A nice example of an Al10, has the brass button on the pricker control. I'm not sure if the hood, reflector, mica shade or a combination of those parts are right, the air button is hard against the reflector. It's as I got it though.
Jims book says that is how they were. Yours must be an early one with the brass button and the screw holding the wooden handle on. The pressure pip is a long way down too. I thought the early ones did not have the ring on the bottom. Seems there are 3 versions of the AL10. Good lamp Matthew. You must be pleased.
Another lovely old Tilley. What is 5he fascination with these lamps? Whatever it is, I can’t get enough of it! Thanks for sharing, only a bit jealous......
@Anthony Perhaps this one is from the change over, when they started fitting the wide rim but hadn’t yet done away with the brass button. I’ve got another that has the usual black button, I shall sit them side by side and see if I can find any differences. @BigStevie I don’t know, but you’re right. I struggle to get my fix of lamps these days, I’ve got most of the easier to get items and some of the harder to get ones. But you never know what will turn up next and at the moment everyone will be taking the time to clear the rubbish out, so when the car boots open again there’ll be rows of jacobean and vase lamps everywhere.
Really? ..Or.. sitting at the bottom of the container at the recycling, waiting to have the washing machine tipped on 'em? ..
@Anthony There's no shortage of Al15's around here, maybe not fully complete ones but still. Then there's the Al16 two Al15a's and the Al10's. Ok, I think I have a problem. @podbros You're probably right, I hate to think what's been skipped over the years.
A good list Matthew. Two AL10s is realy something to sing about. The AL15 is of course for size comparison.
Here we are, I took the vapourisers and burners off so we can see the main parts easier. I can't really see much different between the two of them, the pressure tit is fractionally lower on the older one but that could be down to the manufacturing process. Holding the bases together the fuel pipe is a bit longer on the later one which would explain why the hood fits better. Plus with an Al15 for comparison
Thanks Matthew. Isn't it strange they changed the side for the pump. I wonder if there were also left and right for pumps and/or cocks. Mine has a small D on it.
Wow! .. Thanks @Matthew92 those are fab pics and great to see the differences between lamps through the years! @Anthony ..you mentioned the pressure pip being low, and it is very close to the shoulder... I was wondering if the AL10 tanks were similar in size to the VL 1 / Vase Table Lamp tank at all? The pressure pip on some of them are also close to the shoulder?.. It's not always easy to judge the size of things from photos, hence these pics showing lamps next to each other really help to understand some of the subtle changes that went on and maybe also to build a bigger picture.
@Matthew92 Nice line up, on the carpet too.... I think this is one of the endearing things about collecting Tilleys, all the production information appears to have been lost/hidden/destroyed, so makes for lots of detective work and supposition. There’s so much to learn and to find out....
I was hoping Matthew answered your question before I got home from work. I don't know. I don't have a VL or even seen one. I have assumed they probably are the same size but Matthew would answer better. Right on. Size perspective should be considered more often.
@Anthony I’m not sure why they changed the pump from the left to the right when they made the Al15. From a right handed persons view it makes sense to have the pump on the right as in the Al15, having used mine I hold the handle with my left hand and pump with the right with the mantle pointing away from me. I’ve not lit an Al10 yet but I feel it would be a bit awkward. I had a look at mine where yours has a “D” but mine are both without. @podbros You are correct that the Vl1 and Al10/15 tanks are similar. The tube used for the main body as far as I can tell will be the same just cut different lengths. The cap in the base will as most certainly be the same across the range and I’m fairly sure that the top caps of my Vl1’s are the same as those on my Al15’s. The only difference there is the pump is slightly lower on the Vl1 as was shown here by @Ian Bingham. The Al10 top caps are slightly more rounded than the Al15 which have sharper edges which is why I say the Vl1 shares the cap with the Al15. That’s not to say that the earlier Vl1’s didn’t share the Al10 cap just that all my Vl1’s are later. Terrible problem to have right there. Hope all that makes sense. @Lighthouse Glad you like it.
Thanks Matthew, I thought they looked similar..you can never be sure unless you can compare models side by side.. It would have made sense to Tilley to use what was available at the time, although, as well they do seem to have made specials and short runs, altering small details to suit a particular model. Well done on finding them in such good nick and thanks for sharing
I would take a photo of a Vl1 tank next to them as well, but you'll understand my not wanting to go handle those too much. @BigStevie I almost missed your post above. I made sure no one else was around when I lined them up on the carpet. I can get away with a lot but still have to be careful.
.... No! I wasn't asking for that! ...Phew!... I meant that as they are your lamps, then you can assess things from there? I hope you didn't take that the wrong way...
@podbros Not at all, I'm just joking around. We always have an almost military operation here when I need to handle them just to dust them. We dusted a load of my lamps a couple weeks ago and my mum said we'd need to do the vase lamps too. I looked at them and said they'll be fine for another 12 months.
I don't have an AL10 so here's an AL15 next to a VL tank. AL tank approx. 180mm, VL tank approx. 350mm.
Now you tell me. It's back on its high shelf, the step ladders put away and furniture put back where it belongs. I've no intention of going through all that rigmarole again anytime soon, so here's a link to one that's very similar. I say "similar" because I don't know how tall it is. Green Tilley VL
My hood sits much more comfortably with the hook for the globe wire facing the reflector (soon to be posted it the Reference Gallery). Cheers Tony
