This SL61 Hospital Lamp arrived today. In fine condition, appears to have had very little use and arrived complete with all its accessories. Both spare 169 vapourisers unused in their boxes. A very significant box ticked for my collection! I’m uncertain of it’s age, there’s is the letter L stamped on the base of the fount.
Also included is this bill of sale dated 31/5/61 from an auction house in York. The princely sum of £2-5-0d was paid.
Phwoooarr - what a coup ! - a very big tick like you say. £2/5- is now £52.31 with inflation - I bet you paid a little bit more...
What a wonderful set and time capsule! Collecting to me means assembling items that in detail tell their story. This chest contains many of those, and pressumably from the same era, so certain conclusions can be made based on the printed matter alone. Congratulations with this latest acquisition Stevie !
Fine condition indeed, you've every right to be pleased. Mmm, a Vapalux/Bialaddin washer set in with a Tilley lamp ?
@M.Meijer It does appear that all the included pieces paperwork are original to the lamp. The old sales invoice puts the lamp in a time and a place, which as you mention helps tell it’s story. Stevie
@WimVe No funnel, that might explain the extra spring clip inside the lid. I’m not certain if a funnel was part of the original kit, perhaps someone else knows? Photos of the inside of the box following.
@WimVe The threaded Tilley funnel does indeed fit the clips inside the lid of the box. I have one, so will now add it to the kit.
A great find indeed! Because it has the short socket for the GF., control cock the earliest that it can be is 1940, but I reckon that is a 1950's lamp
Just to say that when in use, the spirit jar needs putting in the other way. Oh, and while I think on, there was a dirty, smelly old piece of muslin cloth in mine. I threw it away immediately thinking it was just something that someone had added along the way. Unfortunately not, as I found out later - it was original equipment...
Hi, often a date mark on the inside of the box which this looks to have, seems strange if this is a 50's lamp it was sold of to the public in 1961from the military? Steve.
@David Shouksmith There was some rather stained and aged looking packing paper in the bottom of the box that looks as though it could be original. I didn’t throw it! Does you lamp have the funnel? @JEFF JOHNSON Looking at the bits and pieces of paperwork included, they look much more 1950s than 1940s.
@Steve Wood No date inside the box unfortunately. I guess it’ll be difficult to put a date on when the military disposed of the lamp.
Good question - I haven't looked inside the box for years! It's dated 1955, though - all the ones I've seen (not many) bear that date although I've no idea why that would be. I'm pretty sure Tilley out-sourced the manufacture of the boxes and the companies initials are marked inside the box. I vaguely remember something like W.C.C. Ltd. I hope I haven't dreamed that... I recall now it was what I think is called 'scrim'...
I can see a mark with what looks like a Crow foot, back of box just under spare glass container, are there any numbers.
Looks like 265 - could be serial no, part no or a date. W.D. Subcontractors normally had a letter prefix followed by three digits, and would not be permitted to use the broad arrow mark. It would make sense that Tilley supplied these as a unit in a box, rather than the WD assemble them.
Woooooooow that absolutely perfect and very pleasing to the eyes, I'm very happy for you mate congratulations just awesome. Maybe the Lamp gods are with you toooooooooooo, excellent to see, couldn't be in better hands. More photos please.
