Research question: variation in pump fittings on Tilley tanks 1946-1955

Research question: variation in pump fittings on Tilley tanks 1946-1955

Part 1: Unusual fitting on a Tilley X246 “Guardsman” tank.

Long story short, I bought this lantern for its “deep” 171 globe.







Yesterday I was checking its parts, and knowing it came with a “Pork Pie” style pump, I casually prized it free of its gummed up threads and immediately noticed the fitting on the tank that the pump screws into:

My newly acquired X246 Guardsman on left / common Guardsman on right.





The fitting on the newly acquired lantern that the pump screws into is what is seen on the Pork Pie X246 that has the cage that screws on to external lugs fixed to the tank.


I have not seen this fitting on a “Guardsman” X246 before.

The other thing about this lantern is that it is painted gold (not that common in Australia). It has the rectangular Tilley transfer on the base.



Question 1. Are there other examples out there of this “Pork Pie” type pump fitting on Guardsman tanks.



Part 2: Three styles of pump fittings on the tanks of Tilley X246s

While looking at the above Tilleys, I also checked the earlier Tilley Pork Pie X246 with the “fixed” cage (the first variation with no external lugs for the cage).

It has a pump fitting on the tank that is different from the one shown above.



From these observations, I make the tentative conclusion that the time sequence for these three styles of fittings is:

1946/7:


1947/49:


1950+:



This may be useful for dating other Tilley lamps that have “Pork Pie” tanks.

Comments on my thoughts in this post will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Tony

@Mackburner @Henry Plews @JEFF JOHNSON @Buggerlugs @Anthony

 

Very interesting to see these variations, well spotted

 

I can't think I've ever seen that fitting on an X246 Guardsman tank but then I probably haven't been looking closely enough.

Well-spotted Tony - you've obviously got an eye for fine detail - a bit like Mick Emm, who could spot the tiniest differences in detail and as much to the point, remember about them.

Where is Mick these days? - anybody in contact with him...

 

An interesting post Tony and the image below shows another variation.

 

Thanks, @David Shouksmith @JEFF JOHNSON .

Cheers

Tony

 

@Tony Press @JEFF JOHNSON

Here’s another example similar to Jeff’s, this on a plated Guardsman.

 

I have not seen that detail on an X246, also not seen Mick since Dorset Steam 2019

 

Thanks, @BigStevie.

Tony

 

The Tilley 246 pork pies I have show recessed pump socket (to keep washer from expanding? outwards??) in short handle Version 1 only
Long handle vers 1 & 2-(steel cage) have a raised surface adjoining the thread as Tony's 7th pic.
Wonder if they had a problem with washer fail/leaking

 

Thanks, @Graham P.

That is an interesting observation about the the recessed pump sockets.

In the Guardsman pump the washer is restrained by the pump itself.

I might take a close look at how the Pork Pie style pump “sits” on those two earlier fittings.

Cheers

Tony

 

Hi dave hope your keeping well?
Mick is fine keeping his head down with this virus around.
He was round at mine last week for a cuppa and a dose of lamp talk among other stuff.
This virus made us both a bit reclusive no fairs or carboots so no lamp hunting.

Cheers Pete

 

@Tony Press

Most of my X246s are in storage and it could be a while before I can get at them to compare the pump sockets.

 

Thanks, Henry.

There’s no rush. It’s an open discussion.

Cheers

Tony

 

These are pumps from the Lamps as in previous post in same order plus one from a X246(1957) there is no recess for seal washer as I thought I saw previously in the pork pie pumps (the 57 pump has the brass cup washer)