PL55

I'm guessing this is some sort of PL55, although the tank seems somewhat different to those few I've seen, having the socket for the control cock inside rather than on top.





What appeared to me as unusual about this lantern was the hood, the like of which I hadn't seen before (or since). It strikes me as being somewhat similar to the one sitting on a PL53 shown in the 1926 advert at the top of page 32 of Jim Dick's book.

The lantern is stamped 'GWR' on the base rim...

 

Hello David, yes, that looks to be the same hood as is in the advert which you mentioned.
So it's a very lucky find and so is the lamp.

Being an ex railway lantern, it's quite possible that the hood was one which they had in storage and it was used when the period hood was lost or damaged.

As to the socket for the control cock being sunken rather than raised, this also occurs on versions of the PL53 and Tilley were always tinkering with their designs, just look at the variations in the pumps for instance. Jeff.

 

Yes, quite likely - just a pity they didn't have a proper handle-top in storage as well!

 

Yes, that's true but you will find one through time!

 

I think if I did, Jeff, I probably wouldn't fit it anyway - the lantern's very likely had that bit of bent brass rod longer than it hasn't, so it's part of it's life, I suppose...

 

GWR, Gods Wonderful Railway. Not much more needs to be said really.

 

Yes a PL55 and of some age too. The hood may be older than the rest of it. Big problemk with ex railway stuff is they had an ongoing fettling operation and they were not bothered about historical accuracy only with function so bits got stuck on the "wrong" lamps sometimes. Great piece though and odd hood or not a rare lantern. PL55s are about as hard to find as VL1s or Jacobeans. ::Neil::