diff --git a/src/libCom/cxxTemplates/epicsSingleton.h b/src/libCom/cxxTemplates/epicsSingleton.h
index cf273d1ec..b97c82b8c 100644
--- a/src/libCom/cxxTemplates/epicsSingleton.h
+++ b/src/libCom/cxxTemplates/epicsSingleton.h
@@ -51,7 +51,11 @@ public:
         reference ( epicsSingleton & );
         reference ( const reference & );
         ~reference ();
-        reference & operator = ( const reference & );
+	// this somewhat convoluted reference of the return
+	// type ref through the epicsSingleton template is
+	// required for the archaic Tornado gnu compiler
+        typename epicsSingleton < TYPE > :: reference & 
+	    operator = ( const reference & );
         TYPE * operator -> ();
         const TYPE * operator -> () const;
         TYPE & operator * ();
@@ -102,7 +106,7 @@ inline epicsSingleton < TYPE > :: reference ::
 }
 
 template < class TYPE >
-class epicsSingleton < TYPE > :: reference & 
+typename epicsSingleton < TYPE > :: reference & 
     epicsSingleton < TYPE > :: reference :: 
         operator = ( const reference & ref )
 {
@@ -195,14 +199,14 @@ void epicsSingleton < TYPE > ::
 }
 
 template < class TYPE >
-inline class epicsSingleton < TYPE > :: reference 
+inline typename epicsSingleton < TYPE > :: reference 
     epicsSingleton < TYPE > :: getReference ()
 {
     return reference ( * this );
 }
 
 template < class TYPE >
-inline const class epicsSingleton < TYPE > :: reference 
+inline const typename epicsSingleton < TYPE > :: reference 
     epicsSingleton < TYPE > :: getReference () const
 {
     epicsSingleton < TYPE > * pConstCastAway =