Noob with a Tilley 246

Discussion in 'Pressure Lamp Discussion Forum' started by chris sumpter, Dec 5, 2019.

  1. chris sumpter

    chris sumpter United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Hi all. I found this superb forum after digging out a Tilley 246 ( as I now know it) that had hung up in my barn for about 25 years. I decided to give it a clean and get it going. First item on the list was a new pump piston, as the end fell off the old one. Then a new seal kit, when I became covered in paraffin after pumping it up. The NRV was refitted the right way round, and a new spring added. The kit came with a little rubber disc that I stuck to the end of the plastic NRV pip thing, but then the whole thing bottomed out and wouldn't open when the guide was screwed in. I trimmed the disc a bit and shortened the spring, and all was good. A bit of pumping and preheating, and away she went. I was amazed at the amount of light and heat. It's my new favourite toy. Her indoors was less enthusiastic then I was when I marched into the kitchen proclaiming the awesomeness of my lamp, but was quite impressed when it raised the room temperature from 21 degrees to 25 in about half an hour. (it's not a small kitchen, either). It will give some welcome extra warmth in my freezing workshop, and provide many happy hours of browsing for new lamps on Ebay. Anyway, I did have a question. Do the brass NRV things I see advertised fit my pump, which is an ugly new aluminium-ended job? thanks in anticipation, and sorry for the rambling, but I'm VERY pleased with my lamp. So much better than the Coleman propane North Star I use for fishing and camping.
     
  2. kero-scene Australia

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    Welcome Chris, glad to hear you have had some success with your pressure lantern.

    I don’t have an answer to your specific question about the brass nrv parts, it may help to know more about the model you have, our if you post a photo.
     
  3. Tony Press

    Tony Press Australia Subscriber

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    Chris

    I’m not sure what you mean by “brass NRV things”.

    Post a photo of the bit you want to replace.


    Cheers

    Tony
     
  4. AussiePete

    AussiePete United States Subscriber

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    @chris sumpter
    Welcome from Queensland Australia.
    A photo or 2 would help heaps, however, when you mentioned the aluminium part, it indicates to me that you have a X246B.
    I could be wrong, that’s why pictures help so much.
    There is an option of obtaining earlier X246 brass pump parts and using them as replacements parts, once again pictures would help us determine accurately.
    Enjoy this wonderful hobby and I look forward to seeing your future posts.
    Cheers
    Pete
     
  5. chris sumpter

    chris sumpter United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Trying to remember how to upload pics from my phone. Presumably you do it by url from a photo host website.
     
  6. AussiePete

    AussiePete United States Subscriber

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    @chris sumpter
    I just upload (Upload a File) from my photos stored on my iPhone or iPad, no modifications.
    Cheers
    Pete
     
  7. chris sumpter

    chris sumpter United Kingdom Subscriber

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  8. chris sumpter

    chris sumpter United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Oooh. Much easier doing this on my phone than on my laptop
     
  9. AussiePete

    AussiePete United States Subscriber

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    @chris sumpter
    Good news, that’s an early X246 AKA Guardsman possibly from the 1950s. They’re very good lamps and solid performers. You even have the correct deep dish glass globe, these are not so easy to get hold of.
    The pump looks to be from a later X246B and the quality of the aluminium pump is far less than the quality of your earlier Guardsman. You can get the correct solid brass pump assembly from another Guardsman that is a junker, that is for parts only. It’s worth the try, It’ll make you lantern look so much better and get her back as she was.
    Cheers
    Pete
     
  10. chris sumpter

    chris sumpter United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Thanks Pete. My brother in law has one with a brass pump. I'll pinch his when he's not looking.
     
  11. Tony Press

    Tony Press Australia Subscriber

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    @chris sumpter

    You should find someone here who lives in the UK who would have a spare proper pump. As a subscriber you can post a wanted advertisement.

    If you can’t find one, I have a stash.

