Does your Tilley PL 53 have a riser tube?

Discussion in 'Pressure Lamp Discussion Forum' started by Tony Press, Apr 9, 2021.

  1. Tony Press

    Tony Press Australia Subscriber

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    This topic follows on from this thread: Tilley PL53

    We are interested to see what variations of the PL 53 came with a riser tube between the tank and the control cock.

    Example:
    BE0A0D1D-0FFA-4084-9B45-D24DBA402909.jpeg
    [Credit: @R100 From: Tilley PL53]

    Photos greatly appreciated, and any paperwork showing a riser, too.

    Cheers

    Tony
     
    Last edited: Apr 9, 2021
  2. Darren Holt

    Darren Holt United Kingdom Subscriber

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    This one came to me yesterday cobbled as a X246B, it had a PL tank without the riser tube
     

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  3. Darren Holt

    Darren Holt United Kingdom Subscriber

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    My steel tank version doesn’t have the riser tube
     

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  4. Rickylee United Kingdom

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    Mine does... IMG_20200526_215213.jpg IMG_20200527_220038.jpg
     
  5. Graham P Australia

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    I understood that it was a deep housing to accommodate the gauze filter on the earlier control cocks as shown Here (8 Tilley control cocks)
    The lamp itself is from the second series with the continuous coiled handle so 1937+
     
    Last edited: Apr 10, 2021
  6. R100 United Kingdom

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    Riser tube present and correct on my example.

    1.jpg
     
  7. Tony Press

    Tony Press Australia Subscriber

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    Mine...

    8012E28D-7F6C-49BE-961B-94EAA4FF194D.jpeg

    Tony
     
  8. Anthony

    Anthony Australia Subscriber

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    I have found this ad in Oct `37 and July `39.
    Note handle twist.
    1937 Oct 23 Weekly Times Sat 23 Oct 1937  Page 4.jpeg
     
  9. Tony Press

    Tony Press Australia Subscriber

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    So... the same handle as R100’s and Ricky’s; Graham was correct about 1937+; but it’s not the same handle as mine (above).

    Cheers

    Tony
     
  10. Anthony

    Anthony Australia Subscriber

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    I thought these handles were hard to come by.
    They seem to be cropping up a bit lately
     
  11. Jean J

    Jean J Subscriber

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    E9A3AA09-18C1-4771-A8BC-3F435EED49C1.jpeg Here are my PL53s. Three with straight handles, riser tubes and long handles with corkscrew top bit. The other part lamps have angled shorter handle and no riser tube, the control cock going directly into the tank. I assumed that the riser tube went along with the straight handle.
     
  12. Anthony

    Anthony Australia Subscriber

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    Thanks Jean.
    I'm assuming the 3 on the left are GF.
    My catalogues from 1932 to 1939 all show the riser.
    Detachable handles were about 1940 onwards.
    Those corkscrew (excellent definition) do not come up anywhere on PLs.
     
  13. Tony Press

    Tony Press Australia Subscriber

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    These images from the Reference Gallery show “older” PLs with the riser, and the top part of the handle with the “spiral cigar”.

    FFDF66C2-96D3-424B-AC1D-BE8670BCD3CB.jpeg
    [Photo @James From:PL53]


    127DEEC8-2A7D-4E50-BFA7-91F5D53797DA.jpeg
    [Photo: David Shouksmith From 1934 PL53]

    CC041337-74C6-452E-AC37-5B857A10DACD.jpeg
    [Photo Pete Sav From 1934 TILLEY PL 53 LANTERN]

    Cheers

    Tony
     
  14. JEFF JOHNSON

    JEFF JOHNSON United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Here are my two examples.

    PL-53, 1..JPG

    PL-53, 2..JPG
     
  15. Scott D

    Scott D United States Subscriber

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    My steel fount PL53 doesn’t.
    AC6AA5B0-D408-474B-981A-BCEF59E80626.jpeg
     
  16. James K

    James K United Kingdom Subscriber

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    As I understand it, risers date a tank from 1930 to 1937.
    Pre 1930 tanks have a flat top, if anyone is ever lucky enough to find one.
    1938 to 1939 have no riser, straight vertical handle rods and deep socket for an XN control cock.
    1940 to 1945 have shallow socket for a GF control cock, handle arms with elbows and sometimes steel tank.
    Early tanks with risers have the loose coil cigar handle and later ones up to 1940 have the corkscrew type.
    I might be wrong but that lot is my best guess.
    James.
     
