938)
Concrete
25' (to light)
Registered Design: No. 826968

Approved by The Royal Fine Arts Commission

A 4' projection New Arc Bracket, registered design No. 821441/2, was exhibited at Bournemouth in 1938. - 1938 Programme

The column and bracket was to be exhibited at the cancelled Glasgow exhibition (1939).

Was later called the Arc 1 Bracket.

1938 Catalogue
Advertisement: A Concrete Utilities Design (1939)
1945 Paper



Avenue 3D (with Utility Bracket) (1939)
Concrete

Approved by The Royal Fine Arts Commission

The Avenue 3D was now approved by the Royal Fine Art Commission. The column was to be exhibited with the Utility bracket at the cancelled Glasgow exhibition - 1939 Programme

Gallery

1939 Journal

Avenue 3D Arc 2 (1940)
Concrete

Shown in the CU catalogue as 1940 design - but the firm would've been involved in the war effort so this date is disputed. The Arc 2 bracket was probably a post-war design.

Advertisement: It's The Outline That Counts

Avenue 2D Arc 2 (1941)
Concrete

Shown in the CU catalogue as 1941 design - but the firm would've been involved in the war effort so this date is disputed. The Arc 2 bracket was probably a post-war design.

Sugg C.U. (1946)
Concrete
15'

Special concrete column and bracket (a modification of the 1' 6" Avenue Bracket) for the Sugg 8000 lamp. The bracket includes the control equipment. Sold by Sugg as either the Sugg C.U. bracket or the 8000 Type 'G'.

1946 Conference Programme
1946 Paper
1947 Advert
1947 Journal

Avenue 3DNN (with 2ft. 6in. Avenue bracket) (1946)
Concrete
25'

Narrow base design. Occupies only 9½-in across the pavement and intended for use where space is restricted.

1946 Conference Programme
1946 Journal
1947 Advert

Avenue 3DN (with Arc 2 bracket) (1947)
Concrete
25'

Narrow base design (9½in.). Includes "the latest pattern Arc II bracket.'

1947 Advert
1948 catalogue

Avenue 2D with ??? bracket (1947)
Concrete
15'

1947 Advert

Avenue 4D ??? (Custom) (1947)
Concrete
25'

Specially produced columns for single and double mounted prototype GEC 7-tube fluorescent lanterns for the Brompton Road installation.

1947 Journal

Avenue 4D ??? (Custom) (1947)
Concrete
25'

Specially produced columns for the BTH SL 753 3-tube fluorescent lantern.

1947 Conference
1947 Journal

Avenue 4D ??? (Custom) (1947)
Concrete
25'

Specially produced columns for the GEC Z 8481: Four-Eighty 4-tube fluorescent lantern. Two tubes project from the column on which the lanterns are clamped. The lantern head butts against the column.

1947 Conference
1947 Journal

Avenue 4D with 6.0 Ft. Arc II Bracket (1947)
Concrete

Advertisement: A Concrete Utilities Design

Avenue 3DNN Arc 3 (1948)
Concrete

Gallery
Advertisement: The Designs In World Wide Demand

Highfield Manor (1949)
Concrete

Special design for Liverpool

Estate Minor 'X' (1950)
Concrete
Highway (1952)
Concrete
Byway (1954)
Concrete
Advertisement: The Designs In World Wide Demand
Estate Minor Arc 3 (1955)
Concrete
Advertisement: The Designs In World Wide Demand
Broadcrete 500 (1955)
Concrete

Originally manufactured by Tarslag
Advertisement: The Original

Highway 'X' (1956)
Concrete
25'

Public Lighting #92
Advertisement: Elegance Simplicity Service
Advertisement: Elegance Simplicity Service
Advertisement: Centifugally Spun Concrete Lighting Columns
Advertisement: The Designs In World Wide Demand

Fluted (1956)
Concrete
15'

Public Lighting #92
Advertisement: The Georgian Lantern
Advertisement: The Designs In World Wide Demand

Catenary (1956)
Concrete
25'

Public Lighting #92

Highway 'X' S.B. (1956)
Concrete

Gallery

New Highway (1960)
Concrete
30' - 35'

Advertisement: The New Highway
Advertisement: For 30 ft. & 35 ft.

Byway 'X' Arc 4 (1961)
Concrete