New to Tilley Lamps.

Hi all, well not really new, I have Known about these lamps for years in fact I have Three Tilley lamps in my garage they must have been there about 20 yrs in bits. Well now I have almost nothing to do (Lock Down) I thought I would have a look and see if I can do anything with them..

 

Welcome!

There are plenty of examples here on CCS of different Tilley models being refurbished. Take your time to look around, and feel free to ask questions.

Photos are always welcome.

Tony

@Pitsmoor Col

 

Hi,

Very easy to get up and running with a few simple new seals you can get from FettleBox on here. Plenty on help and advce on this forum. Youtube has videos also

 

Likely you'll only need seals a pump leather and mantels and of course ..paraffin and a bottle of meths..

Martin

 

I have been having a look round other forums and suppliers as well, It seems I have 2 Guardsman X246. and 1 X246B, also I have noticed there are some numbers on the bottom of one of the Guardsman lamps ie. 1260XA. And under the X246B. it says 274. Can anyone tell me if they mean anything ?

 

Welcome aboard!

Those are date codes which stand for December 1960 and February 1974.

 

@Pitsmoor Col
Welcome from Queensland Australia.
Lots of knowledge on this forum, all you need to do is ask.
Photos are a great way of showing your collection and to provide necessary detail and information to allow a more accurate advice etc.
Looking forward to reading and seeing your posts.
Cheers
Pete

 

One of the Guardsman Lamps has no numbers underneath, did they only date them from a certain year ?

 

Hi and welcome from the Scottish Highlands. The Guardsman lamps are good tough reliable lanterns and of much better quality than the X246B.
As we’re all nosey buggers here, how about some photos? Good luck with your fettles, these lamps are straight forward to get going, they do tend to breed though.....

 

Dates are from Oct 1956 onwards

 

Another Highland welcome only not quite so far north. As everyone else has said, some photos would be great. Sometimes you can tell a lot from little details. All three of your Tilleys should be easy to work on and if you have any problems, you'll get loads of help here!

 

@Pitsmoor Col

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Looking forward to seeing photographs of work in progress and the money shots (the first lighting).

Regards Jeremy

 

So the lamp with no numbers on the bottom was made before Oct. 1956 ?

 

@Pitsmoor Col

It would have been made before this date, the clues to its possible date can be found on here, things to look for is the design of the cage, and if it has the loop fixing for the wire handle, the top hood design, even the style of the burner within the hood. If it has any manufacturing marks stamped on the bottom rim of the tank, ie tilley england, or a waterslide decal if surviving, the pump design, and the way the cage fixes to the tank.

Does the globe (glass) have a deeper bottom rim than the later globes? If so they are rare so you may want to mothball these and get a cheaper replacement if you plan to use the lamp as any hole in a lit mantle can break a glass.

Its all on here. Half the fun is looking for info about these lamps. The early lamps were the best ones made in terms of quality most would agree.

 

Hi Plantpot, many thanks for your reply, I don't have a globe just yet, I have sent for one. The lamps are in bit's at the moment waiting for me to work on them when I have the time..

 

Weather a bit crap today, so might spend an hour cleaning Guardsman lamp cages.

 

...Hours of fun there! ..... A warm welcome to CPL!

 

Does any one know what the original colour was for the cages for guardsman lamps ?

 

It's the same as for the tank/fount... officially 'Plasticote' gold.. which does give quite a bright look but is close to how they would have looked when new.

Quite a few folk on here prefer more of an 'Antique Gold' which gives more of an aged look?

If you stand a newer gold X246b next to the older gold X246 (guardsman) you will see that the younger lanterns are more of a yellowy gold?

At the end of the day it's what looks good to you!

 

I have some very nice Green left over from another job, I just may try it if I don't like it I can always change it. Besides I could do one Green and one Gold.

 

Good on you mate. Us Aussies love the green and gold.
Cheers
Pete

 

That's settled then one Green and one Gold.

 

What does the "XA" mean

 

No one is quite sure what the XA means.

Tony

 

I'm not certain and as far as I know neither is anyone else, my best guess is that it's a production run code.

 

Hi all, what is the best Paraffin to use, are some brands better or is it all the same ?

 

I'm not sure brands exist any more in quite the same way, not like they did when Esso Blue was around. Personally, I use domestic heating kero (28 sec kero) because it's cheap at around 50p/L at the moment plus they've just introduced a formula that's supposed to be better in some way but they're not too specific about the details. Heating oil usually smells more because of the higher sulphur content although some users say you can reduce it get rid of it using additives. I've tried it... one batch worked brilliantly, the next batch was much less successful.

If you can find an outlet that sells it from a pump it's usually cheaper and is better for patafin heaters, lanterns, stoves etc.

 

Has anyone purchased any thing from Tilley lamps. the company ? I am asking because I have sent for a pre heater and want to pay by bank transfer, but the instructions say "Ulster Bank" Just a bit wary that's all. cheers..

 

Hello welcome l am a new member as well, great to have another Tilley fan have fun, you can learn a lot from this site and its members good luck

 

Hi @Pitsmoor Col ,

I have bought vapourisers from them, but that was over 3 yrs ago... i can't remember the exact details of the transaction, but all was fine.
You may want to contact them first before ordering anything as they have a message up on the website about closures?
I'm sure you've already checked all that

As regards paraffin, i find that the fuel used for barbeque lighting is usually a better quality (although more expensive!) than the other 4 ltr. packs? (especially if using the lamp/lantern inside)