  17. AussiePete

    AussiePete United States Subscriber

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    This is an interesting variation. The riser tube, as seen on the examples shown, appear to be on the earlier versions of the PL53.
    My brass and steel fount examples, from later versions, don’t have a riser tube.
    14A6D332-C258-4A93-BB51-C66756865FC8.jpeg
    0B5CA541-5C68-4D40-83FF-E34569179CBA.jpeg

    Now I’m on the hunt for this variant.
    Cheers
    Pete
     
  18. James K

    James K United Kingdom Subscriber

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  19. James K

    James K United Kingdom Subscriber

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    The above pic shows some pl53's
    The one on the right at the front is sort of all correct for a 1935 example.
    It has a 30's burner, longer downwards with the mantle lower in the glass.
    XN fuel cock with bakelite knob (earlier would be a brass thumbwheel)
    The three wire cage has a small hole and will only fit an early teardrop type glass.
    The raised lettering pump has a hexagon nrv cap.
    The vaporizer has a groove on the base and numbers stamped on it, I have no idea of a date but it looked old so I fitted it.
    The hood is light brown in colour with a white underside.
    The lamp on the front left has a loose coil handle but no riser.
    I used to think this had been retro fitted but the condition is cherry with no signs of being disturbed. The spinning of the tank top does not have defined outer circle and is slightly different from every other Tilley tank. I had my doubts about this one until I saw an identical one for sale online.
    I have no idea for a date, perhaps sometime between the flat top tanks and the tanks with risers.
    James
     
  20. James K

    James K United Kingdom Subscriber

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    There was not one but two identical early pl53's with flat top tank and flat top hood on an eBay auction in i think December 2018 which mysteriously disappeared mid auction.
    If whoever was responsible for that ever reads this, you broke my heart.
     
  21. Sedgman

    Sedgman Subscriber

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    @James K

    My 1937-39 PL53 has a small riser.

    Riser.jpg

    Iain
     
  22. Henry Plews

    Henry Plews Subscriber

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    Bought new in 1938 by previous owner.

    DSCN1042 (2).JPG
     
  23. Henry Plews

    Henry Plews Subscriber

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    This one has the longer burner

    DSCN1046 (2).JPG
     
  24. James K

    James K United Kingdom Subscriber

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    @Henry Plews
    Thank you for sharing your pics, it is not often you find a reference for a correct pl53 with a year attached.
    Tilley advertising seemed to use the same pics through to the end of the model life and there almost was a different pump type for each year at this time.
    Does your 1938 example have a painted tank? Some of mine have paint and I have always assumed them to have been repainted.
    James
     
  25. Henry Plews

    Henry Plews Subscriber

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    Hello James, indeed it does. The colour is quite dark - nearer to copper than to gold (somewhere, I have an ML conversion tank with the same finish), the base is painted black. There are enough remains of the original finish on the handle, pump and control cock to determine they were originally polished and lacquered.
    Regarding the provenance of the 1938 PL53, I am only the second owner of this lamp, the man I bought it from told me that he purchased it new in 1938. He was working as a second fit joiner and paid by the hour. The short winter days didn't give much time to earn money so he invested in the lamp and when others went home because of failing light, he could carry on working. In less than two months, the lamp had paid for itself "best money I ever spent" he said.
     
  26. JEFF JOHNSON

    JEFF JOHNSON United Kingdom Subscriber

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    It's good know a lamp's history.:thumbup:
     
  27. James K

    James K United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Just framed some newspaper advertisements for Tilley PL53's.
    The artwork shows the early 4 wire cage and as per Henry's authentic example one is being used by a carpenter.
    One ad is dated October 1936.

    20210524_174145.jpg
     
  28. Tony Press

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    Thanks, James.

    Cheers

    Tony
     

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