    Tony
     
  12. chris sumpter

    chris sumpter United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Excellent. Thanks. I'll put up an ad. Better than using ebay
     
  13. M.Meijer

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    I think we should ban this Mr. Sumpter rightaway, a proper one-day wander(er). Obviously he is a thief. :mrgreen:
     
  14. chris sumpter

    chris sumpter United Kingdom Subscriber

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  15. ColinG

    ColinG United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Nice lantern and easy to work on. I would consider buying a modern glass globe for everyday use to protect they one that came with it as they aren't easy to come by.
     
  16. JEFF JOHNSON

    JEFF JOHNSON United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Welcome aboard!:thumbup:
     
  17. KAB

    KAB Subscriber

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    Hi Chris and welcome aboard. Going back to your first post, sticking the disc on the plastic bit.... older NRVs have a round brass cup that the disc seal fits into, newer aluminium pumps don't have a cup, just a square lump of rubber with a pip that fits into the spring. It sounds like your NRV now has an over thick seal. The square ones are available online. Enjoy this lamp and buy it some friends , but , they play well together and multiply when you're not looking :lol:
     
  18. Ian Bingham

    Ian Bingham Subscriber

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    It looks to me a though the pump is part brass and part aluminium. Possibly someone has replaced the original pump rod and cylinder cap with nasty modern parts.

    If the cylinder is brass, it should/did have NRV in the form of a small disc sitting in a shallow cup, with a short shaft that the spring sits around. But quite possibly the NRV has been replaced at the same time as the aluminium parts were fitted - and the modern lumpy NRV used, which does away with the cup.

    Getting a complete, brass pump will be the easiest way to make it look better
     
  19. Jean J

    Jean J Subscriber

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    Plenty spare brass pumps here!
     
  20. chris sumpter

    chris sumpter United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Thanks for the replies everyone. That's two of you who have offered brass pumps. If either of you would like to part with one, then PM me and I'll gladly part with some hard-earned. The bug has already bitten. I just returned from a little trip to pick up a very smart looking 1974 246B that I paid the grand sum of £15 for. It even has the preheater. I'll put up a pic in a bit.
     
  21. M.Meijer

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    Chris, even in Holland the Tilley X246 - family is well presented. With a production run of well over 60 years it is not revealing that the ubiquitous X246B model can be had even for very small change.

    However, the B-model represents a paring down on quality as well as production efforts, thus costs.
    In Britain you should not have any problem buying the best quality for little money in the shape of 50's models, basicly all-brass lamps save for the steel enameled hood and cage. Have a good look in the Gallery to allow you to focus on better lamps, either to use or as parts donors.
     
  22. chris sumpter

    chris sumpter United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Agreed. The B does look shoddy by comparison, but it will do for fishing trips and providing additional warmth and light in my freezing workshop.
     
  23. M.Meijer

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    Sure they work. And possibly a right place in one's collection.
    But especially a working lamp I prefer to be best quality, like all my tools.
     
  24. Ian Bingham

    Ian Bingham Subscriber

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    It looks to me that the only aluminium parts are the equivalent of these.
    If that is correct, let me have your address by PM and I will put them in the post.

    15756588617952360160773694516401.jpg
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 18, 2019
  25. Tony Press

    Tony Press Australia Subscriber

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    @chris sumpter

    Postage from @Jean J in Scotland will be far less than from here in Australia. I suggest you get in touch with her.

    Tony
     
  26. Jean J

    Jean J Subscriber

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    Already sorted Tony.
     
  27. paparazi

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    Yours sounds like a similar pathway to my experience..like you I started with Tilley's so next you'll discover the better made Vapalux/Bialaddin range. Look for 300/300X/305/310 & 320 's lol, some nice Tilley's especially the older Gaurdsman and Pork Pie's but there are definitely others you should be looking at, now you are a full on collector..lol
     
  28. chris sumpter

    chris sumpter United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Thanks to everyone for the offers of help and sage advice. This really is an excellent community.
     
  29. chris sumpter

    chris sumpter United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Thanks to the kindness of furum members on here, I now have two working lamps

    IMG_20191212_125637.jpg
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 18, 2019
  30. LatMag49

    LatMag49 Germany Subscriber

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    Good to see them working, I like it.
    And be sure they will not stay allone.

    Matthias
     

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