This is my Speculum BR49ish I've made up out of various bits I've accumulated over time, with a preheater made using a Vapalux spirit cup, some 1mm steel gauze and 2 picture clips pot-riveted together with a 246b plastic control knob put on it. It'll do until I'm able to find a 777a control cock and the rest of the genuine preheater parts, which of course won't be easy. Obviously it'll be lit with meths.
I decided I liked the stance and aesthetics of the taller item, so ive decided to convert all of my remaing 4 Guardsmans. As the genuine Tilley extender legs are very rare items, I made some custom ones.
@Steptoe Many thanks. All of them will get the BR49 clone treatment, with the cage extensions, 169 vapouriser, Vapalux spirit cup, shroud & handle. I don't have a machine shop, so the fittings for the cage extensions took time to source, what with the threads being BSF. Total cost to convert one is £85, but worth it imo.
@Muzzleflash Well done. Quite distinctive. Food for thought, a future project perhaps. Is that 169 vaporiser the same as is used it the Tilley Heater ? What is the length of the extenders in the top picture ? Thanks.
@Paul Aslanides Hi there. The extenders in the 'top picture' on the Speculum lamp are the genuine Tilley ones. From base to top of thread where it screws into the cage they are 53mm. The studding in the custom ones has to be cut differently though, as they are made up out of both stud extender and threaded tube.
Here's one lit for the first time since assembly, I painted and finished a couple of days ago. It pulsed quite aggressively for the first hour, but has now settled approaching 2 hrs operation. New Tilley 169 vapouriser fitted with custom extension legs, all new seals (obviously) and gen Vapalux spirit cup with gauze and handle. The gauze does seem to contain and concentrate the flame better. It's been an interesting and thoroughly engaging half-Winter sourcing bits and building these (I now have converted all but one of my 7 Guardsman lamps) . A much better lantern all round imo than the standard height version, even if it's not really a BR49.
