Hi I'm a proper newbie to this Pressure Lamp thing and so need some help, please! In 1986 I bought a house in Broadstone, Dorset, UK and in a corner of a shed at the top of the garden found my Tilley Lamp. It was in a very rough state, but over the years I've gradually cleaned it up to what you (hopefully) see in the pics. The house was a 1930's house, so I'm guessing the lamp is probably a similar age. So... help needed: 1. It's a Tilley - but what model is it? 2. Are there any bits missing that can be seen from the photos? 3. Compared to other photos I've seen of these it's quite tall: as it's predominantly brass I'm just wondering if the upper stem - above the fluted stem -(sorry if I got the terms wrong!) - which appears to be steel - is not original? 4. Over the years I've used all sorts of cleaners on it, from Brasso thru' mild grinding paste to "The Pink Stuff". It's mostly worked out OK - but can anyone recommend anything to shift the stubborn stuff on the burner assembly?
Welcome aboard! It's a TL-10 and it's complete, the TL-10 was produced until 1946, if the socket that the control cock screws into is just long enough for the GF., control cock which is currently fitted, then your lamp is from between 1940 and 1946, if the socket is much deeper then the lamp is pre 1940. Table & Vase Lamps (TL & VL)
It's a Tilley Model TL11. Same as TL10 but with glass 182 gobe instead of the opal shade used for TL10. The age of these is never exact and in this case by no means certain but it cannot be later than 1945/6 and unlikely to be after 1940. The design registry No in the base rim suggests it should be 1930s but the control cock is a 1940 or later type. Problem there is the reg stamp was possibly used after the exclusive use period had expired which would be about 1937 and the cock is a replacable part so not certain to be original. I would guess at 1935 to 940 based on what I can see. The steel vaporiser is a service part and has very liklely been replaced a few times in the past 80 years or so. It is correct for the model though part #169 which is 7"long. If you have any plans to run the lamp you can forget polishing the burner because it will rapidly blacken again in use. If it's possible to remove it then heat the whole thing to dull red and quench in cold water. DULL red mind or you risk melting brass. Sometimes doing it twice helps but that will burn out most carbon deposits inside the burner and destroy any spider or insect debris in there. It should also free the threads to near enough hand tight but do not remove the three air tubes from the main burner casting as they may not screw back in. Tilley never sold these in bare polished brass. They were always lacquered, painted gold or plated. If you do polish then not Brasso because worked brass sheet will be degraded with the chemicals. Something like Autosol is better. ::Neil::
Welcome aboard that's a fantastic TL10 you have there. A great start as well. Now that you have found the perfect forum for all the information that you will ever need. Enjoy
Thanks all for the detailed information - really helpful. I don't plan to run it (which is maybe sacrilege, I know...) so maybe I'll have another go at the burner just to finish it off. I think I'm getting the bug....
There's nothing wrong with having a shelf queen, which is a lamp that doesn't get lit. I have many in my collection that I haven't lit up, and I have lamps that I do use regularly. For me the best parts are the hunt, then the time cleaning and polishing bringing the lamp back to its former self, if I don't have a particular model of course I will fire her up. As this is the best part seeing a new addition or model firing up for the first time that my eyes and mind have seen.
