So..... I kinda bought this wreck at Normous Newark with my best mate @Gareth Shepherd, it was thrown in with another Guardsman Lamp a fiver for the pair and I thought; tap and vaporiser may be salvageable, and they were. I had a scrape at the black paint that had been troughed over it and it started to come off to reveal SLF 46, could that be Sleaford, lamp number 46? I don’t know, the yellow is usually Southern Railway?? The lamp has had a very interesting and very rough life, the tank is absolutely battered and someone has tried to scratch out the BR decal. However someone has gone to the trouble of making a pre heater, brazing the burner (don’t know why) welding the frame etc, they have probably done all they can to try and keep it working..and I have probably spent more time trying to bring this old girl back to life than other lamps I’ve fully restored, just about got all the black paint paint off, had to solder the top and this is still far from restored, but it survives and remains in an “oily rag” absolutely battered condition. I think @AussiePete wanted the money shot so here you go....
It looks good to me, just some TLC and it's good to go! The fact it holds pressure and lights is a good thing.
@Gary Waller Thanks for the money shot and very well done for getting her going. It just goes to show that the Tilleys are still able to operate effectively even after a hard life. If it could talk, what tales it could tell ..... Cheers Pete
@Gary Waller Well saved! I like a lamp that tells a story, I hope you keep it now just as it is..... like you say, all the work that’s been done to it was to keep it going, it earned its keep!
Cheers for all the comments, I’m going to keep it exactly as it is, the pre heater actually worked quite well.
That lamp is spectacular with all its bumps, scratches, rust and paint coming off. Definitely a keeper to show how resilient they are!
