Here is my first heater/lantern of British origin. I'm impressed with weight of the unit when compared to my Petromax style lanterns. It comes in good condition, the tank is perfect, the reflector not so much. It has a few marks but nothing major. This is the condition of the tank, good all round. I still have to get around to lighting it as I noticed a break in the mesh and will have to source a replacement or use a mantle prior to use. Notice the few scuff marks on the reflector. A nice touch is what I think is the sellers branding on the back of the lantern. Still must google him...
@eiremax That’s a very nice R1. If the break it the mesh mantle is not large, you could try it with the hole facing out, away from the reflector and see whether it shoots a flame out. Cheers Tony
@eiremax lovely heater, if it’s the hole in the bottom of the mantle you are referring to as a break, then it’s not. That is a hole that is supposed to be there, it’s found on all Tilley radiator mantles. It’s also a nice early mantle too I believe as it has the metal band around the top, you don’t see those very often. Also you red to turn the guard up the other way so the door is at the top.
I think there should actually be two holes in the lower part of the mantle and, yes, Matthew's correct - the hinged section of the guard should be at the top. It's there to allow the lighting tube/shroud thingie to be lowered over the burner, mantle and vapouriser. It prevents draughts blowing the priming flame away from those parts...
Good day for R1 Tilleys. I also got my first Tilley today and also an R1. It had been under someone's house for 27 years. Belonged to the previous owner, so maybe 50 years mouldering away. It has an asbestos mantle. I took it off and am not sure whether or not to use it. Anyone have an asbestos mantle still in use?
@MarkC the tank on that heater isn’t Tilley is it? The shape of the bottom rim looks more square. More like a Kayen perhaps?
@MarkC Does the tank have a pressure pip? Your heater does have Kayen characteristics. I would not use the asbestos mantle if it’s damaged or tattered. There are metal (mesh) mantles that do a great job. Cheers Tony
To be honest I'm not sure about the heater. It was delivered to a relatives house and I am on the ship until September. It will have to remain a mystery until then.
Those asbestos mantles work well. I have several that are still in use. With these heaters you don't have to worry about slight damage to the mantle. There is no glass to stress and if the mantle interferes with the flame and glows then it is good to go. If free asbestos worries you then spray them with a cheap hair lacquer which will seal the fibres. The lacquer will flash burn off with preheating so you can still use a lacquered mantle and just re apply lacquer when you store the heater. ::Neil::
@Graham P I just bought one of those Kopsen Kayen heaters. It looks the same as @MarkC’s. Cheers Tony
I have an R1 going at the moment that has a mantle with fine metal mesh. It has no holes in it and the flame does not want to burn in side the mantle. Still works well enough but stinks a bit. So I guess the purpose of the holes is to get the flame to burn inside the mantle. I'll get the hole punch out tomorrow and see if that fixes that.
Cylindrical mantles are probably/possibly Bialaddin. They fit the Tilley burner but you have to fabricate a bottom plate to hold it in place. The bottom plate on Bialaddin has a series of holes which I'd guess are the equivalent of the Tilley holes. My theory would be that these holes are to provide atmospheric pressure within the mantle so that the flamelets form at the burner. Without them, I think it's likely the flamelets would burn outside the mesh...
@David Shouksmith My cylindrical mantles were made by a CPL member and came with the bottom plate. Cheers Tony
Seal kit ordered. Will update hopefully with news of a success Regarding the vaporiser and needle, can these be cleaned, refurbed or have to be replaced when worn?
Nice to see your heater up and running @eiremax We regularly use a couple of these indoors in the colder months. Regards Jeremy
Thanks, I am impressed with them...its is a simple lantern but extremely well designed and not to forget all that heavy brass.
