Thanks Jeff/ Henry I've had a twiddle the control knob goes fully round now and it switches off.The control cock needs a washer it is leaking slightly, is it wise to take the brass knob off, the screw looks fragile?.
Hello Col, for some reason Tilley used a steel screw to hold that knob on and steel into brass is not a good idea, soaking it with oil might help and other members may have other ways to remove that screw, sometimes that screw has to be drilled out.
Would it be possible to use some graphite tape or perhaps some of that gas ptfe tape at all? I think I have seen threads where folks have used it on the vapalux/bialaddin control cocks ?? Others here will have the knowledge about using it ?? Always better if you can renew like for like, but as Jeff said it wasn’t the best move by Tilley and it’s probably been donkeys years since it was last undone…
50/50 acetone/automatic transmission fluid is an excellent penetrating fluid and a few cycles of 'heat & quench' may help to loosen the screw but if it looks like the slot in the screw is going to get chewed up it may be best to find a different solution. Drilling out the screw is not impossible but there's a 100% chance the drill bit will prefer the relatively softer brass to the hard steel screw and wander off course with obvious consequences. The original material was 'graphite string' - here is one supplier KENNIONS MODEL ENGINEERING SUPPLIES - Graphite String and Packing but gas PTFE tape twisted into a string is equally effective (e.g. BES.co.uk | Next Day Delivery On 15,000 + Plumbing Supplies ) If you choose to use PTFE tape / string, you may be able to get away with leaving the original packing and put a couple of turns around the shaft after unscrewing the nut and pushing it back to make room - you may have to repeat the process i.e. a couple of turns - tighten the nut to compress the string - undo - add another turn or two - repeat until it feels right. If you choose to use graphite/graphited string or graphite tape, it is definitely best to pick out the original string, it's a bit of a faff but worth the effort (dental type picks are available off eBay if you haven't already got a set).
Great tips thanks I've used plumbers tape it works well, I've got the handle left to do ,can't figure out which way to bend it back into shape looks like its from a later lamp any ideas thanks.
A lovely example of an early 1930's PL53. To me it looks all original apart from the glass, I would suggest a reproduction pre war globe from base camp until you can find an original. The one currently fitted does not fit the hole in the cage very well. Great work on the fettle it's coming along nicely. James
Well done for finding and fettling such a nice original lamp with all the right bits, it looks great in the pictures you have posted of it running. Re the handle that you changed over for the final build, your original was unsightly but if it was not original it was not the only one like it, a quick rummage in the shed turned up two that were equally horrible. I didn't use mine either but they can't all be wrong. James
Hi James thanks for sending the photos they look like the originals for my lamp is it 5mm thick brass? If it is I think your right and I will try to reshape mine many thanks.
