This Tilley BR 49 is complete and came with its original box. It has a sticker on the box with the model BR 49 stamped on it complete with Tilley dip stick and whats left of the instructions. I have included a photo of the lamp working with a Tilley reflector that was not part of the original lamp, however looks good. It appears to be very similar to that of Dans. Maybe this model was also sold to the general public as well as the railways.
That's a real stunning example of this lantern; seems hardly used. It does look very good with the reflector. What has been your experience lighting this lantern? Did you use meths or the kerosene lighter. Also, it would be great if you could post some pictures of the box and dip stick and especially of the instructions. Dan
I followed your instructions Dan, firstly i tried it with meths and a little assistance from a blow torch. On the second run I used the in built pre-burner, and like you thought it did an excellent job !. However any sort of wind creates havoc with the pre-heat process. I will include some further shots of the box etc soon. One thing I have noticed is the lamp performs absolutely faultless once running. Given the box has a stamp with BR-49 on it I am thinking that these units must have been made available to the general public in Australia?
Model BR49 was always available to the general public. You can see it in catalogues from the start in the late 1940s. If it had been contract only then it would not have been catalogued. ::Neil::
This one is the closest one to mine , but it has 6570A stamped on the bottom on the side. Made in Engladd in the middle. I assume it is a BR49? Does the stamp 6570A mean anything ie serial number , year , etc. also where would I find the model number on it, can't be found anywhere. Cheers Rob
Is it not June 1957? - that seems far more likely given it's a BR49. What seems to be an '0' is probably an 'O'. It would have been a BR49B in 1970...
The Tilley date stamp is always three or four numbers for month and year. So the first one or two can only be from 1 to 12. Can't be the 65th month of 1970 so has to be June 1957. From the model that is clear anyway as David says. These stamps also have two letters which we assume are some sort of type or finish code and OA is a common combination. ::Neil::
My apologies for the late reply, thanks so it's June 1957. One more bit of information on this lamp. I used it camping this year and must of had a preminition it may leak although it was ok at home, so I took some fettleing tools and a new seal kit from Fettle Box with me and you guessed it some fun fettleing much to the amusement of the others. Cheers Rob
PS. Someday someone may enlighten us on what the letters after the month/year stand for... Cheers Tony
Hopefully. I find it hard to believe no-one who worked at Tilley at any time during all those years of lamp and lantern production has ever found their way here or at CCS. I know more about Bletchley Park than I do about Tilley - and BP workers had to sign the Official Secrets Act!
It's just like the numbers together with the Primus date code. You'd think that things like that would be recorded somewhere. BTW, how long did Tilley keep putting the letters after the date numbers?
I think that a lot of stuff must have been skipped when Tilley moved to Northern Ireland. And then more was skipped when they moved back...
Welcome aboard Alex74! This link shows that 1931 advert which Anthony mentioned, but the library is only open to subscribers. https://classicpressurelamps.com/threads/1931-list-c-o.2389/
Ah, thanks guys. I’ll subscribe shortly. I’ve been collecting Victorian oil lamps for years (mostly Duplex and central draught burners) and only recently acquired my first Tilley pressure lamps, two nice PL53s. I’ll post some photos. Problem is I haven’t a clue where to start restoring. I started cleaning the heavy layer of oxidation on the brass tanks but the burner of one lamp is literally stuck on the vaporiser and won’t come apart. I’m now looking at washer kits for these...
Thanks Pete. I’m looking forward to buy more ‘wrecks’ and do them up in my spare time. And to show you all my novice restorer efforts! Hopefully I won’t ruin a rare piece in the process!
