A few Members have been pondering whether one particular lower insect screen for Tilley and Kayen lamps and lanterns was made exclusively by(or for) Kayen or both Tilley and Kayen. The two examples of lower insect screen on the left are definitely Tilley. The one on the right is suspected of being Kayen only: Kayen? Or Tilley and Kayen? The “Kayen” insect screen appears very often on Kayen and sometimes on Tilley in Australia. But it is not illustrated in Tilley catalogues - by a search through the Reference Library - while the other two (and a third “flat” one) are. The Kayen insect screen is illustrated in this 1951 Kopsen catalogue: https://classicpressurelamps.com/threads/kayen-kopsen-parts-list-1951.13670/ I’m asking our Tilley experts whether there’s evidence that the “Kayen” insect screen was made in the UK? In this post, @Jean J illustrated lower insect screens she’d got that came from Zimbabwe. @JEFF JOHNSON responded that the one I’m tentatively identifying as “Kayen” was new to him, as did @george. @Andrew T had one of the “Kayen” screens on a Tilley from the Western Cape: Tilley under-globe bug screens There was significant trade between Australia and Southern Africa, so the screens could have been supplied from either the UK or Australia. Any and all help appreciated. Thank you in advance. Cheers Tony @ROBBO55 @Anthony @Henry Plews @Mackburner
I have 2 off PL53 bought from UK many years hence which came with lower insect screens of the same type as found on a lot of Kayens I am inclined to think the design was "Tilley" reproduced by Kayen
I agree Graham. This is a 1936 ad showing that screen. I have lined up my screens from the extras box and this is the combinations I have found. Brass dish, stem and clip 4 Brass dish and stem with steel clip 6 Brass dish with steel stem and clip 4 Brass dish and clip with steel stem 4 Steel dish, stem and clip 3 What this means working out what was first and what was last I have no idea. There is no difference in the design that I can see from steel to brass so what came off a Tilley or a Kayen I don't know.
I have these screens on lamps that date from 1938 I would think more steel parts later part 1939-45 due to need of brass for other uses
Revisiting this thread: It’s now obvious that the ‘dish and stem’ insect screen in the right of the first photo in this thread dates from at least 1936. It was probably standard on the export lantern, the EX4 that was made from 1932, then on the EX100. It was made by Tilley and then copied by Kayen. The next quest: the start dates of the other two insect screens. The flat ‘butterfly clip’ screen is seen on illustrations of Tilley X246 lanterns, but I’m not certain how far back. The earliest ‘dish without stem’ insect screen that I can find appears on an illustration of a flounder lamp in 1958. Comments welcome. Tony @ROBBO55 @Anthony @Graham P @JEFF JOHNSON
I have noticed that the Kayen one's are made of a different brass, they seem to be a duller colour, and not shiny brass, a lesser grade of brass.
I would think that the release of the first 246(Pork Pie export) would have necessitated the scissor action (butterfly) insect screen as it is impossible to fit pre heater without clear access to the vaporiser
Sometimes it’s all about the small details, and wondering whether my insect screen goes above or below the globe, I came across this discussion. Both my short handle pork pies have the early, non-scissor brass screen. It seems strange to me, that a product with such perfectly fitting parts would have such an ill-fitting insect screen. I’ve fitted them above/inside the globe, which seems a bit clumsy. But if fitted below, there isn’t a clip to hold them like the later steel variation, and you can’t also fit the preheater under the old deep blue letter durosil globe. So… above or below the globe? Or do we think my two early pork pies just happen to have Kayen screens on them? Cheers, Adrian
The sequence of the insect screen models is important hereH The first bottom insect screen had the stem and clip (see above). It sat under the 182 globe. If fitted to the 171 globe it also would have fitted underneath the globe. The second was the "butterfly clip" (see above). It most likely came with the Pork Pie. It also fitted under the globe. The other variations came after this. Tony
@Buckaroo Your insect screen looks as if it's missing something. Can you take it out and photograph it? Tony
Here you go @Tony Press I can see what you mean about it maybe missing something, also when comparing it to a Kayen I have. But the Tilley appears to have an extra row of holes. Both my screens look like this on the two short handle pork pies I have.
Ahhh ok, I have an X246 with the locking clip. It’s steel not brass like these two so assuming these are perhaps just an early version of the locking clip style
If you put a clip on it, you could sit it under the glass with the domed side pointing into the globe. Cheers Tony
