Monstrosities, Steampunk disasters and other lantern abuse.

There is a lot of debate about what is 'Art'.. There probably always will be and that's not always a bad thing?

Anyway, I remember looking up the definition in a big old dictionary and got a pleasant surprise..

" The Expression or Application of Human Creative Skill, Typically In A Visual Form, Such As Painting Or Sculpture."

That's when things started to make a bit of sense...

 

Well I do hope you're not referring to me Colin. There's been nothing in this thread I can see that's contrary to the site rules - read 'em, they're in the FAQ section at the top - particularly this part:-

"There is a difference between strongly held views (allowed) and personally attacking people (forbidden). If you can't tell the difference, you are likely to get into trouble here.

You are likely to disagree with some comments you see in The Lounge. Please do not take these differences of opinion personally. The simple fact that someone disagrees with you does not give you the right to lash out and break the rules of this message board. A thick skin is usually required to participate on this or any message board."

Or is this as a place where we have to fawn over each other all the time..?

 

@ColinG

Blue Poles..?

 

At least they didn't put a light bulb in it!

 

Can't see what's wrong with a brightly coloured PL53 myself...

 

I agree with David, it looks quite nice.

 

And with a BR pre heater...

 

It was the BR pre-heater I noticed, and the colour... and the mica globe!

 

I’m sure I have seen that lamp somewhere before.......but is it not a quite rare PL52?

 

Early pump and early handle too, just goes a bit pear shaped on the top half....like jumps 20 odd years

 

Ha-ha - not quite what I meant! All will be revealed tomorrow...

Edit: Tonight - I found the pix I took recently:-


The Canary Yellow - beautiful plumage!

 

It's what ever floats your boat! Sure we all want perfection but let's face it, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!"

I love any lamp/lantern in it's original condition and I strive for that finish - but, I appreciate something like this, too. Pardon the spelling, but you can own a Rembrandt but still appreciate a Picasso!

 

When I said its quite nice it's because I've got a pl53 painted the same colour although it is the later more common model.
Ian

 

Ah, now Tilley did do a PL53 in what I like to think of as duck-egg blue (although someone here did once quibble with that description!). As it happens, I dug mine out of the recesses of the garage roof space just this tea-time and I'm about to put some fuel in it, so definitely tomorrow for a pic of that one...

Edit: Nope also tonight. Lit first time:-


Without and with flash...

 

Nice light up , I do like the pl53 models

 

I rather like that shade of duck-egg blue on your PL53, David. It's pretty close to the colour we painted our living room actually!

Given that all paints fade and change with age it's impossible to be certain what the original colour looked like and aesthetics mattered less back then... still, duck-egg blue and brown is an interesting combination!

 

Over the years I've had that colour on a range of Tilley lanterns and heaters, Colin, and it looks generally the same on all of them, no matter where they came from so I guess it's pretty much as it was, perhaps faded slightly but certainly not bright as the one you showed above. It's a wartime colour.

I'll get some better pics tomorrow in daylight...

 

Certainly agree on that. Similarly military to the 'Battleship Grey' but with a different hue.

 

Yes, it looks rather grey in my pics above but it's definitely blue - as tomorrow's daylight pics will show...

 

Hmm, it would seem that in GL "good" daylight is in very short supply today so these are the best I could do:-

 

Those hoods really don't take the heat very well. It's no wonder they changed the shape... and the colour.

 

But the brass is looking good.

 

Yes, I like the brass PL53 hoods. Are they a totally new thing or were early hoods made of brass?

 

Changing the shape and color didn't seem to help much either!

 

*One bulb bad; two bulbs badder:-

This was ages ago - I knew I had the pic somewhere but just couldn't find it. The perp. listed it at an exorbitant price many times on eBay but for some unaccountable reason it failed to sell. I lost track of it eventually...

*with apologies to George Orwell.

 

Nice one David, that is truly awful!

 

Hum... I seem to remember this one from a while ago...

I actually quite like the wooden base?

 

Yes, that’s a pretty awful electrocution ...... one could say “shocking”

 

I have written the following with the thought that if Auction Houses and the sellers of these Items are made aware of their risk it may deter some from butchering good lamps.

Re "Electric Lamps" and "converted to electric" "Steam Punk" "Repurposed"

Apart from destroying a possibly rare piece of history in a way that makes it impossible to restore it to its original working condition.

You may get the same selling price or better without the modifications

Many that are seen listed are obviously a risk to life/property and should not be sold in their current state.

Among faults observed items contravene Electrical safety As they :-

Do not have double insulation on leads.

Do not have an "Earth" wire to prevent exposed metal from becoming alive."

Lack any means to prevent cutting or abrasion/damage to wires where passed through holes as in :- Bushes or Grommets'.

Have unprotected globes which if broken could if contact was made easily result in ELECTROCUTION or Fire

The seller & AGENTS may be liable to claims for injury/death & prosecution for selling goods that are faulty not fit for purpose and or do not comply with various Countries . Electrical Safety Regulations

I am not only looking at this solely as a preservation of lamps issue.

But as an Electrician a possibly deadly safety issue.

A case I recall of reported deaths was a "home owner" put an unprotected globe on the end of a lead and when inspecting under his floor bumped the glass and he made contact with the filament supports of the globe while on damp soil (one might say natural selection)

Comments and suggestions please.

Graham

 

The sale of these 'electrified' items should be prohibited by laws of all countries unless approved by the relevant bodies.
-On grounds that there shall not be any legally-traded items that could pose any risk of being misused by the public and treated as an approved electrical appliance.