Prest-O-Lite Tank Restoration

[wallaman]

Working on restoring an old Prest-O-Lite acetylene tank for my 1915 HD 11F. It's the one with the convex ends (ends painted red) with a valve and supply spigot on one end and a pressure gauge on the other. The valve body appears to be soldered into the one end, but I can't figure out how the pressure gauge is held into the other. My gauge looks to be in very nice condition. I was able to remove the cover, lens and face from the brass body of the gauge with little trouble. I had assumed that the gauge body was just threaded into the end of the tank, and I would find an "obvious" means to remove it once I got it apart, but no such luck. Anyone know how to remove the gauge body from the tank without destroying it? Any help appreciated!

Chuck S.

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[exeric]

Are you looking to have it re-nickeled, Chuck? To me it looks way too nice to mess with. I have talked to old car guys that refilled acetylene tanks with a low charge from welding tanks so they can just briefly use their gas lights. Again, I would just do a nice preservation on it because your tank is one of the nicer originals I have seen.

[wallaman]

Eric,
I had the same thought about preserving the tank and have been looking for one in "worse" condition but still nicely "replateable" for several years to no avail. If anyone has one out there that is interested in a trade.... I did get the gauge out with a crude tool I made and a few taps with a mallet and punch to get it moving. After that it unscrewed nicely. Tested the gauge with a little compressed air and it still works as it should but obviously no clue if it's reading correctly. Making progress.

[knucklehead 61]

wallaman, I have one to trade.

[wallaman]

Knucklehead61,
Just sent you a PM. Let me know if you get it.
Thanks.

[T. Cotten]

..Tested the gauge with a little compressed air and it still works as it should but obviously no clue if it's reading correctly....Making progress.

It can be tested/compared easily with a common regulator and gauge, Wallaman!

Here the pressure required to open a sending unit is determined:

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(The meter was used to determine if the switch was open, and unnecessary to compare your gauge.
Hopefully the calibration screw works.)

....Cotten