So I've managed between buying and inheriting and been given some Tilley lamps. Guardsman and X246A models but I've kinda gotten the bug and in my last thread was advised that the next lamp I buy should say Vapalux or Bialladdin on it so.... I'd like to have a go at something other than a tilley, but something that's as easy to fettle and not going to break the bank if I make a botch of it. The end goal would be to have a lamp that works well and looks good too. Thanks Steve
You can't go wrong with an early model Vapalux 300, sturdy built and simple enough to fettle. There were enough manufacturers worldwide so that it'll take a while for you to get bored, my only prerequisite for a project is that it's different from the last one.
Bialaddin... Vapalux... Tilley...? They are all the same! I think you should widen your horizon a bit. To me it sounds like you need a Primus 1020 or 991... They don't get much simpler or easy to get working, but still well built than those. Unless you are willing to go petrol! Then nothing beat most of the more common Coleman lanterns, be that if they are from the 20'ies or pretty close to our days. They always work, light at an instant, and the spare parts are cheap and readily available. Or if your preference also is good light, well then it's a German lantern you need.
...don't forget the Austrian makes like Ditmar or Phoebus. Or a Swiss Hasag... or a neat little Radius or Optimus from Sweden... There are so many interesting items to look at and then make one's decision on what to focus as a collector . The best would be to attend a collectors meeting, but then the "disease" gets even worse... no chance to cure !
The trouble with some of the Swedish lamps is that they are starting to sell for silly prices... You can still pick them up here in the UK but not as easily as a Bialaddin or Vapalux and I've picked these up for as little as £2.
Thanks for the replies folks, I do like the look of the Primus lamps mentioned and I had been keeping an eye for a Vapalux 300. Tilley storm lamps were really common here in NI and I'd like something really different. I'm kinda on the lookout for a Tilley Search light / flood light to fettle at sensible money too.
It depends what you mean by "sensible money" but those two words should never appear in the same sentence as "Tilley Searchlight". You've a better chance of getting an FL6 floodlight projector for not too much - generally £50 upwards on eBay but I've seen (and bought) them for less. Sellers are often reluctant to post them and insist on local collection which tends to depress prices. Just keep looking. On the other hand, they're not really much different from the lanterns you already have - or most other Tilleys, come to that...
Just wondering if anyone can ID this wee lamp? I've been offered it and I'm not sure what it is or how much to pay for it. Thanks.
It's not a link, Ray - just a word I emphasised by underlining it. Perhaps I should have put it in bold or italics instead... This is a link, Ray
After my M320 project is finished I'd like to try out another british lantern and thought a Tilley should be next. Can you recommend a certain model? Regards, Götz
Yeah - try an X246 pork-pie if you can get one. Failing that try to buy one with the wire loops as attachment for the handle. Avoid anything that has a date stamped underneath the tank because quality had started to deteriorate by them. Apart from the date, later X246 lanterns had the handle attached by clips at the top of the globe cage and this is another way to distinguish them. More-or-less the same guidelines apply to the table lamps - earlier i.e. no date stamp, is preferable...
So here goes, looks like it needs a ball of work but hey it was free! Any specific tips for this lamp?
A good clean! It's missing it's hood, but you can usually find some good reproduction brass ones... Personally in that condition I would probably strip the paint and respray. You'll need a decent flat bladed screwdriver to get the non return valve out. Other than that there's not a lot of difference between fixing this and a Tilley X246B. A new washer kit and some mantles is probably all you'll need other than the hood.
Ta, its was maroon once so I think we'll go for a full respray and polish up. Absolutely everything on it is seized solid so I'd say I'll be needing a new pump and filler cap as well as a globe. I saw a picture of one in maroon with all the brass bits shone up which looked rather lovely so I'll be aiming for that finish. I take it base camp have all the necessary bits and bobs? And I take it the inners ie the burner/vapouriser arrangement is similar to tilleys?
I have a Geniol 150 that I'm working on however I'm finding it hard to find a 150cp vapouriser of the correct length.
Won't you have to remove the current pump and filler cap in order to fit new ones? In which case you can re-use the existing ones.
Have you tried base-camp? They have a 150cp vapouriser listed p.n. 152/1. http://www.base-camp.co.uk/Petromax/Petromax%20Spares%20Price%20List.htm Are you missing the part? If not they can usually be cleaned out and put back into service.
Yeah James I've not had a proper try as its soaking in penetrating oil but I reckon I'm going to have to be rude with it to get it off. If I can get the pump out without damage it should clean up but the filler cap is ally and its badly corroded anyway.
Thanks James. I bought a replacement vapouriser recently-same part number. It is approximately 5 mm larger than the older original one. The cleaning needle rod will not extend long enough to accommodate this increase and also the distance from jet to mixing tube is ruined. I have let the seller know and hopefully a vapouriser of the correct length can be supplied. As regards using the old one, the top threads are busted and it can't hold the jet.
That's a shame. A bit of a bodge I know but you could always silver-solder a jet into the old vapouriser
