Holophane K461 post top lantern

The Holophane K461 square post top lantern is an American design through and through, however it does appear they were made by the UK branch, as a label on the exterior shows. Other than where it came from, I know nothing else about it. I bought this absolute giant of a post top lantern off a fellow collector, and was told it was one of 4 or 5 others that were removed from the car park of a factory when they wanted to replace them.

This absolutely huge thing was specified to run 400w SON, which places it at being no older than the 70's, however it was recalled that they run MBF/U. This makes it a touch easier for me, as I have no spare loose 400w SON gear spare. The glassware is absolutely stunning, and despite a few chips, is completely intact and uncracked. The refractors in this seem to direct some light into the massive canopy, I assume this allows the lantern to combine indirect and direct lighting together. Inside, the 400w MBF looks rather comfortable in its surroundings, no surprises really.

The photos show the lantern after I managed to unseize everything, and it was seized something good too, just about every single screw was rusted solid, so after they were removed, they were simply replaced rather than reused. The original screws securing to the column were just some large bolts, so those have also been replaced with some much better grubs. The cover for the terminal connections was shot though, rust and corrosion had weakened it to the point where it just broke up as soon as the screws turned, so a new one will need to be fabricated. The original colour was a light grey colour, however I will be respraying it a smooth silver. As for the underside of the canopy, I'm torn between changing to white, or keeping it silver.