Revo and Phosco Precinct - Comparison
Now that the nice weathers here, I decided to get both the Revo and Phosco Precinct out of hiding for some comparison photos. When I first got the Phosco example I knew there were a few differences, however placing both side by side revealed just how different they actually are. In the pics, the Revo is on the left, the Phosco on the right. To give a few examples:

The Revo lantern is of cast iron construction, compared to the Phosco's cast aluminium body, meaning it weighs a ton. To add to the weight, the fibreglass canopy is a lot thicker and heavier on the Revo, and the finial on the top is of solid cast build rather than the Phosco's hollowed out finial and slightly thinner canopy. The most noticeable difference is the radius of the bends on the arms, the Revos is a lot smoother unlike the Phosco's, which appears to have been cut slightly short too meaning the lamp area isn't centralised over the spigot.

Minor changes are the bowl ring, the bowl clips and hinges, internally because of the different methods of how the refractor rings secure in place, the top of the spigot cup, and the lip of the canopy's.

By detailing the differences between both, and by picturing both together, it should allow collectors to accurately distinguish between these iconic lanterns a little easier which manufacturer made them, this not actually having been known until I got the Phosco example two years ago. Its incredible that these lanterns have managed to survive into the third decade of the 21'st century considering how quickly everything is disappearing now, but it holds testament to their excellent build quality that they've survived intact and in very good condition. In usual fashion the glass refractor ring has disappeared from the Revo example, so a new ring is now required before I can start restoration.

Restoration of both will involve a full strip down and respray back to their original cream colour. I have one of the special Birmingham columns also, so once I'm able to get it home, its hoped I can install the column and reunite the original lantern back to the column.

Revo and Phosco Precinct - Comparison

Now that the nice weathers here, I decided to get both the Revo and Phosco Precinct out of hiding for some comparison photos. When I first got the Phosco example I knew there were a few differences, however placing both side by side revealed just how different they actually are. In the pics, the Revo is on the left, the Phosco on the right. To give a few examples:

The Revo lantern is of cast iron construction, compared to the Phosco's cast aluminium body, meaning it weighs a ton. To add to the weight, the fibreglass canopy is a lot thicker and heavier on the Revo, and the finial on the top is of solid cast build rather than the Phosco's hollowed out finial and slightly thinner canopy. The most noticeable difference is the radius of the bends on the arms, the Revos is a lot smoother unlike the Phosco's, which appears to have been cut slightly short too meaning the lamp area isn't centralised over the spigot.

Minor changes are the bowl ring, the bowl clips and hinges, internally because of the different methods of how the refractor rings secure in place, the top of the spigot cup, and the lip of the canopy's.

By detailing the differences between both, and by picturing both together, it should allow collectors to accurately distinguish between these iconic lanterns a little easier which manufacturer made them, this not actually having been known until I got the Phosco example two years ago. Its incredible that these lanterns have managed to survive into the third decade of the 21'st century considering how quickly everything is disappearing now, but it holds testament to their excellent build quality that they've survived intact and in very good condition. In usual fashion the glass refractor ring has disappeared from the Revo example, so a new ring is now required before I can start restoration.

Restoration of both will involve a full strip down and respray back to their original cream colour. I have one of the special Birmingham columns also, so once I'm able to get it home, its hoped I can install the column and reunite the original lantern back to the column.

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Comment 1 to 7 of 7
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Slyspark   [28 Mar, 2020 at 07:15 PM]
Very nice!
AngryHorse   [29 Mar, 2020 at 08:59 AM]
I always thought these looked pre WW2! Very Happy
lampy   [29 Mar, 2020 at 10:24 PM]
interesting, i had the original birmingham REVO in the brown paint, it did weigh a tonne, sold it in the end, sort of wish id kept it, but i tend to save local lanterns to me on the whole. Has the phosco one got a tin canopy or is that white glass fibre like the REVO one? the original columns had a stepped base, and one ladder bar with a ball on the end of it
Dave   [29 Mar, 2020 at 10:41 PM]
Yes its white fibreglass also, although its a lot thinner. The original stepped base columns were made by Revo indeed, however when Phosco took the design over, they also took the columns design over, and omitted the stepped base and city crest from the door, going for the far plainer tapered base and plain door.
lampy   [29 Mar, 2020 at 11:18 PM]
when did the original REVO fitting appear in birmingham? early 60's?
Dave   [29 Mar, 2020 at 11:48 PM]
The first ones started making their appearances in the late 1950's. Those ones have an aluminium spun canopy, and can easily be distinguished by the metal ring that sits just above the bracket, running concentrically round the lamp area. The reflector plate internally was also the same as the Bell tops, enamelled and bearing the words 'roadside' with an arrow pointing in the direction towards the roadway.
lampy   [30 Mar, 2020 at 12:49 AM]
i can recall seeing hundreds of them on side streets round birmingham in the 1990's, i prefered the tin top version, think if id have had that id have kept it. Sutton coldfield area had many stanton 7 swan necks with bell fittings and some GEC top entry mercs all on clocks, some GEC concrete swan necks too, was a bizzar sight in the late 90's, they lasted till about 2000 ish

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