A curious offshoot of electrification is this butane lamp I’m currently restoring, purchased from an online Tilley specialist, but certainly not by Tilley and is unbranded. Were it not for the conversion to electric light, it’s probable it would have been scrapped long ago, the vintage brass light bulb socket suggesting a 1960’s conversion date at the latest. Seller’s photos, next three. Well on the way to restoration, the control valve is intact. … now with the addition of a Tilley butane lamp riser tube to take a jet nipple and mantle support. I’ll be respraying the tank (traces of cherry red suggests the original colour) before re-gassing and running it. A measure of the scale of the lamp, alongside an Optimus 930. John
Hmm, I recognise that back drop. I've bought more than one thing from him. Good luck with the restoration project.!
Interesting old lamp and especially with its filling arrangement? looks much happier now any ideas on its provenance at all? regards p
@podbros Very little to report, Tim, on its origins. I was hoping that stripping off the non-original gold paint might disclose a trace at least of a logo, since with the chemical I use (pretty mild stuff) that’s sometimes happened, revealing the original finish, but no such luck. There was a patch of the original paint under that circular plate … … on which the three sockets for the lamp mounting pins are mounted. That’s where I was able to confirm that the gas cylinder was a gloss red originally. Probably UK, given that threads on components are imperial ones. In spite of that nod to Coleman with the filling arrangement, I can’t see it being American, where propane is the preferred lpg.
Whatever it is it looks and works well. Lpg lanterns are underrated and I think unloved in comparison to liquid fuelled ones, but well worth preserving as we move into the era of LED and high capacity lightweight batteries.
Yes, large too, the largest straight-sided Coleman glass (for a 295) not filling the available space. Though of the same height, a large Coleman ‘bulge’ glass would look better in the lamp cage, but won’t clear the upper rim.
I made an adjustment and have successfully fitted a Coleman ‘bulge’, which happens to be an English-made Pyrex product.
Thanks S-J, the ‘bulge’ globe certainly fills the available space much better. I’m glad I persevered with it.
