Just wondering how old the lanterns are. Please try and be specific as you can - Such as 1991 for MA90s rather than 'The 90's'.

I had a talk with my brain and this is what we agreed -

We both think that -

2006 - Opalo
2007 - Iridiums
2002 - SRL8s
1995 - MA90s
1998 - MA50s
2001 - MA60s
2004 - Beta 2 NEW
2003 - Streetfighter
1985 - MRL6
2000 - MI55

We're probably completely wrong.

I'll get me coat.

I hate to say it but you're pretty much wrong about all of them    

The Philips MA50/60/90 range are described in this UKASTLE article as there have been different variants over the years.

I haven't found a precise date for the Opalo but this is probably your closest guess. Simon Cornwell requested more information on here a while back (see this topic) but no one responded. It definitely wasn't as late as '06 though so my guess would be the early-mid noughties.

Iridiums have been around since c. 2000 - certainly not as late as 2007. The Streetfighter dates back to the mid-'90s and the MI55 (SNK 70) dates back to at least the '90s, if not the '80s. Unfortunately I don't have the precise dates.

The MRL 6 dates back to c. 1979 and was originally manufactured by GEC as the Z8600. For a short time during the '90s it was manufactured by Phosco as the P426. The SRL8 design must date back to then. This was superseded by the GR70, which I know for a fact was around by the early '90s.

Finally, the Beta Two new design dates back to 1989. This is the same year the Beta Five was also redesigned.

The SRL8 was available in its original form as the GEC Z8830 in 1978-79.

Do you know when its Mk2 form was launched (i.e. the version we see today branded as the SRL8F)?

It's also worth considering that it can take a year after a lantern is launched for it to be installed in any numbers to actually constitute an actual scheme, as opposed to a trial. It took a while for the first Stela's to appear, for example.

Also, I know there was a gap of something like 2 years between the release of the Opalo and the Thorn Jet.

_________________

Thanks for your help, guys.

I have a new old stock early Iridium dated 2000 in my collection.

Likely to be in the early 1990s, when the type was produced by Siemens and later WRTL.

The F in SRL8F I believe stands for faceted, as since about roughly 2006 the SRL8 has featured a reflector like that found on the Vectra.

That's right, and I believe the Thorn Jet was launched in early 2006.