Hi to anyone who will read, I have recently acquired a lamp. All I can say is that I think it is called a tilley lamp and the 'base' is made of brass. These are all assumptions as I know nothing of these type of things but I'd love to know what model it is and if it is possible to restore it as I think it would be a lovely thing!!
You have a Tilley model X246 from around 1954. Generally a good lamp, give it a flush out clean and oil pump general clean up and a pressure test and it will probably run.
Hello and welcome to CPL! There is a chap from this forum @X246A but he goes by the name Broadlander on you tube.. i just did a google search and found him without too much trouble...there is tons of info on here as well so you can always ask too! Best of luck with it
You've got a bit to do with that lantern but it should turn out well - they were the last decent lanterns Tilley made i.e. before the family sold out and the accountants took over. Do you, by any chance, know a Louise Parry-Jones? She would be around 70 by now...
Hi Joseff and welcome to the forum. You’ve been given the info you need by those above. Your X246 Guardsman is a good robust lamp and you’ll be able to bring it back to life. It’ll need a good service, the parts you need are available from Fettlebox, there’s a link on the site. The videos by broadlander, aka Jeremy, are excellent and will get you familiarised with the workings of your lamp. Be warned! When your old Guardsman pops into life you may become infected with the lamp bug and have an uncontrollable desire to have another, then another and then another..... Enjoy the experience and happy fettling. Don’t be afraid to ask any questions. Stevie
@David Shouksmith Yes it does look like i have quite a task ahead of me haha but I think it will be a great little thing once it is done up! Unfortunately no I do not know of Louise Parry-Jones.
@ Big Stevie Oh that's great I'll be scouring the Internet later for parts and those videos look very interesting! Ye it is something I'm weary of haha thank you!
Hi @Joseff Parry-Jones Definitely watch Broadlander's excellent videos but steer well clear of the so called 'restoration' videos of lanterns. I've seen a few and they're like horror films. They strip tanks with rotary wire brushes or sandblast then before stripping the enamel off the hood!
Ah I've briefly looked at his videos I will definitly have to give it a go! Oh well I don't want to take any genuinity from it but if like to make it look pretty new haha
The problem with the restoration videos (some of them anyway) is that they might make them look ok but they'll never work again!
@Joseff Parry-Jones Hi and welcome to the forum. Your lantern should clean up nicely to whatever level you desire. I generally do as little as possible other than clean, conserve and repair. I like a lamp or lantern to retain its battle scars but keep it working until I pop my clogs and it goes into the possession of its next guardian. On the flip side there are many skilled members here who completely strip and respray a lantern with excellent results, @ColinG for one. Thanks to @podbros and @BigStevie for your kind words, cheques will be in the post! To be perfectly honest I am no expert here, just passionate about pressure lamps. There are many here far more knowledgeable than I and of whom I have learned al lot. Looking forward to seeing the fruits of your endeavours and hope these help: Regards Jeremy
@X246 thank you so much i will be watching these videos carefully and hopefully will be able with you guidance will manage to get this on erunning! joseff
hi to all and thank you so far for the response i have recieved! its been great! out of interest and im probably being naive but are all x246 parts compatible? i seem so find parts for them but some have an a after the model number and some have a b. i guess this distinguishes differences but are they both compatible with each other?
@Joseff Parry-Jones Most Tilley parts are interchangeable but not always authentically correct. Check out the reference gallery: Storm Lanterns | Classic Pressure Lamps & Heaters Regards Jeremy
@X246A oh great thank you! i am ever so greatful to everyones respone i really was not expecting such great help! joseff
@Joseff Parry-Jones Welcome from Queensland Australia You’re on the right track, Jeremy’s, X246A, videos are well worth the following. When you get her running, don’t forget to post the “money shot” (the lantern’s first light after its restoration). Enjoy your fettle. Cheers Pete
@AussiePete thank you for the welcome after some talk with @X246A and hes very kindly sent some pictures in how he would restore it. i am hoping to restore it "working" order first and then see what i would like to do with it after but i will defo put a picture up if i manage to get it lit joseff
@Joseff Parry-Jones A very small tip for you if I may suggest it, I don't know how easy it is to find paraffin near you but if its difficult or very expensive (as it is for me in London) you can run these excellent lamps on ordinary white spirit from your paint store, or B&Q etc. (White spirit is a more refined form of paraffin.) I use the low odour version, but ordinary is fine. Obviously don't use it for pre heating your lamp prior to actually lighting the mantle as it will smoke and soot badly.
Looks like you are just missing a 'spirit clip' (for soaking in meths, positioning on the vapouriser to pre-heat before lighting) and possibly you'll need a replacement top, both very abundant on ebay. A small jar for keeping your clip and meths. Welcome Joseff Martin
@plantpot oh i see thats great as i do have a lot of white spirits as i do a fair bit of decorating! that will be handy! but i think its pretty cheap online haha but thank you just the same!
@paparazi yes i have ordered a pre heater for the lamp i am thinking of getting a hood for it but i would like to see if i can manage to get it to work first! i dont want to spend too much on it before just in case i cant get it working haha thank you joseff
Looking closely at your photographs, there appears to be lurking in the depths a creature unknown to the wider world but to those of an acquisitive nature is easily recognised. I found one in my first lamp and unfortunately I was badly bitten. Beware, there is no known antidote for its venom and you will suffer as long as you are on end. The symptoms include, but are not limited to a constant ache and anxiousness as to where your next lamp will come from, an uncontrollable urge to search t'interweb for lamp information, a need to lock oneself away in one's workshop for days on end only surfacing briefly to take on sustenance or to placate SWMBO and a strange sensation in the rear of one's wallet deflating at a disconcerting rate. Resistance is futile. The forum has you in its power and life will never be the same again. Happy fettling!
