I'm new to this forum so hope I am following the procedures ok. I have this Tilley lamp which after searching the web reckon it is an OL50 dating from around 1935-40 (picture attached). Reflector measures 14"dia. All metal appears sound. Can anybody confirm, give any kind of further information, how to check over/get operational and put to test, etc. I have used paraffin stoves before but am totally green re. this one. Thanks everyone.
Hello Sandy and welcome aboard! It is a Tilley OL-50, but the earliest that it can be is 1940, because it has the short socket for the GF., control cock which was introduced in 1940, that's assuming that the fuel pipe and control cock socket are original of course and they most likely are. Carefully remove the burner unit and the glass, then tighten the control cock into it's socket and tighten the gland nut on the control cock, then tighten the vapouriser into the control cock and make sure that the pricker wire in the vapouriser is in the up position by turning the knob on the control cock clockwise. Tighten the nut which holds the fuel tube into the tank and tighten the filler cap/pressure valve, I'm assuming that one is fitted to the lamp. Then attach a flexible bike pump connection to the filler cap/pressure valve and pressurise the tank with a bike pump. There will be a pressure indicator on the top of the tank, it's a small brass tube which has a brass rod inside of it and if the indicator is still working, then as pressure is added the rod will gradually rise and when the top of the rod is level with the top of the tube then the pressure is about correct. Sometimes the pressure indicator will have seized, but they often unseize when the lamp is used, sometimes they leak and then need to be soldered. Once the tank has a decent amount of pressure in it, then submerge the entire lamp in water and if there are any leaks you will see air bubbles. All of the seals will need to be replaced and new seals can be obtained from the fettle box on this website. Let us know how you get on, Jeff.
Thanks Jeff for the feedback. I'm just heading off for a few days so with follow your guidance properly on my return however I immediately have some questions. What is a "GF"? There is the filler cap to the tank and a bicycle tube does screw on but there is other cap to retain the pressure and no any seals internally. There does not appear to be any pressure indicator either. It therefore looks as if this lamp is incomplete.
Hello Sandy, your lamp is fitted with a GF., control cock, as opposed to the earlier XN., control cock. Perhaps you could add some top and bottom photos of the filler cap, (good large photos of all of your lamp would help). Your lamp will have a pressure indicator, it's the small brass tube which protrudes from the top of the tank. Jeff.
Jeff I have taken some more and hopefully better photos of lamp and hope this answers the questions. Sandy.
There should be a little pip in the tank just to the left of the filler cap. This is the pressure indicator. You are missing the check valve from the filler cap. Easy to find one because it is the same as those in all Tilley pumps and there are plenty of those about in peoples scrap bins. One thing that does interest me is the enamelled gallery/chimney. I see it is white and I have only ever seen these in black. Has that been re enamelled at some stage? ::Neil::
You'll need an NRV in that filler cap as you won't be able to pressurise the lamp without one. It looks like a later one though which I think will be the same as most Tilley pumps so you can unscrew it and pop it in yours, easy fix.
Hello Sandy, Neil has covered most of the points which I would have made. I would like to add though, that the fuel pipe and the control cock appear to have been painted and that the original brass gland nut on the control cock has been replaced with a modern aluminuim one. It's a fine lamp! Jeff.
