This is another Covid-19 survivor.... thrown away between 'stay at home' and lockdown. Box containing spares and paperwork
Under the dirt and stuff, it looks to be in reasonable good nick even the hood should come up nicely. It should restore very well. I'm looking forward to the money shot. Cheers Pete
These always worried me. All X246B tanks are prone to the base plate distorting or dishing down and for the 300cp lantern the instructions state that full pressure is a total of 100 pump strokes with a full tank of one and a half pints of paraffin. The X246B 500 instructions state full pressure is 150 pump strokes. That is a considerable increase in pressure which I know will increase light power but can surely only exacerbate the base plate problem? ::Neil::
I don't even know how they can quote such figures as the pressure is very much dependant on the volume of air present. An tank a quarter full of fuel will take many more pumps to pressurise that one that is three quarters full. I know it is not a 'full proof' method but I would much rather rely on pump resistance..the 'change' in resistance of the pump. You just feel when its enough, which I know isn't particularly useful to the uninitiated but entirely accurate in my mind. Martin
Your lamp is running well, a great find. It is also a reminder that perfectly good lamps and precious spares get thrown away every day. We must do what we can to save them. Well done for doing your bit.
Another couple of pictures Wide view lighting up the garden This one shows the difference between the 500cp burner (left) and the standard burner (right)
It's actually quite accurate. The figures quoted are always with a full tank of one and a half pints of paraffin. That's 30floz or a tad under a US quart which is 32floz. So the air volume will always be the same. If I remember right they also suggested about 40 stokes an hour to maintain pressure. Many years ago I used a pressure gauge fitted to the control cock to test several Tilley lanterns and the 100 pump strokes always gave a pressure of about 2 bar. ::Neil::
Makes sense based on fixed quantities and font volumes but who can say just how air tight the pump leather is on any given lamp or the point at which the pressure in the pump self seals that leather seal, some 'grab' at the top of the stroke, others, perhaps a little hardened, worn or dry, may not produce pressure until the last few centimetres. So whilst the science stacks up it doesn't always follow through to fact...too many imponderables! Martin
Martin. You are quite right of course but Tilley never quoted a figure for max pressure so the pump stoke count will always work and I did say ABOUT 2 bar. I have always assumed the designed max pressure of Tilley stuff to be 30psi. With no pressure gauge or indicator counting stokes will do the job and in any case worn leather Etc may reduce the induced pressure but can never increase it so the lamp will still work OK and be safe. It is Mickey Mouse engineering perhaps but it kinda works. Point was of course that the 500 implies a more powerful light and I suspect a deal of that extra cp was due to a higher max pressure and not just the vaporiser/burner. That worries me when talking about a tank that we know is prone to distortion. ::Neil::
I reckon you’re right @ColinG It certain looks to be a deep dish globe ...... that’s a bonus for when it could be swapped to complete an earlier X246. Cheers Pete
Confession time - the globe is a deep one, but came from a Bullfinch 1616 lamp and is marked as such.
Make do and mend! ...Good stuff, especially as the lamp was free with useful spares, and looks to be going like a train!
