These were unusual because most street light bracket arms of the day were in a fixed, stationary position. Nearly all of the wood pole ones consisted of 3/4 inch (I.D.) steel pipe arms. Here we see a rare exception whereby the fixture could be swung 90 degrees for trolley car clearance, easier maintenance, etc.

During 1908 in Hingham, MA there were 465 - 32 candlepower incandescent street lamps (one is in the above photo). These provided similar light output compared to today's 40-watt incandescent lightbulb "and six arc lamps of 1200 candlepower each" according to the town's year-end report. Looped up and down town streets, three street lighting circuits utilizing 59 miles of wire originated from a privately-owned power company's generation station in an adjacent town. Usage was measured by watthour meters at the forementioned facility. During the year the Light Plant was responsible for 91 miles of customer lighting service wires strung upon the approximately 1,500 poles around town. Owing to the increasing popularity of the electric light, there were 10,609 customer lightbulbs connected to the system.