I have come across a BR49A. Just want to gauge the scarcity of this model? And what does the B/F stand for?
Hello, Now that is interesting. I always thought that the BR series were built on an X246 frame and used a 169 vaporizer. This looks to be is an X246a with a 606 vaporizer. Is it dated on the bottom?
It threw me I bit also. I thought it was a standard X246. It wasn't until I took it out of the box it was in did I see the model number. Date on back is 862XA
BR (not B/F ) is an abbreviation for British Railways who were the original customer for these lanterns. The idea was that their operatives didn't need to carry a separate bottle of priming fluid i.e. methylated spirit and a priming torch. I think these subsequently went on open sale. The paraffin preheaters work OK once you know how to use them and also a little patience is required. Otherwise they can be a bit of a nuisance and were often removed. Possibly your lantern is a mix-and-match between a BR49A tank and X246A upperparts. In an industrial situation where several lanterns were being serviced at the same time, it wouldn't be a concern to get all the lanterns back together with their original parts. Maybe it even left the Tilley factory like that - August 1962 is early for that model X246A and possibly there were temporary tank shortages or whatever...
Thanks for that David. After closer inspection of the stamping it is indeed B/R. The R had not been stamped that well and looked to be an F. So would I be right to say that Tilley used a general mass produced tank and stamped BRxxx for the Britsh Rail, hence the tanks being the same as the 246. Are these very common lanterns? I have not seen one in New Zealand before
Looking at the pic you posted, it shows BR49A - no forward slash between the B and R. Having said that, I'm sure I've seen B/R stamped somewhere on some of my lanterns. The BR versions of the X246, X246A and X246B lanterns are quite a bit rarer, even in the UK. They would have been more expensive than their basic cousins due to the cost of the paraffin preheater, the larger globe cage and the 169 vapouriser. It's doubtful many ordinary folks would have been prepared to pay the premium for the dubious pleasure of needing only one priming fuel. As I said earlier, you need patience and the correct technique to light the BR versions without blackening the globe. In NZ, much rarer still, I would have thought... Edit: Ah, I've just enlarged your pic and I see what you mean:- B/R - I've no idea, sorry. I suspect that's another Tilley feature, the precise meaning of which has been lost in the mists of time...
Your additional pic crossed with my edit. OK, my best guess is that B/R is a grammatically incorrect abbreviation for British Railways...
Getting the parts to make it a proper BR49A isn't going to be easy, if that's what you have in mind...
Only if I came across the opportunity between now and who knows!! I'm happy with the way it is... Part of its life cycle I guess....unless someone out there knows somebody who knows a guy who has some spares
This is interesting. It could just be correct. In 1958 Southern Rail used a standard X246 lantern painted yellow and marked BR. This is a lamp without the extended cage and paraffin pre heater. Could it be that BR a few years later ordered another batch without the pre heater? I would like to see more examples to "Prove" the theory but just maybe? ::Neil::
Neil, I have a similar lantern, gold paint, brown hood, dated January '62. To all intents and purpose, a standard X246A but, the tank is clearly stamped BR49A.
