Never knew what colour duck's eggs are, now I know. Cool looking lantern and looks to be a good runner.
@Darryl Durdin Congrats on this purchase. I was watching the auction, many were interested, but you won. A question: what does SDR mean? Matthias
Tilley also listed an LDR lantern although as far as I know no one has ever found one. We assumed the L and S were Long and Short but maybe as simple as Large and Small? We know they prototyped a 6 pint tank type which I have seen and that is certainly Large. The SDR does have two reflectors so D for Double is possible but could perhaps be Directional. The R, Reflector seems likely but Tilley also used an R for BR49 type lanterns. Could it be originally have been a Railroad contract design? Truth is we really don't know. ::Neil::
This is my Rijkswaterstaat Tilley. As original as i could, gave it a warm soapy bath to get the grime etc off, have not polished anything, the reflector coating is delicate as is the duck egg paint job. It is similar to the x246, font only the frame support legs screw into the font like the early pork pie, the air intake is improved on than the original SDR. It was an easy fettle, as all it needed was a new 606 vaporisor and new seals all around, pump cup. It has a reflector that is the same arc as the globe and is about 1/3 of the circumfrence. It is removable. The air intake is more improved as from what i had read about the SDR was lacking and fellas had improved the air intake by putting in spacer washes. The Rijkswaterstaat has purpose made spacers , a hex shape around 12mm by 1.5mm thick that fitted snug inside the burner lid. I broke it all down cleaned it and layed it all out to show. The burner head assembly. Showing the small screws that held the hood to the burner with 3 of the spacers The reflector is held on screw throgh the lid, burner, spacer then reflectot, 3 places All done. The frame screwed to the font easily, the cock valve also paited duck egg. The globe with the reflector The re assembled lantern And now the money shot. It fired up easily View from behind the reflector. Very cool very pleased. I hope you all enjoy such unique lantern as much as i do. PS. I know nothing about its history. Its the first time its been alight in donkeys years.
