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: [Credit: @R100 From: Tilley PL53] Photos greatly appreciated, and any paperwork showing a riser, too. Cheers Tony
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+
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
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.
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.
These images from the Reference Gallery show “older” PLs with the riser, and the top part of the handle with the “spiral cigar”. [Photo @James From:PL53] [Photo: David Shouksmith From 1934 PL53] [Photo Pete Sav From 1934 TILLEY PL 53 LANTERN] Cheers Tony
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.
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. Now I’m on the hunt for this variant. Cheers Pete
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
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.
@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
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.
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.