This is a tap that was made for a rather obscure purpose. What part(s) of a Tilley does it suit? Sutton HSS Australia .340” 36 Whit Z3 Tan 6271 9-11 Tony
Wild guess, but is it to screw in the frame securing bosses on a 246 Guardsman fount (and possibly also the 246A)? Without a calculator .34" is something like 8.5mm and the only part I can think of that is roughly that size might be a thread (if there is one?) that secures the boss to the fount... if there was one. BTW, I don't mean the external thread that the frame attaches to, the pitch is far too fine on this tap.
Both the control cock filter and the burner end of the airtubes have a 36 T.P.I. Whitworth thread but the diameter isn't quite right for either of those. I don't have an injector tube to measure but from memory, they also have a fine thread. However, I wouldn't describe any of these as obscure. By the process of elimination, helped by the fact that I have one to measure, I conclude that this tap is for threading the old type vapouriser to accept the brass insert which screws into the control cock. Henry.
The Tilley generator thread that screws into the cock is 11/32 36TPI Whitworth (55degree thread form). The cock’s thread that screws into the later tanks is 1/2 BSCY. So my guess is the 11/32-36 metric equivalent for the Tilley generator thread that screws into the cock. Cheers Pete
Henry gets the prize! The ‘obscure’ reference is to all the bits and pieces that came with this tap. I’m still working out what Tilley-related outcome they were intended for. More later... Tony
@Tony Press that’s one very rare tap. Where did you get it? I had the devil of a time to get the 11/32-36 tap and the die in the same thread was even harder, I had to get it specially made. Cheers Pete
Knowing the "background" of the tap may help in solving the riddle. My wild guess is that it may have been used to marry Tilley with Bialaddin/Vapalux or other brands, or in the production of an unavailable/alternate product. I suppose that is more than one guess!! Very handy tap to have. Cheers Peter
@AussiePete Hi Pete, If you have the right steel then you could have made your own die with the tap above. And yes it would been slow going but very doable and of course you would need lots of cutting oil. You would also need to temper the steel. There are quite a few DIY videos. Making a die is something I've wanted to try but since I don't have a lathe or mill so I'm unable to try it out. Cheers, Norman
I suspect this tap was specially made by Sutton for its original (previous) owner. I think I also have some items that it may have been used to make. I’m travelling at the moment and will return with more photos later in the week. Cheers Tony
@Norman I have a lathe with a small mill attachment but I haven’t bothered to make a die with them. It’s a bit out of my realm of interest to make dies preferring to let the experts make them. Perhaps one day I may give it a shot, but for now I like to use the bought jobs to make bits and pieces. Cheers Pete
Think that tap was made to make your own gennies using the 606 as some of the shorter gennies where not made after a while . Bob
Rather buy the tool... I've about reached the point where I can't walk and chew gum at the same time without a struggle of some kind!
