PERSPECTIVE : Torch-Style Lamps Again Lighting Up Older Areas

For decades, the cobra-head reigned supreme as king of the street-lighting jungle.

The ubiquitous light standard, which rises 20 feet into the air and extends a bright lamp over the road, is recognized by engineers as a highly efficient--yet decidedly bland--piece of urban landscape.

But in downtown districts from Huntington Beach to Anaheim, the cobra-head is getting some unexpected competition from a lamp it bested long ago: the ornamental torch-style standard.

Cities that once abandoned the old-fashioned lights are returning to them as a way to give aging business districts and residential neighborhoods a touch of refinement and history.

“They bring a wonderful glow to the neighborhood,” said Diann Marsh, a Santa Ana historian. “They give a sense of what this area looked like 50 years ago.”

Not only are cities working to restore the few original standards that remain, they are also buying hundreds of new lamps that mirror the 1920s and ‘30s designs.

Anaheim recently installed rows of torch lamps in its downtown area that match the antique models, even down to the distinctive “A” embossed on the fancy metal poles. Santa Ana has lined its downtown streets with replica standards made from molds identical to the originals.

The classic designs are becoming a common feature of downtown redevelopment projects. City officials and merchants said the modest size and distinctive look of the lamps harmonize with the pedestrian-oriented shopping districts they are trying to foster.

Vintage standards are also staging a comeback in residential areas, where homeowners have successfully fought to keep the antique look, even if it means having the originals replaced with replicas.

“They’re special to the neighborhoods because they represent the era when the homes were built,” said Santa Ana Councilwoman Lisa Mills. The cobra-head lamps “are cold and gray. They don’t provide the same quaintness and charm.”

The revival comes as Orange County’s older cities attempt to capitalize on the past in an effort to revive their once-thriving central business districts, which like downtowns across the nation faded with the rise of suburban shopping malls.

Urban planners said the old-fashioned lamps blend nicely with the renovated storefront facades in cities like Huntington Beach, Orange and Santa Ana, creating a look distinct from the typical shopping center.

The standards are throwbacks to the 1920s, when traffic signals, manhole covers and other forms of “street furniture” were designed with an eye to elegance and detail.

Most old-style lamps are made of cast iron or aluminum and contain one or two ornate torches.

Sixty years ago, cities often selected custom lamppost designs as a way of making their communities stand out to passing motorists.

“Back then, you could almost tell what city you were in based on the style of the lighting,” said Jerry Person, a Huntington Beach historian.

While pleasing to the eye, the original standards are rapidly deteriorating, public works officials said. Most have antiquated electrical systems that give off relatively little light for the amount of energy they use.

“They are high-dollar maintenance items,” said Robert Templeton, Anaheim’s senior electrical system designer. “The glass becomes brittle and metal can actually shatter.”

The decay forced cities to replace many antiques with cobra-heads, which contain modern electrical systems and provide more light.

But increasingly, officials are concluding that replica standards offer a workable mix of style and efficiency. The lamps are equipped with the latest technology and include fiberglass globes that cannot be shattered by vandals. The replicas are practically indistinguishable from antiques because identical molds are used to create them.

“At night, they light up the street like a stadium,” said Roger Kooi, Santa Ana’s downtown development manager. “During the day, they are a piece of the street landscape that fits in very well.”

Some cities have taken great pains to get the look just right.

In Huntington Beach, city planners studied 60-year-old photos of downtown when designing replica lights for the pier area.

Unable to find a suitable color for its replicas, Anaheim officials had a paint company create a custom color they call “Anaheim green.”

Despite the burst of popularity, the torchlight revival is not expected to spread beyond Orange County’s historic districts. The replicas are costly--up to $2,500 each compared to $1,500 for a cobra-head. Some wide boulevards require cobra-heads to ensure that the entire street is adequately lit.

Still, residents and merchants said the lamps are providing an unexpected boost to downtown areas. “They really add character,” Marsh said.