Looking at my M-250s, the R1 and R2, I ask myself, what was wrong with the M-250R1 that GE had to give it a complete make-over and out comes the R2?

Same with the M-400R2.  Why did GE produce the R3, which IMO is a bad decision.  I dread to think what an M-250R3 would’ve looked like.  Good thing they never made one. 

But why change the 2 fixtures if they work just fine?

Could be a number of reasons-

Materials cheaper to manufacturer for the newer style-
R3s could mount to some additional type/sizes of poles-
RS3s able to accommodate HPS/MH equipment better
Someone got paid to design a newer design and they wanted to justify the costs.

Could be a number of reasons-

Materials cheaper to manufacturer for the newer style-     Feels and looks to me like it is the same material on each head/body
R3s could mount to some additional type/sizes of poles-    Both say they can fit on 1.25"-2" poles
RS3s able to accommodate HPS/MH equipment better           That could be possible for the M-400R3s, but what about changing up the M-250R1 to the M-250R2.  Both -R1 and -R2 are the same size, but......
Someone got paid to design a newer design and they wanted to justify the costs.      .....This could explain the changing up of the M-250, but it still doesn't explain why they would pay someone to change it up if there was nothing wrong with the R1 design.  I know of a few members who have put MH gear in an M-250R1 as well as an M-250R2, and M-400R2s.   I still don't really understand the WHY.

Also, the M-400R3 is more or less a "Hey, AEL! Can we design a new M-400 cobrahead based on your AEL 125 fixture?"  

Two reasons:

Utilities want more fixtures with interchangeable glassware. The M400R3 for example uses glassware that fits on AELs and vice versa.

The M400A3/R3 is also a cost cutting measure. I have a few of these plus the older GE variety. I can tell you they're quite a bit lighter and thinner than the older variety. Not that well made, sadly.

Well the M400 looks just the same as the AEL 125, I think they made a copy of that. Although M400 has a bigger body than the AEL 125.





They look almost identical.

-snip-

So basically, a 125 that has gotten a bit fatter. 

Well yeah. lol  Thats GE's design.