Preamble Some time ago I found this steel Tilley PL53 at a country property in outback Queensland Australia. The lanterns history, as told to me, is that the lantern was found in a dusty but dry implement shed on the property. The lamp had been hanging from a rafter for as long as the current owners had been there, and they don’t remember it even being used. On close inspection there were no markings on the base of the fount, however on the rim, there is the markings that can be discerned representing “RD681681”. Further the pump / fuel tank bezel has “TILLEY LAMP Co *HENDON ENG * embossed. From these markings, and the presence of a fount pressure indicator I have deduced that this may be a Tilley and not a Kayen manufacture. The lantern had been roughly brush painted in what could be described as a military type kaki green. Not only had the fount been painted, but every part, except the globe and the hood, had also been likewise roughly painted. The lantern’s cracked globe has the “HYSIL TILLEY HENDON BRITISH” etched into its surface. I’m reasonably confident that this may be the original globe. The Fettle The lantern was dismantled into its various components and cleaned. All parts were immersed into a hot diluted citric acid bath for about 30 minutes, removed, rinsed and brass brushed clean. The parts were then rinsed again and put into a sonic cleaner to remove any rubbish and dirt from inside of the burner tubes, burner and other related parts. The generator was stripped and heat/quenched three times removing built up carbon deposits. All the lantern’s parts were magnetically test and the following parts were determined to be ferromagnetic, in this case steel: The fount and its base. The complete bail assembly including the bail uprights. The burner’s fuel/air mixture dome. The 3 x air tubes. The 3 air tubes’ air buttons. The globe cage – steel wire. The generator. The Burner The following picture shows the steel parts of the burner. The burner fuel/air mixing dome’s top has the stamped patent number usually found on the brass Tilley burners of this era. After cleaning, the burner was reassembled using a Nickel Anti-Seize compound to assist in any future strip down. The cleaned hood was reassembled into its final configuration. The Fount The steel fount was stripped from its original rough hand brushed paint using a citrus based paint stripper. On cleaning it came evident that when manufactured, the fount had been dipped into a molten tin/lead based alloy bath to provide rust protection. The following pictures show the evidence. The molten coating’s various lumps, bumps and imperfections were retained to preserve the original finish’s look. Paint All the parts that were originally painted were repainted again with a rattle spray can colour as close to the original colour as possible. The parts to be painted were cleaned with a solvent, and then primed. The spray rattle can paint used was as follows: The finish on this product’s paint is non-reflective and would have been ideal, however this paint is not in any way fuel resistant. To achieve a suitable fuel resistance, I used an automotive acrylic clear topcoat. Unfortunately, this gave the paint’s finish a shine; however, the painted surface is now fuel resistant. The following parts were repainted: The fount. The bail assembly, complete. The control valve and knob. The pump and including the pump’s knob. The original globe cage. The various components were gathered together for final assembly. Note: The broken original glass onion globe was replaced by a similar shaped onion globe from approximately the same era. The gauge of the unmarked replacement globe is quite a bit heavier and I suspect it’s a Kayen type. The fount’s finished paint work clearly shows the founts tin / lead plating blemishes. Assembly The PL53 parts were reassembled into a lantern with a suitable mantel attached. The Money Shot The assembled PL53 was preheated in the usual Tilley manner and lit. After pumping the lantern to a near correct pressure, as shown by the fount’s pressure indicator, about 60 pumps on a full tank of kerosene, the lit lantern settled down and ran flawlessly for over an hour. After the hour’s teat run the lantern was turned off by slowly releasing the fount’s pressure by unscrewing the pump. I was delighted. Further Information For reference, the following picture shows the steel fount’s rim profile. Further the above picture shows the tank to bail’s brass connecting ferrules’ configuration. Additionally, the picture shows the cock’s adjustment brass knob, painted. Summary Thise fettled PL53 has a high steel parts content. Excepting the glass globe, all the original parts were reused, including the generator. The fettled PL53 lit and ran flawlessly with a gentle hiss for its 1 hour test. I had a lot of satisfaction resurrecting and seeing this old war horse back on parade. Thank you for looking. Cheers Pete
Very impressive, both the lamp and your post. I don't remember seeing a Hysil globe before. It would be good if other members could check their Tilley globes and if they are Hysil, let us know what lamp they came off. I suspect it is original to the era of the lamp.
Great fettle, Peter, and a very nice lantern. Your “dipped” steel tank has the same treatment as the early AL 21 I posted recently. It, too, has the steel and stamped mixing tube, and other steel components. The “RD681681” is an old Tilley Registered Design number stamped on tanks into the late 1930s (?and maybe early ‘40s). Cheers Tony
Wow, that was a great fettle and an amazing find including the lamp's history! I have a steel founted PL53 that is waiting to be fixed up but the steel pump was badly corroded and even after a session with a lathe to clean the pitted inner surface of the sealing ring it still leaks. I might have another go now as I've got time!
Another great fettle Pete with an informative and detailed post. Your PL53 has turned out looking really good, you must be chuffed. I’m not one for shiny lamps, but I might have to one just like that!
Thank you all for the encouraging remarks, I appreciate them very much. @george Yes, that’ll be the icing on the cake. There are people on the Bay of Evil that offer reproduction labels. I’ve never seen a Tilley one relating to steel fount’s before, so now you’ve got me hunting. I do like the hunt. Cheers mate Pete
@AussiePete Pete, I use to have some of those warning labels, have no idea where they are now! I did a restoration on a Vapalux 300 steel tank lantern a number of years ago and used a label then but brain fog set in and now I can't remember what happened to them!
@AussiePete Pete, after my earlier Mil-Spec light up you have rounded off my evening! As ever a super, informative read and a pleasure to see your craftsmanship. Regards, Alex
Woooooooow very impressed with your story and your magnificent new PL53, that's definitely something to be proud of, thanks for sharing.
