Thorn Alpha 3

Gramma6 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 06, 2010 11:50 pm

The Alpha 3 was sometimes used for casual replacements of GEC Turtles in my area too. The Alpha 3 (imo) looks more modern and compact than the GECs.

Urbis Saturn Land · **Posted:** Sun Mar 07, 2010 12:10 am

I don't know if the Alpha 3 were casual replacements for the GEC Turtles, as I'm only in Sussex for about 4 weeks of a whole year! Rest of the time I'm in Yorkshire. I can't remember if Haywards Heath had A3's too, I know 'fax (Halifax) has them down Winding Road and outside of its rail station has. Brighouse well no need to mention, as the town is 1/2 full of them sadly many have lost their bowl. I know that Bradford had either A3's/ GEC Turtles or Revo Horizon Major's near to the Broadway area, sadly all is gone plus they were installed on very European brackets.

I'm trying to think where else that i have seen them installed? I keep thinking Southwater, Doncaster or withinin Donnys Met area. Possibly Scunthorpe... maybe Grimsby or Cleethorpes.

Did Fleetwood ever have them installed? Possibly Barnstaple but i'm going back a good 12-14 years since i was down in the Westcountry on Holiday.

mazeteam · **Posted:** Sun Mar 07, 2010 1:30 am

Doncaster has a few GEC Turtles... can't remember if it has A3's though.

gwilisandt · **Joined:** Wed Feb 17, 2010 5:04 pm **Posts:** 109

I spotted this A3 in Neath earlier in the week http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=neath&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Neath,+West+Glamorgan,+United+Kingdom&ll=51.664517,-3.801903&spn=0,359.993144&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=51.664457,-3.801784&panoid=FGj4brRIKe9bvZ24MX1PjA&cbp=12,52.24,,1,-12.11

No idea what lamp it is burning however
Mike.

Alpha mike · **Joined:** Sun Sep 04, 2011 9:17 pm **Posts:** 411

Indust wrote:

I thought I read somewhere that there was a fully cut-off version of the Alpha 3 on a catalogue, but maybe I imagined it.

The Alpha 3 will always be one of my favourite lanterns, moreso the Atlas type. It's reminiscent of my town centre in the 90s when they were burning mercury on sleeved ex. fluorescent columns. It's nice to still see a few around in town centres!

I read this and made me think, im sure i seen a few cut off alpha 3 lanterns by an airport near me many many years ago but i can't be sure.

Claire · **Posted:** Mon Oct 31, 2011 10:00 pm

Alpha mike wrote:

Indust wrote:

I thought I read somewhere that there was a fully cut-off version of the Alpha 3 on a catalogue, but maybe I imagined it.

The Alpha 3 will always be one of my favourite lanterns, moreso the Atlas type. It's reminiscent of my town centre in the 90s when they were burning mercury on sleeved ex. fluorescent columns. It's nice to still see a few around in town centres!

I read this and made me think, im sure i seen a few cut off alpha 3 lanterns by an airport near me many many years ago but i can't be sure.

I've never knowingly seen one, only cut-off GEC Turtles. However, I can't image that Thorn would want to be done out of the cut-off / aeroscreen market.

Phozagora · **Posted:** Thu Nov 03, 2011 2:49 pm

I have seen a few cut off Alpha 3 (remote geared) in Stevenage (north of London).

Phozagora · **Posted:** Thu Nov 03, 2011 5:27 pm

Alpha mike · **Joined:** Sun Sep 04, 2011 9:17 pm **Posts:** 411

Ah so i could well have seen some here near the airport

Phozagora · **Posted:** Thu Nov 03, 2011 8:59 pm

I like the THORN Alpha 3 design very much !!!
BBT (Barbier Bénard et Turenne) has sold a special version of THORN Alpha 30 with ont of its optic, but I prefer the original version from UK.

But they are very very rare (sold between 1976 and 1982), I have seen them 3 times in France, and 1 time in Belgium (French speaking part)

Thorn Alpha 3

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