Hello Everybody, I found your forum whilst researching a pair of lamps I rescued from a shed soon to be cleared out. I am under the impression they are an R1 type lamp dated 1954-1956. First thoughts when discovering them was to convert to electric but I took one to my workshop, and eventually got it lit (after several failed attempts and a dismantle and clean). I found everything about the Tilley lamp charming; the hiss when it's running and the attention to detail on the finely machined parts and the process of lighting it. I am now faced with a predicament: I won't use the lamp as it it takes too long to light it but don't have the heart to convert it because the conversion may be irreversible. What are your thoughts on this? I believe it would be possible to convert the lamp without damaging the lamp and retaining all of it's functional parts. Does anyone have experience of this? I've attached a couple pictures of the little beasty...
Not a collector here but a user of lanterns for camping. As long as the lanterns are useable for someone they should be preserved in the original state. Old lanterns are a finite commodity and should be preserved . Why electrify when you said you enjoy it as is. Can't you find a top reflector as a shade, a low odor alternative paraffin fuel and enjoy them. If all else fails sell to a collector and take the money and buy the electric lamp you want. That would be a win/win.
Get a scrap vapouriser, remove the innards, cut off the top, drill a hole in the side of the vapouriser, thread a cable through the side and fit a bulb holder on the top. Keep the original vapouriser and burner to one side.
What, three minutes? The Tilley R1 is a radiant heater rather than a lamp. So what have you actually got? As Christer suggests, please post some images if you want help. Having said that, you probably won't find much support here if you intend to electrocute whatever it is you have...
On ethics (as you have framed the discussion): It would be more ethical to sell/pass the Tilleys on to someone who wants them and buy an electric lamp, than to convert a historic item into something it is not, and was never intended to be. Cheers Tony
Maybe with a bit of practice I could get it down to three minutes, my first attempt is in the attached picture . I believe it must be a Tilley R1 Radiant Heater in that case.
The Heaters could be sold to someone who will use them functionally or sold to someone to keep them on display, I would then go and buy myself a purpose made lamp. This the quandary for me and the underlying Tilley Ethics: With functional use, the heater could be damaged but the user would be using it purposefully. The Heater could be restored thus losing it's patina. It could then be put on display as a defunct shiny relic. I could potentially have a boring bedside lamp with no story to tell, or a Tilley Heater that is on display in it's aged glory, used everyday. Functionally, the only purpose I would have for the Tilley Heater is as a workshop heater but it does't kick out enough heat, requires a door to be left open and creates a fire hazard. It wouldn't be feasible to use inside due to the curious cat!
....Ah!...the old cat ploy eh ?... Hi Ian! Good to see that you appreciate and found time to work on one of these old things seemingly with a mind of it's own?...... ...Glad you rose to the challenge and were equal to it!.. ...As for ethics?......Well that's up to you.... You have been fortunate to find 2 similar models in a similar condition.... ...But i'm willing to bet that in the process of getting the heater going something happened? ....That's what gives me hope... ...You mentioned the quality and thought of design, the functionality that caught your eye when you thought it would make a great project.. ....Well, things designed to be heaters don't always make good lamps?...They're designed to radiate, not direct a light to read by! ...James gave you an option that you had already considered; i.e. using a scrap vaporiser so that the integrity of the heater wasn't completely ended...There are people selling parts for electric lamps which have the same threads to save re-threading the font... ...Yes, you might end up with a... 'Unique', ...or a... 'Wonderfully Designed'...ebay is full of them, some better than others... ...But you can't use the cat as an excuse!...Doesn't jump up onto your woodburner I'm sure....How long does that take to get going???...
It is a very nice cat, beautyfull pattern . You could buy a lightbulp that doesnt give out too much light, but more heat. Then just take of the glow-mesh and mount the lightbulp instead as all ready suggested. This just without spoiling anything and then save the sparepart(s) for eventually later sale. Then you would have a cozy bed-table-lamp or whatever as long as you like and you will still be able to enjoy the looks of the lamp/heater. The wire is no need to hide, drilling holes and stuff. I know where your cat would be then - on your lap right in front of the lamp The lightbulp could be something like this: http://moods.dk/product/gloedepaere-spiral-smoke-2290/ BTW I fully understand why not useing it with kerosene for "everyday" use, then I would certainly do, as you seems to have done - leaving it at the fireplace to drag out the unhealthy fumes. Claus C
Welcome to the forum. Your 'field fire' was due to inadequate pre-heating. You also need a tin chimney to contain the pre-heating flame so as to maximise the pre-heat. No need for flare-ups like that. If you want to use the heater as a lamp, then simply fix a bulb holder to the stem and run a wire out the back with no need to drill holes anywhere. This will retain the heaters integrity, and you have an interesting lamp. I frequently use my R1 in the shed. I keep highly flammable fuels far away from it, and have suffered no ill effects from any fumes. Many wick based paraffin heaters have been used in houses, accidents are due to ignorance or pure carelessness, both of which can be avoided. Nice cat. They are intelligent enough to not play with fire. They leave that to us humans.
I'm sure the critters that live underneath would love that. The R1 I can relocate, direct the heat to where I want it (even outside), and not get involved with any disturbance of the existing structure. . . . Or I could spill some fuel and drop a lighted match, that would heat the shed up.
If you do electrocute one, make sure that your cable is DOUBLE insulated & properly protected by gromets and that all metal parts are earthed properly or you will end up electrocuting something else...!
Absolutely, Jeff - a few minutes spent reading and following the manufacturer's instructions can save hours of potentially dangerous pratting about...
To me it seems like you saved the children from a burning house only to drive them to the beach and drown them. Why turn Tilley heaters into lamps? If you need a lamp , get one, they are easy to find. Let the heaters go to people who like them and want to use them or enjoy having them. You'll have a new lamp with only a trip to the store or an internet search . The heaters are saved from the land fill and will find a home with someone who'll know their worth and want them as they are.
As i understand the reflector on thouse heaters is nickle plated. I would clean them to get them as shiny as possible. Then have a small, but effective lamp, like a frosted led, and either clip it on the frame, or sitting in front on floor or mounted in roof, directed at the heaters reflector.
