Rare find in Canada X246A

Found this lamp on a buy and sell page in Halifax, NS and had a friend who lives there pick it up for me, only thing I seem to be missing is the meths bottle.I plan to go at it after dinner and give it a proper cleaning but I have never tried cleaning the painted surface on one of this lamps, I would happily accept suggestions from anyone who has been down this road before.

 

@Thomas

Clean the painted surface with mild soap and water. Polish with car polish.

Cheers

Tony

 

@Thomas

By the way, it’s an X246A.

Cheers

Tony

 

@Thomas

That should clean up nicely, and it came with the preheater wick. Can't wait to see it lit.

Mike

 

I'm not sure how to edit my post to correct this.

 

@Thomas

I've alerted the moderator who will fix it for you.

Cheers

Tony

 

That's a nice Tilley !

 

I'm aware that Tony has already alerted the moderator, but for future reference, within the personal editing time (30 minutes?), click on the word 'Edit' at the lower left of your post. Once this time has elapsed (the word 'Edit' disappears), you need to refer your post to the moderation team by clicking the word 'Report' at the same place. You can also use this method to report other folks' posts should you think, for whatever reason, they merit the attention of Christer or Ross. Hope that helps...

 

A lucky find and the date stamp will be on the base plate of the tank.

 

Sat on the deck this afternoon and gave it a good polishing and a new original Tilley mantel.

 

That code stands for December 1964.
The lantern has cleaned up well.

 

That's very late for an X246A which I thought were 1962 to 1964 - so maybe the X246B started in January 1965, which would mean we celebrated its Golden Jubilee a year early...

 

I have a 246B dated 1/65 with a 246A handle. Someone on here has a 246B dated 11/64 if I remember correctly...?? Can't recall username ..

 

It wasn't quite dark but I couldn't wait any longer

 

!

Cheers

Tony

 

I have an X246B which is definitely 64, I see I posted it as reading 1264XB back in 2013.
11/64 was reckoned then as first month of production if I recall.

My stamping has quite a bit of paint filling it which makes it hard to read.
Looks like there was some overlap in production.

 

I have not seen a B dated 11-64. I do have one recorded as 12-64 though so there may well have been some overlap. This A type has to be one of the last few made. ::Neil::

 

Well if it means the Newark lightup happened in the right year we can rest easy.
I like 1264XA much more than my 1264XB...

 

Like most I've had a myriad B's over the years - in fact they were the only lamp I had up until very recently (they did their job and were fine). The only ones I have now are a 1/65 and an 8/78 out of an original collection of 20+ and Ive bought and sold loads this year from various sources.

The 1/65 lamp was a much later addition to said collection and was of a sturdier build (imo) than the later versions and that's why I kept it (different handle, better plating on the frame etc). The only reason I kept the 8/78 lamp was because it is date stamped in the same month/year as my favourite actor died. It's odd how things work in that respect..

 

In a country dominated by coleman petrol lamps I am impressed by the quality and function of these older paraffin cousins. Honestly until recently I'd never seen a paraffin pressure lamp, I grew up staying in wood camps and farm houses where wood cook stoves and coleman lanterns were common. I can remember having to talk over a loud coleman while playing cards, by comparison the tilley sounds like whisper and is constructed like a tank.

 

@Thomas

Nice Job !! Impressive !!

Mike

 

@Mackburner

Considering this lamp was found in Canada, I will assume the paperwork that is with the lamp, originally came with the lamp.

The paperwork shown has lighting instructions that is marked X246A yet the specification pamphlet is marked X246B.

Perhaps that is further proof of overlap.

 

Well, how hard can it be, I thought, but it turned out slightly over 1400 actors, actresses and other sundries associated with the film industry or stage died that year and 120* or so in August. Given you referred to an "actor", that still gives me around 60 to choose from.

So my guess would be one of the following:-

Robert Shaw
Charles Boyer
Eddie Calvert

I rather liked Michael Bates myself, though more for his TV work than films.

*I note also that The Pope himself is listed, seemingly due to his appearances on TV! Also Joe Venuti although I thought he was more famous as a jazz violinist. Perhaps he took up acting when his guitarist partner Eddie Lang died tragically young following a tonsillectomy. Is it the same person?

Edit; It is!Joe Venuti - Wikipedia

Sorry to temporarily derail the thread but I can't resist a puzzle...

 

Very off topic, my apologies:

@David Shouksmith Yes - well deduced Sir, it is indeed Robert Shaw. He had a very powerful impact on me with that 'Indianapolis speech' in Jaws when I was a kid and I have since gone on to explore his short life in some detail. A sad loss and massive talent that went far too soon..

 

I don't think there's any need to apologise - the original reason for the thread had run its course and the extra bit about dating the X246A / X246B changeover was an unexpected and worthwhile bonus in my view.

There's probably only one person who would whinge anyway...

 

Don't mind the diversions at all.
What piques my interest is do we think there is a difference in sturdiness between X246B from 64/5 and later?
Not detected here but maybe I am missing something?

 

In terms of plating quality on the frame and handles, yes imo. Sturdiness is probably too stronger word though. My 1/65 also has a wider/earlier handle to anything thereafter (ime)

 

@Muzzleflash That could be worth a look at.
My 1264 handle is not the same as a red one I have from the 1970s.
64 one is a right pain to remove, which I like to do often, to inspect the vapouriser and spigot. It is a proper jiggle to free it.

The 1970's one comes off as easy as anything. Something to do with flats on the handle, keyways in the frame and the rim of the hood
getting in the way. I like the 70's one. Getting the 64 one off is something like safebreaking.

 

Hood comes off slick on mine, I spread the handle with my thumb and small finger and lift it off.