This is a Tilley X246 that is unfired. It is the second (long handled/long bail) variation of the first "Pork Pie" edition of the X246. If you assume that the short-handled "knuckle burner" production didn't last long, this example would be somewhere from 1946 to early 1947. [NOTE to some: X246 is assumed to indicate a February 1946 start to the new "Post War" Tilley range of production]. Found in Australia, the lantern was still in its (opened) box and had never been fired. But, its storage over the years meant that it had been subject to atmospheric vagaries, and the attacks and residues of insects! Th lantern was quite dirty and affected by the conditions it had been 'stored' in. I did not "polish it up". I cleaned it and waxed it. It will not be lit. The glass was broken. I will keep it with the lamp as is. This is the mantle the lantern came with. Note the insect screen and its position. It is brass; there is no spring clip with it, and it was inside the 171 glass. The vapouriser was rusty on the outside, but no sign of use on the inside. NOTE: The cleaning needle is one piece. The vapouriser fitting is the brass, screw-in, fitting, and stamped with the patent number. The pump was unused, and smelled of linseed oil. The Tilley 171 glass was broken. It has blue printing: "Durosil Heat Resisting Glass/Tilley Hendon" The paperwork that came with the lantern Assembly instructions. Operating instructions. "The impression of a leaky joint". Cloth tag attached to the lantern "Complaint to the firm" The box As it came I hope you enjoy this little bit of Tilley X246 history. Cheers Tony
Wow that's an excellent find, and very well presented too. Congratulations mate, who wouldn't be over the moon to have that pork pie in their collection Unfired as well. It's seems strange having that lower bug catcher though, bummer about the globe.
Wonderful But that insect shield has to be in the wrong place ? Or maybe if the torch is pressed up as high it will go the flames will be OK for the pre-heat ?
@Fireexit1 The lower insect shield will work in that position, but it cannot work beneath the 171 globe as it has nothing to hold it it place. It is odd because it looks incomplete - not having any clip mechanism to hold it in place; and because it is unplated brass. @ROBBO55 has posted another Tilley X246 from this exact period, but I can't quite see which style of lower insect shield it has (Tilley X246 Pork Pie). Tony
An excellent find Tony Yes, mine did come with the same insect screen. And it sits inside the glass. The Centre hole is approx 11.6mm dia which is smaller than the later steel ones 12.5mm dia. Out side diameters are the same as are the perforation holes (4.5mm dia). The insect screen can be installed the other way around, helping to direct the preheating flame to the vapouriser .
@Buggerlugs I may have seen one or two in my box of Tilley spares, and thought they were either from broken screens or incomplete. I'll dig through the box this afternoon. Tony
Love the patina on it after the clean up Was linseed oil used by Tilley as transit/storage protection?
The linseed oil was on the pump leather, but the smell of it permeated the tank. I don’t think they used linseed oil anywhere else, Tony
What condition was the leather in ? I've had leathers which smelled of linseed oil and the texture was more like wood than cured animal hide.
Henry, I’ll check later today. I didn’t look at it, but the pump did make that satisfying Tilley farting noise. Merry Xmas. Tony
