When modern octagonal-shafted poles, which are made of aluminum and are usually silver or gray-painted, first started appearing in NYC streets in 1950, the mast of choice was curved with a single thinner bracket, as shown here.
In the early 1960s when GE M-400s and Westinghouse OV-25s, which were oblong and gave a greenish white light began to appear (replacing the teardrop-style incandescents), a cobra-neck mast was deigned to support them, and the vast majority of the curved-masts were replaced with cobra necks, retaining the shaft. There are still about a hundred curved masts around town, like this one on White Plains Road in the Bronx.
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Hey, I knew that shot (W.P.R)looked familiar!
dot replacing all denskys on brp only a few left bet. 233 and neried in bx. shiny new boring light poles in their place
Deskeys gradually being replaced–there are no replacement parts available
Hey Kevin,
The octagonal poles were always made of galvanized steel. The Deskey poles are made of aluminum.
Interesting how the lamp extends into the space occupied by the elevated train structure, inserting itself above the catwalk. I don’t think I’ve seen that before, or at least I’ve never noticed it. I think that catwalk was added (or widened) after the lamp was there, in connection with the re-signaling of the White Plains Rd. el. Do you know the cross-street where this is located?
This is between Pelham Pkwy N and Thwaites Pl if I’m not mistaken. I live a few blocks from there, I recognize the store/apartment skyline.
Should be this lamppost:
http://g.co/maps/adfej
THEY DON’T HAVE THESE ANYMORE. WHEN I WAS REALLY YOUNG, I SAW ONE OF THESE IN CENTRAL PARK. ABOUT 95% OF NYC STREET LIGHT POLES ARE EITHER SHAPED LIKE A SEVEN OR THE TOP OF A NUMBER TWO