Hi all! ..I was checking thread sizes the other day when I noticed the burner dome on a later Willis-Bates ex army model is a similar shape and size to a later Tilley burner dome..... ..The W/B one is a little taller but they have the same thread...... ..Does anyone know when W/B stopped putting the knurled ridge/swage on the burner dome at all? ...Many thanks, PB.
Hi, Strange to me to be reading what's been added here, as Saturday not just gone, I crunched the very same Vapalux W/B knurled burner dome; having lost patience with it, when re-furbishing the full burner to the Vapalux Air Ministry lamp, still at the tip end near to completion. A handy raised ring that, usually in the past on prior burner re-furb's it proved to be, but the more simpler replacement domes, seem to me to be fitted to the M320 model; with it possibly also being included on the 315, an earlier/ further back model. Having only souped up around ten differing Vapalux & Bialaddin models though, the experience to knowledge could be a bit flaky; but there'll be someone who knows for sure within CPL here for deffo. Sorry, I don't know the thread gauges (not many do & it isn't guarded knowledge), but can tell ya that I once also found a Tilley dome fitted into the threads of the W/B burner hub, or the other way around (as it's a while since); but then trying it again some time after, discovered some cups just wouldn't thread in the same ! Puzzling that, but when I called at the Bairstow Bros. factory in Halifax, the main lathe engineer/ manager there, told me that they had their own thread gauges and they couldn't be replicated or repeated. He'd said that of the burner tubes and the domes, so basically not to mess about with them; which is what Neil Mc said as well, either earlier or just after I'd called over there. Interesting too though, is that the spigots to the Vapalux/ Bialaddin burner (as well as the steel inner fuel jet tube), doesn't stand a hope in hek of fitting into any of the Tilley burners, nor vica versa; though the dome threads can sometimes be found to be near the same or even alike & do fit. Now I must find that replacement knurled W/B dome cup from somewhere, . . . but wouldn't it just be the neatest thing, if there were lamp and lantern scrap yards across the UK, the same size as for cars; I wouldn't mind the ever decreasing circles then, that would be contented delirium, he he . Jon .
Hi Jon, Thanks for getting back with that... ...Yes, the Burner domes do share the same Diameter and Thread, 1" BSB x 26 tpi... ...If one doesn't fit the other it's because of heating and cooling continously and possible fettling over the years???... ...The Tilley 'Spigot' has a 1/2" BSB x 26 tpi thread, whereas the W/B 'Spigot' is 9/16" BSB x 26 tpi.......They have to be as the Tilley vapouriser is smaller than the W/B vap tube....... ...Interestingly, the 3 burner air tubes also share the same fine thread on both lamps where they screw into the Burner..... it's just that the ends that secure onto the hoods are different.... 3/8" on the Tilley, 7/16" on the W/B...... As for the Lamp scrapyards, I have it on good authority that they do in fact exist..... It's just knowing where to look... Best wishes, PB.
Hey Expat, I'll have a go,but rushed off my feet though; it needs doing all the same, I have a messy one, I'll try with that first (sword out of a lake, ect ) Thanks then .
Sorry PB, only just saw your advice info and I'm out the door as of typing this; I'll call back in tonight hopefully. Nice one for the thread gauge measurements; I'll write them down Ta, Jon .
Hi, Yes, I could only suggest a time period just before the M320 or the 315 models & I don't know for sure, when these were reeled out from the get go ? If you've got Ian Ashtons Vapalux book, there might be some clues in there on date manufacture, beginning to end approximately; but I've only ever noticed the Knurled dome in 300's and a 310 . . . though I haven't worked on dozes & dozens, so I'm sorry that this maybe of little use, given limited experience . A few days back I found a burner dome in my scrap box, which has one of the "repair bolts" fastened into the dome's scalp and through, clamped with a nut externally; a nifty repair, 'making do' it is, but surely that'd still let out heat and distribute the flame, so the burner'd still work poorly ? Hopefully add the scans later of this, there in the camera still . . . .. Jon .
..Thanks Jon, .....you know how these things go when you first notice something...... ....Lamps and burners in pieces......no room anywhere to move......leave one job no spares..... grass needs cutting......tyre flat on mower....pump up tyre.....battery flat.....charge up battery ... find out battery's had it ... jump start mower... Hurrah! ... then runs out of fuel..... then won't start as.....etc etc etc.. .....and so it goes on.... :-/
My 315s have the knurled grip, as do my T10s, my 320s don't. Can't guarantee parts haven't been replaced at some point, but I'm fairly confident they haven't. HD
....Ok! .....it's all good stuff to add to my growing pile of virtual Lamp info..... ....Well, it would be....but in my case more like....'Sorry, what are we talking about again?' ...Also similar to Jonbanks, have only fettled a few W/B's and the smooth dome looks to be in very good nick so may not be too old...... .....swings and roundabouts as although it's much easier to spot the modifications and additions on a Tilley (and date accordingly)...the interchangeability of the W/B lamps does make restoration simpler for a lot of the parts.... ...Many thanks to all, regards, Pb
