On 11 Jan 2006 20:21:41 GMT,it is alleged that
(Andrew Gabriel) spake thusly in uk.d-i-y:

In article ,
"Bob Eager" writes:

Weren't those (railway anyway) an odd voltage anyway?

I think so...but I heard that the problem was that the people who stole
them didn't know that....so they stole them (once) anyway...

They used to be used to distinguish mercury vapour lamps
which needed external ballast from self-ballasted ones, in
streetlamps, to avoid unfortunate accidents.


Also in Fireglow lamps for (Berry Magicoal ISTR) electric fires. In
order to make you pay large amounts for the replacements.

A standard brass BC lampholder fitted the bracket however, indeed
sometimes just the brass shell could be swapped.

--
You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.
- Indira Gandhi