Tilley pork pie frame

Hi, I was quite lucky to find a pork pie lantern at a boot sale for £10, in quite good condition, kept the patina of age ang just gave it a wipe, changed all the washers etc, my question is the frame, the threads on the tank seemed to be at a different angle to the legs of the frame, I got it on but there felt like there was a fair bit of heaving, none of this just finger tight, and when started needed a pair of pliers to run the bolts down, not cross threaded just under pressure, is this typical ?
cheers

 

Welcome, @Odin.

This is often seen in that variation of the Tilley X246 pork pie.

There is an old post here where the flat section of the tank is forced back into shape by judicious use of a block of wood and force: this moved the studs to vertical.

Cheers

Tony

 

Welcome aboard!

 

thank you for the advice, I would be scared to be too vigorous with it as it has a lovely patina to the original finish

 

Hi, thanks

 

Welcome to CPL @Odin
Time,usage and possibly excessive pressure has bowed the top of the fount.
Yes, it does have a nice patina.

 

Nice looking Pork Pie!

Cheers

Tony

 

I'd say if its pressure tight, don't touch it!
Great patina, these are really really good lamps

Alec.

 

thanks

 

that was going to be my next question, do I attempt to straighten it, it must have taken a lot of pumping to push it out like that

 

I think it is a design flaw in having a flat land on the tank. Inevitably it will bow under pressure and bend the feet of the frame.

If straightened, it is likely to return when used and possibly increases the risk of a leak.

 

thanks, that settles it,
if it ain't broke

 

I would leave it as it is.

 

thanks, I will