Sdr

Sorry,I see what you mean, don't if it will work but I could try and get a photo from the filler.

 

That's my showbiz name

 

Come on David it must be obvious I'm a bit thick

 

David!?
You mean Dave

 

Chris...

 

Yep. That's what they call me...
At least it has happened at CCS.

 

I have just looked the detail images and I am in no doubt this was factory made like this. Makes it a very interesting and seriously rare piece which I would love to examine and photograph up close although the images you posted are pretty good. We may never know if this was a prototype or a very early production but either way I have never seen or heard of another. It is indeed another variation and will have to be listed. Complicated game this. 5 years ago there was one SDR and a rare thing but simple for me to list. Now there are 4 and I have to get into details to list the differences. This is a very good and interesting find. Take good care of it please. ::Neil::

 

If this is a new version what are we going to call it? Bit early I suppose but it could be worth thinking about. Gets a bit complicated.

 

Send it to me, I'll give it a name.

 

Anyone got any comments about the glass?

 

Don't think I would take a chance on sending it anywhere really.

 

In my book it would make more sense if the mirrored half of the glass would be on the upper side, in the same height as the mantle.

Maybe the glass is on the photo upside down in the frame?

 

The finish was from top to bottom and half way round originally, it was very dirty and I thought someone had just painted it on the outside and I nearly scraped the paint off but then noticed the mirror finish. It had a very neat and straight edge to it.

 

Nowadays those side reflectors are available separately, for example for Petromax lamps, they get clipped on the frame.

I think the mirror finish had just this function, to act as a reflector.

Maybe it was custom made from someone who had the abilities.

 

Yeah, I think the mirror finish was to reflect light forward to increase illumination and stop glare for whoever was holding it. The paint would have been applied over the silvering to protect it from damage.

Anyway, bu&&er! - why didn't I find that...

 

I find numbers are good so it will go in the PLC as the First or variation one. It is obviously an SDR of some persuasion so it can only be listed as a variation. Given the fittings and the fact that no others have been found it has to be the earliest so number one it is. I will probably list it as a possible prototype or a very short run 1st SDR. ::Neil::

 

One of the things I find slightly amusing on some of these old lamps is that they employ the same reflective cone idea as modern LED lamps...

Yet for some reason the idea was out of favour with most manufacturers for many years which makes me wonder why.

 

I suppose for these reflectors to be at their best they would need to be kept very clean which might be a bit of a pain when used in/on a smokey oil lantern.

 

Has anything been found anywhere to say that SDR stands for short double reflector because to me it doesn't sound quite right

 

No we can only guess. In fact we don't know from evidence what any of the Tilley model letters mean. Table Lamp for TL for instance is again just a guess. Probably right but there is no evidence to support that. ::Neil::

 

Thats what makes it all the more interesting, no one knows the the whole story.

 

Neil, I would like you to see my lantern to make sure it is a proper find. If it's to be listed it will need to be checked. I can bring it to you if you like. Let me know.

 

The other way around, surely...

 

Have to agree with the last comment

 

Now David, you've seen enough TV to know that lamps can time travel... 8)

 

Something like this you mean:

 

Exactly Lots of those ghastly LED camping lights have them too...

That said I've often thought of getting one and replacing the LEDs with red ones to use as an observing light.

 

Certainly very intriguing. It is hard to see why Tilley would consider moving from its combined pump and filler; it eliminates forming a further orifice in the tank and makes servicing the pump and valve easy. To my mind, it is the best system apart from where it is required that a failure of the valve dumps the air rather than the liquid fuel.

Anyway, assuming Tilley wanted to experiment for some reason, it is odd that (as far as I can see) that it has not used a standard pump knob and guide.

Lovely to find, though

 

Yeah that would be good. There is no substitute for a hands on look at these things. PM me and we can make a date. ::Neil::

 

OK I have had Rob and this lantern here this morning. No question this was made like this by Tilley. The fittings in the tank are located in rolled out openings which has to be a factory job. I removed the NRV to see what it looked like. We did not unscrew it because it is working and I did not want to disturb the inner seal but you can see it is in the style of a Vapalux but actually a tad smaller.



You can see in Rob's original images that this lantern has a 777 GF cock which was used on all lanterns up to 1945 and not the self locating 2563 cock of the other SDR types and all lanterns after 1945. This I believe makes this lantern earlier than all the other SDR types so this is possibly the first lamp to use the Pork Pie tank and probably dates the tank to 1945 or very early in 1946.

The half mirror backed globe is listed as Tilley part 278 and although the example on this lamp has no markings I am sure it is the original globe.

Prototype or first production run? We may never know. Right now this is unique but maybe there are a few more out there yet to be found.

::Neil::