I was poking around T parts on ebay and saw a Presto-Lite tank for sale. It has a gauge in the end and a valve in the other. It has a pretty high price. What were they used for? I got one in a box of stuff at an auction this summer in really good condition and didn't know what it was. Thanks for any info, PK

Presto-Lite tanks were an after market accessory that was purchased by many "T" owners who found the gas tank to be much more convenient than the carbide crystal gas generators.

I meant to say,....more convenient than the running board mounted carbide crystal gas generators that produced gas for the gas headlights by dripping water on the carbide crystals.

So is this a brass era accessory? This sale had a lot of really old quality stuff. Just getting into the Ts so every things new to me. PK

Correct,....a brass era accessory. I believe electric headlights became standard equipment in 1915.

Most marques of automobiles went to electric lights by 1913. Presto-lite tanks were available by about 1906 and used on many on-Fords as well as after-market upgrades for model Ts. Gas lamps were used on a few American cars up to about 1916 and trucks well into the 1920s. Correct era tanks do have the gauge on the bottom (?). Modern tanks are available that will work and don't look too bad, but they do not have the gauge.
The antique tanks cannot legally be refilled in most states. However, they can be partially refilled at home without much trouble. The problem, legally, is that a tank that old cannot be certified, in most states. You may be able to get a friendly industrial gasses supply company to inspect an old tank for safety. You don't want to deal with one rupturing. Acetylene burns very hot if ignited.
Original tanks are desirable.

Do you have or are you looking to get a model T?
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2

The "antique" presto lite tanks are unusable with gauges. However, you are still able to buy or rent tanks just like them at welding gas suppliers. Just make sure you get one with the same offset valve end so they will work properly laying on the side on a running board.

Another option we use on one car is to hide a smaller tank under the back seat, leaving the original carbide generator in place.

Rob

It is expensive to get a tank with an old original pressure gauge on it inspected. You can use a modern one but the "big boys" will laugh at you. You do not need a gauge or a pressure reducing valve but you have to be careful when using such a system. You can purchase all of the equipment for your headlamps including the red rubber hose at any welding gas supply house. Be sure to get an off-set B tank so that you can mount it on the runningboard horiontally. The old original tanks have a decal on them and it is a very expensive deal to get one all set up with its copper and nickel plating.


Below is a picture of our 1912 Buick with a Prestolite tank that worked very well for us many times. We sold the car in 1960 for $1200, times have certainly have changed. But then we only paid $500 for it when it was painted yellow and black much like a Mercer or Stutz Bearcat just two years before that and had to paint it and get a top for it. The Gherig tires and tubes are still good. It had a Pierce Great Arrow windshield on it and we traded it for the correct Buick windshield in 1958 when restoring the car.

I love those Buicks! Thank you, Frank, for posting a picture again (and bigger this time). And remind Mary to get well soon!
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2