Here are 5 of my PL53'S fresh of my fettling line all serviced and ready to go for another 50yrs or so, one was in terrible condition with a split tank so a little solder later and boom of she goes lighting up and holding pressure for 8hrs on a long run test.
Great job and lovely lamps. I must admit to scrapping several tanks over the years due to stress cracks, personally I wouldn't dare to solder. I just didn't think that soldering would be safe enough as a permanent solution and I don't have access to brazing anymore. I always think that the PL53 looks like how a pressure lamp would be drawn for a British rail steam engine illustration, how a lamp should look.
What a top line up. The PL53 is one of my favourite lanterns and your line up certainly spin my wheels. I’ve not experienced stress cracks in Tilleys yet, however if I do, you have given me an option for repair. Did you drill a small hole at the extreme ends of the stress cracks before soldering? Well done mate, well fettled. Cheers Pete
Well saved. Because the WW2., PL-53s are some common, when one turns up with a stress cracked tank I just strip it for spares, the base plate can be removed and made into a reflector and the nozzle which the pump screws onto may come in handy.
Sometimes, you just have to take a chance and trust your work, I always grind the crack out and widen a little then flux up and go for it, after I fill with water and pressurise leaving it for a couple of days to check its progress
