Ah I hadn't realised they have a new website but knew that one was out of date. Nevertheless, it still demonstrates the price difference. The new website has the price details in an Excel file now.

No offence but I can't imagine they get a lot of trade at Vacuum Formers these days! Most councils would rather replace the entire lantern if the bowl fails these days it seems.

Streetlighting bowls are only a small fraction of the work of Vacuum Formers. A lot of plastic shapes are made by vacuum forming.

Is 25 the lowest quantity you can buy? I only want one deep Alpha 9 bowl!!

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"I used to rule the world... Now I sweep the streets I used to own."
Remembering GEC.

They do smaller quantities if they have them on the shelf. Try PMing Claire she may have one spare.

Both my Eleco HW509 (90W SOX) and HW505 (35W SOX) bowls have missing refractors. They are the separate glued on types. Fortunately 1 remains in each case. Hmm, time for my most ambitious restoration yet - make new ones.

Since they are nice and thick (almost 10mm in places) and flat, it shouldn't be too difficult to make moulds using the old ones and then cast new ones using polyester resin.

So first step make up the form work for the mould.



Refractor panel for the HW505 is ready in the form. I decide to experiment with the small one first...

Silicone mould material was then poured in to fill the form. After allowing it to set, the formwork was removed.



Amazingly good for the first attempt. The rough edges won't matter as the resin will be poured to just below that level. The mould needs to cure for around a week before I can use it to cast the refractor panel.

This will be an interesting development to watch

What a brilliant idea!

If it all goes well with the polyester resin, you could start taking requests and have a cottage industry there.

My only reservation is that the refractor on one side of the bowl is going to be a mirror-image of the refractor on the other side, so if you make two refractors that are identical and glue them back on the bowl, one of the refractors will be directing the light upwards!

Unfortunately I have no idea how to solve this (you may have solved it already!), but even if it's impossible to solve, the lantern will always look better with two refractors instead of one.

Er, nope. Looking at other bowls and trying it with the refractor I have, the groove side is next to the bowl and the smooth side next to the tube. If the same panel is arranged like that on both sides of the bowl, the light will be "down" in both cases.

I have never thought of doing this. Brilliant idea Phosco!

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From streetlighting to radio, dance through the night whilst the streetlights are glowing outside.