This is the lamp which is the subject of my post here: Some you win ... Now resplendent in its new paint (it was polished brass, but looked poor owing to numerous flaws in the brass which are sadly still evident in some modern day brass) which whilst not an exact match for the cream white of the original, looks fine to me. The shade is of course not original but when Mrs R100 says she likes it, I know my place! If you read the thread above you will see that the tool I made to clear a blockage in the pick up pipe snapped off in the pipe and the only way to retrive it was by removing the tank bottom. I had nothing to lose as the tank was otherwise so much scrap. The job actually turned out to be quite straightforward. I applied heat with a Bullfinch gas torch and after a couple of false starts, the bottom dropped out, along with the offending tool blocking the pick up pipe. The one problem I did have was that in applying so much heat, the pressure pip mechanism also dropped out but that easily soldered back in again. I also re-soldered the control cock bush which I tried to remove prior to taking out the bottom. I naively assumed the bush merely sat in the hole in the top of the tank secured with solder but with the help of this forum I now know the bush is held in by a knurled nut inside prior to soldering. Replacing the bottom was no problem once all the mating surfaces were tinned and fluxed, but this time I soldered it whilst the tank was inverted in a bath of water deep enough to cover the pressure pip, filler neck and control cock bush to act as a heat sink. It's easy to build up the fillet around the edge of the bottom plate and whilst my effort is not quite as neat as the factory original it passes muster. I then pressurised the tank using water for safety and I gave it 120 pumps before chickening out! No leaks whatsoever so I am a happy bunny.
An excellent result and you must feel rewarded for your efforts, it looks really good. Given the work you’ve put into this lamp, it displays a level of dedication which is truly commendable! Well done!
Thanks BigStevie for those kind words. I am pleased with the result, but more importantly so is Mrs R100. Here is the money shot:
I quite like the shade on your wee lamp R100, I have one on a chrome TL10 and it looks good there too. I was just thinking, I bet I have a lamp that your wife would absolutely love. Not that I’m selling mine as it’s my current favourite. It’s the chromed conversion lamp fitted in a black stained hexagonal oak base. There’s a pic on here somewhere.
Thanks Jean, I will have a look for it. I also like the Corinthian column type TL106 as we have a couple of electric table lamps of this style so a pressure lamp to match would be good.
Hi Bo, I doubt it is a Tilley. I bought it from the dreaded Bay of E so I know nothing of its history. The fit in the Tilley gallery was too tight initially and I had to use a diamond burr to reduce the lip diameter.
@R100 Very well done with the fount base work. Great outcome. I sympathise with you enormously on endeavouring to remove the obstruction in the pickup tube. I didn't spot the post re your initial problem about getting the control cock bush out, which you have referred to in your introduction. I would just add that another option that may have worked was mentioned here Tilley R1 c1934 Blockage Fixed Regards
Wow that's very impressive stuff you are a master builder that's for sure, top job great story and plenty of information congratulations.
Well done @R100 soldering brass is always a challenge where there are other joins nearby. You have persevered where others may have given in and I think the reward looks truly worthwhile !
Fireexit1 credited you originally in post #12 rather than R100 (the true hero!) - see the quote in my post #13. He's changed it now...
You unsoldered and then re-soldered a Tilley baseplate so that makes you a hero in my eyes. It's not something I'd attempt...
Lovely work. What mantle goes with this model? as I am mid process of restoring the very same model, but with a brass fount