I just won the bid on the equivalent of Fleabay -- it's lamp, which looks like Tilley X246 (probably is, if the pics match the reality): I hope that postie will not smash the globe... (postie-supervillain??? ) Ca. 11 quids seems to be not bad...
That's an X246. To get a date for it, see whether it has any marks stamped on the fount either on the side or the base (or both). Let us know. If you go to the Lamp Reference Gallery you'll see discussion about dating these X246s. I now always ask the sender to wrap the glass in bubble-wrap and put it inside a tin, PVC pipe or a separate corrugated cardboard box inside the main box. It's a good looking lamp!
I was there. Some almost identical (wingnuts on the fuel cap/pump unit, instead of round and knurled), but I had a flash of strange suspicion: "did the guy put CPL pics on auction and has no actual lamp??? So did I. Yes, so I took a risk to be interrogated by The-One-Who-Asks-Difficult-Questions...
Postie brought an X246 Guardsman. I am a bit surprised that the cap is not fixed to the rest, as in Vapalux or Ditmar. Globe is OK, which is important. That's the thing... Is it the pressure indicator? If so, it's jammed... Any idea,how to make it moving? How to clean the paint, without destroying it? (OK, I may to brush it off and apply new, but I prefer to clean existing one). BTW, was originally the pump/fuel cap bare brass, was just painted gold? Or is it steel? Well, silly question, I have to take a magnet...
Re Hood lifting they are usually retained by carry handle ends which should protrude in further than yours appear to, there are flats stamped on handle and keyholes in brackets to prevent handle opening for hood removal unless in carrying position. Pump should be brass and was painted with rest of lamp.It would be from 1954-60 if stamped on baseplate you will have month and year, Graham..
Thanx Graham. I haven't noticed numbers. I'll carry more precise examination with magnifying glass...
Tilley started date stamping 56-7 so if no numbers will be pre 56-7,how did you go with handle you may need to bend it inwards a little. Graham..
The pressure indicator: By "jammed", do you mean it won't come out? Or won't rise up flush when pumped up? Do not try and remove it if it doesn't leak. If the centre doesn't rise up to be flush with the surround when pumped up - and it doesn't leak - leave alone. The important thing is that it doesn't leak. You can pump away until the light becomes no brighter, that will be enough. Usually about 100 strokes on the pump. There are ways and means of fixing the pressure indicator, but others more familiar with same will be along shortly I'm sure!
Aye aye! OK, 100 strokes. I read somewhere here about overpressurising, especially of Tilley lamps. Anyway, I think that this warning applied to the Tilley lamps with brass fount and younger, than mine, which is from the times before Mr Tilley employed accountants instead of engineers...
Sometimes the pressure indicator frees itself when the lamp is being used, it may be many years since there was any paraffin/kerosene in that tank, Jeff.
I got a feeling that previous owner poured some kind of spirit or paint solvent in the tank... Smelled similar to meths, but with a slight difference... Anyway, it keeps pressure, pump and a pump NRV is working well, the cock holds pressure and there was a squirt of the said solvent from vapouriser, after opening the main valve.
It's always a good idea to clean out the tank and to wire the fuel feed tube to clear the build up of muck in there, Jeff.
