Hi guys, I have just bought this Tilley from a garage sale and would like to get it up and going. I have given the glass a wash and pollished the cap. The pump works freely and it builds up a little bit of pressure. I am not sure what model it is when looking for a kitor mantle. It has he numbers 665XA stamped under it. It looks like it has a stainless tank that has been painted or coated with something. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Cheers Brian
It's a Tilley X246b and is quite a common lantern so there are plenty of parts available. If you follow at the link to the Fettle Box you'll find everything you need bothered at a reasonable price.
Hi @Brian A Welcome to the forum. We were all new to pressure lamps once. You have a Tilley X246B MK1 dated June 1965 - no one really knows what the two letters mean. The service kit is available from the Fettle Box (third box down on right of screen) and the mantle is either an H164 or X164, although yours looks to be unfired and providing no holes should be usable. The fount/tank is made from brass but may have originall been speculum (like chrome) plated. Tilley were known to have over painted speculum if the plating failed their quality control. You will need a jar of metholated spirit and a 151 pre-heating torch. Check out my YouTube link on lighting a Tilley: Enjoy you lantern and keep us posted with updates. Regards, Jeremy
@Brian A If you’re from Swan Hill, Australia, I’m happy to talk you through getting your lantern going. First thing to check, though, is this: Does your lantern sit flat on the bench, or is the bottom bowed out so that it wobbles on a flat surface? Cheers Tony
I think I should mention that my phone added the word "bothered" in my original reply for absolutely no reason that I can see! I might go and throw it in a bucket of cold water as a punishment!!!
@Tony Press Thanks Tony, yeah I am in Swan Hill, Victoria. Will keep in touch. I also have inherited 3 Coleman pressure lamps also. Will put some info up tonight about them. Cheers
@X246A Thanks Jeremy. I actually saw your youtube when I bought the tilley home. Unfortunately, it looks like a mouse has chewed a hole in the mantle that is in the lamp currently. I will keep you posted on the progress. Cheers Brian
@Tony Press Hi Tony, I have just checked my lantern and it does not sit on the seam around the outside, but rather in the middle. There is about 1mm gap under the seam if that. Is that a problem? Cheers Brian. P.S do you know much about Coleman also?
@Brian A That it sits on the middle and not the edge means it’s been overpressurised in the past - a weakness of the “B” model of the X246. It may still work, but the seam of the tank is weakened and one day it might just go unpleasantly “phut”! You’ve got spare parts, though, for better (earlier) versions of the X246. Yes, I can help with your Colemans. Cheers Tony
@Tony Press It does look to have a small damp spot on the seam about 2cm long. This is the only Tilley I currently own.
@Tony Press Hi Tony, I have just inherited these 3 Coleman lamps (that is what made me buy the Tilley, might as well get into it properly). I have given them a bit of a scrub with steel wool and have found the following. Referring to the photos from left to right. Far left: No 249 Scout, Made in Australia Middle: No 242b, Made in Canada, has broken glass and no pre heat Far right: Scout, Made in Canada, could not find a number. The lamps all look similar except the Aussie made one has the tap on the opposite side to the other two. Can you get kits and mantles for these lamps still? Any info would be appreciated. Cheers Brian
Hello Brian, i do have a few Coleman lanterns which are all in working order and the link below shows my Coleman Scout lantern. Coleman Canada 249 Scout.
@Brian A All those lanterns are serviceable and all parts are available. The two “Scouts” are kero, the 242B runs on clear gasoline - Shellite - (it does not have a pre-heater, so you need to know how to light it without setting the world on fire). There will be manufacture dates, usually two numbers, one to the left and one to the right of the Coleman stamp and crest on the tank (or on the bottom of the tank). See here: Coleman 242B (Canada, 6/62) And here: https://classicpressurelamps.com/search/108752/?page=8 If you want to talk to me on the weekend about the lanterns, send me a “Conversation”. It’s worthwhile taking out a subscription to CPL if you’re going to get down and dirty with lamps - there’s plenty of reference material in the Reference Library. Cheers Tony
@Tony Press The three Coleman’s do have dates on them. The far left one has 4 on the left and 57 on the right. I’m guessing it is a April 1957 build. The middle one has 4 on left and 49 on the right, guessing April 1949. The far right one has an A on the left and 46 on the right, if it is like a car battery, it will be a January 1946 make. Is this correct? Cheers.
Well actually it could be anywhere in the first quarter. I don't know how long they kept going with the ABCD marking instead of the months and whether it was only Canada. Hopefully someone who knows Colemans a lot better than me can answer.
Hi Brian While l dont have quite the expertise of the more knowledgeable members here, l have fettled a dozen or so Tilleys a few Colemans, Austramax, Aladdin...... oh and anyway lm just up the road in Murrabit so if l can be any assistance ld be happy to help. Cheers Grant
