Just thought this may be of interest to somebody! I'm in the process of restoring what I believe to be a late 30's R1 heater. (I'm thinking 1938 with black bottom, cast iron burner, GF cock with brass handle and tilley embossed reflector?). As with all these, the air intake shroud being very thin walled gives up and falls apart, and it's not easy to find any burners in any better condition. So today I set about remaking the shroud from a slightly heavier gauge material. I/D is 1.5" to for the burner, however standard brass tube size is 1.5" O/D. I made up a broach tool to draw out the tube to the correct size, trimmed to length, drilled hole, and un-sweated the old air tube before silver soldering it to the new one. A quick buzz on the polisher and I don't think it looks too bad, it's quite a bit heavier gauge than the original so hopefully it will last another 80+ years! I'm aware most of heat proof paint will burn off the cast iron, but it stops it going rusty whilst in build out in the garage and looks nice for the first photos! I'm not too happy with the paint job on the fount as some grit got in it on the last coat, but otherwise starting to come together. Any comments welcome on age/dating and details, i would like it to be as original as reasonably possible!
A other note on the dating of this, the fount appears to be stamped with the RD681681 number indicating 1937 or earlier, however the control cock socket is too shallow for a socket filter, so I believe the GF on it to be original, hence my thinking 1938 using stock of of founts before they moved to steel?
The RD number is seen on some Tilley tanks into the 1940s even though the Registered Design coverage would have expired. With the GF control cock (and shallow socket), your tank dates from 1940 into the early to mid-1940s). Tony
Perfect thank you Tony! I did think by 1940 that the fonts were all steel which made me think earlier. Am I correct in thinking that the late 30's early 40's they were to be had in both lacquered brass and gold painted?
Very nice. Clever work on the air intake, it looks better than original, stronger too. The paint looks great. Excuse my ignorance..what is this heater and how does it work? The handle and hook arrangement looks impressive. Is there any other parts?
As per title, it's an R1 radiator and in principle, they work the same as lanterns, the main difference is the mantle. At working pressure, the flames from the burner will blow themselves out unless there's something to restrain them, lantern mantles incandesce, radiator mantles don't though they do glow red because of the heat, that heat is reflected in the direction the heater's pointed. Yes, a wire guard which clips onto the reflector. Check -out variations here Other Tilley Pressure Product Use the search facility in the Lamp Action gallery, type Tilley radiator.
