Hi ! Here is the AL11 early model and later model.I have listed these two lamps together so that lamp collectors can see for themselves the difference in length of the two lamps. The first version was shorter this was created by not having a baffle behind the reflector and infront of the tank.I guess the tank would get a bit warm when the lamp was a light ! Obviously the second version included a baffle. The second version of the AL11 differs slightly from Peter's lamp already listed on this site. These two lamps belong to a collector in Yorkshire ,sadly not me !
Hi Ross ! Slight proberlem again. You were still logged in so AL 11 comes up as your posting not mine ! Why little pic at top no idea ! .....mick
Mick. Very interesting and such a rare piece. I wonder if there is another yet to be found though because the 1935 catalogue shows AL11 with a door hinged in front of the burner instead of behind. ::Neil::
Yes this one is different to both these in micks post and could well another one to be found!! The short one in micks post has a brass tap on it yet the advert 1935\36 is sporting a bakelite knob i find that a bit odd too if indeed it is a earlier version, another tilley mystery? pete
Well Mick and I have pretty much come to the conclusion that AL11 was born in 1935. Just maybe October 1934 but there is no evidence for that. There is evidence for mid 1935 though so that is definite. The brass tap seems to have been replaced in 1935 by the Bakelite type so it is quite possible that early AL11s did have the brass type. That however does leave a problem that Tilley often used an older image for a later product. So I believe the image of the short AL11 with a front door hinge is earlier. That is illustrated in the image I posted which is a 1935 catalogue. They can't have used a later image then so that has to be the 1935 version of AL11. SO that means that the version up top here is a second type? Well maybe or maybe the artist got it wrong? Until we actually see one we are not going to know. Given that in some 80 odd years between us Mick and I have never seen another never mind a different one we are not holding our breath here. ::Neil::
Hi ! A minor detail to note with the progression of the AL11 ,AL12 through to the AL21 are the placement of air holes around the front edge of the lamp just inside the glass.I guess too dissipate the heat away from the glass. The short version of AL11 shown above only has two holes one each side , low down ,equa - distance from bottom dead centre. The image Neil has put up of a scanned catalogue AL11 shows six holes ,three visable on right ,low down so I guess there are three more holes matching on left side. Moving onto the second lamp in photo above their are air holes all around the front just behind the glass. Again on Peter's AL11 posted above on seperate page his lamp has air holes all around the front but the metal lip holding glass in place is folded flat all round ,suggesting it maybe AL11 or even an AL12 !! Note ( AL12 had signal lenses added - Picture to be added later ) The AL21 had slots added all around the front of their lamps just behind the glass. So there seems to be a natural progression towards more air holes to loose the heat on the glass. But having said that its possible the holes are to allow air to come back into the lamp as hot air rises. ie. Cold air is sucked onto the burner through the two long air tubes from outside the lamp.The mantle burns very hot and the heat instantly rises ,this may result in a lack of oxygen so the holes around the front of the lamp are bringing in cold air deliberatly. Fact ! The metal radiator mantles for Tilley bowl fires have to have two holes low down to allow the mantle to remain alight. If those holes are not there the steel mantle will not work properly. Hopefully this will give collectors something to think about ? ....mick
Something i just noticed here as i see it the main difference between the AL 11 SERIES and the later AL 21 series lamps is the AL11s opened from the side and half the lamp moved including the chimmey right? These are crap to light kinda like a suitcase on its end. The AL21s had a top hinged door just the door\glass lifting far better idea. Now the advert AL11 above hinges from the side but looks like only the door moves not the chimmey and notice the position of the retaining screw on the left very far forward as if to hold only the door any thought on that ? pete
