Hi all, I have just got a standard 1971 Tilley storm lamp and joined to get the original instructions (only for completeness, it is so easy to use I don't need them). What a super forum, I like old 'proper' stuff like vintage radios (I am on the UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum too) and love repairing/restoring them. I can see me listening to the wireless (battery valve) and reading a book in the garden on a cool summers night being gently warmed by it! I can see myself obtaining a few of this type of lamp, they are very interesting. And, before you ask, merlinmaxwell? Two of our long gone cats names concatenated. MM
Greetings! These are fun to restore arent they? They will multiply if you turn away before you know it.
Welcome MM! Yeah, they multiply, postman will bring more of them, they attract stoves and blow torches near to them, etc, etc...
Yes I know how things multiply, just like my old radios, 13 in the kitchen alone. SHMBO and me have an understanding, I cook and live in the kitchen, she lives in the lounge (and comes in for food). I think my starting point would have to be after the Storm Lamp is be a table lamp and a heater. Luckily my local family run hardware store does paraffin by the gallon at a reasonable price (yes even here in the UK you can get it in gallons) the machine is marked "Paraffin is sold in 4.54609 litre amounts, a gallon" they do meths too. The sort of store where you can buy one screw and it all gets added up on a piece of paper (or in the head). I have got the lamp running without a mantle, that and a seal set should arrive from Tilley tomorrow (3rd June).
They all play together using AM! via my pantry transmitter. There are some damn good vintage plays on Radio 4 extra, great on an old set.
So AM still exists?! Well, it's a nice hobby. I regret today that my hobby as a child was to split the radios apart - desoldering and sorting the parts, to be used for other electronics. Poor radios
Welcome to CPL, and yes you have joined many of us who got started with a Tilley Lamp (actually a lantern usually) and now have storage problems in the shed.
and now have storage problems in the shed I have no shed, the shed is for the missuses garden tools! At least she lets me put up an aerial or two for the radios. The garden looks nice to.
Hi and Wellcome MM. I like your signature. The place you store and fix a lamp is the place to store and fix a lamp Claus C
I have a friend who collects and restores old radios and TVs... In fact his entire house is filled with them. He does an amazing job on them restoring the cabinets too. It's kind of propted me into building a valve set from scratch once I get all the parts in.
Ah well, the parts didn't arrive today, never mind hopefully tomorrow! The cost of 'subscribing' was well worth it, lots of useful information, one down side though, I have discovered there was a Tilley clothes iron and just had to have one, probably spent too much. Ah well at least it won't need a mantle. I have also got a couple of Tilley table lamps being watched/sniped upon ebay, this is more addictive than radios darn it. At least they are self contained and don't rely on third party content (radio prorgammes).
Result! Parts arrived, fitted and it all works, lovely light and the gentle hiss, hurry up night time! I was pleasantly surprised at how well the new mantle burnt off and assumed a symmetrical shape. There is a slight flicker to the light, any clues? BTW I have ordered one of the lamp radios mentioned earlier. MM
Most pressure lamps flicker a little, but they often settle down after a while. Do let us know how well that lamp radio works, Jeff.
Got the radio lamp, put my mini review here (well it's not a pressure lamp!)... http://0flo.com/index.php?threads/8262
