Tilley 246A

I've only got one other 246A and as they were only made for a couple of years I was pleased to find another. It was missing the hood and burner but I had spares. The vaporiser and pricker seemed ok, so having fitted a mantle I filled it up and got her going!





The quality of the 246A isn't too bad... if they'd only stopped here they might have maintained their reputation. As it was, they kept cutting corners until their lanterns really suffered.

Anyway, another Tilley has been saved.

 

Nice job mate, I also believe that's it's got a X246B control cock valve, or it could be the photo angle, but looks fantastic.

 

A good honest lantern, and as you say not that common. Nice save !

 

Colin well done. Nice looking lamp.

 

It's in good nick.

 

Colin

Two things:

Is the lantern date stamped?

And… the hood you’ve put on is great, but it’s probably from an earlier model X246 (not that it matters). See here:

On Tilley X246 Enamelled Steel Hoods

Cheers

Tony

 

Did the early versions of the X246A have a brown top, I’m sure i recall a date when they changed over to black
It’s a nice lamp though, they don’t turn up that often in good condition, great find.

 

Thanks for the comments guys. I put the only black hood I had on it as the original was missing. Similarly the control valve was one I had laying around but I have others. I can't do much about the hood (without spending money) but I might have a more fitting control valve.

 

Well done Colin.

 

I have a couple of different control valves. The 'chrome plated' one looks like the aluminium version but its speculum plated brass. Would either of these be more correct?

 

@ColinG this is the control cock that is on my X246A.

 

Here are two different ones that I have.



The second photo is the more common control cock valve, but I have two with the first photo as well.

 

Hmmm…the valve on my 246a:

 

Hmmm, closest to my speculum plated one then. I shall swap it over shortly.

Seems that Tilley, just like W&B, was quite happy to put together mix and match lanterns from whatever parts they had laying around... well, maybe not quite as gung-ho.

Thanks guys.

 

The date stamp on the base is 1164A and the tank is missing the reference to 246A.





Here it is running with the new control valve... and doing much better than before.

 

Ive had it alignt for a whike now and its become very bright.

 

Nice one colin, looks better now with the correct valve.

 

I found 4 different types of control cock valves on the X246A.
Here is another two different types.

 

Yup, Tilley mix and match production at its best. I really don't think they cared that much so long as they made a functioning lantern! Added to which there are even Guardsman lanterns with tanks that are
stamped X246A which doesn't seem right but there you go!

 

So true I have one.