Since being back in this hobby/obsession/lifestyle choice (delete as applicable), I went rather aggressively, headlong into acquiring a brace of BR49's of varying condition. My interest waned a couple of years back and I drifted into other interests, but I'd always wanted a BR49, but never pursued it. In a month I've now bought three, or maybe two and a half, as my bitsa isn't a proper one so to speak. Anyways, I had not got a 246a model at all in my small collection up to now, so when the chance came of acquiring this BR version of the 'A', I went for it. As I recall, the 246a was made up to Oct 64 (anybody got a 11/64?), so this could well be one of the very last 246 BR49A's produced. The fount doesn't have the model number stamped on it and I believe this practice ceased around March 64, when Tilley were aggressively seeking cost cutting measures. I replaced the hood and garbage aluminium pump, otherwise it's as purchased, apart from being fettled and painted of course.
Strange a 1964 lamp has a 'patent applied for' preheater when they were patented in 1931. A different control cock of course so there is more behind this.
Tbh, I did wonder about the history of the heater shroud lifter. There seems to be a myriad variations, on the various lamps over-the years. The control cock looks the same as the one in the reference gallery, on the unfired Speculum BR49A, similarly from 1964. Unless of course you allude to the fact the one on mine should be gold coloured - which it probably should, though I doubt by Oct 1964 on the cusp of X246b introduction, Tilley really paid that much attention or cared of such detail...
I just cross-referenced two BR49A's in the Ref Gallery and I'd say the control cock on mine is likely accurate. In the gallery there is a lamp from 7/63, with a GF(?) earlier style 777a CC, with the longer feed pipe from the paraffin bowl on it. The unfired Speculum lamp from 1964 has the later 246b style cock, which has the shorter feed pipe and different housing, as per mine. Likely indicative of the then aggressive cost cutting agenda.
While I believe this is true, do you have any documentation on aggressive cost-cutting at Tilley during this period? Cheers Tony
There is an x246a dated Sept ‘66 in the gallery; I know of a br49a of that year as well Yours looks very smart
No of course not, but largely; given the clear yet gradual, declination of quality and practice into the 1960's, I personally consider it a simple case of Res Ipsa Loquiter...
@podbros That 1966 x246a further underscores the haphazard nature of Tilley at that time. I have an X246b, the only one I have, dated 12/64, so by Sept 66 youd've thought they would have long since put the last 246a fount and cage into sale. Must've found it in the broom cupboard or something, lol..
