Here is my mint condition X246, I can't believe my luck, the owner was an elderly man that has had this lamp from new. He also stated that it only got used a few times, which is very apparent buy its condition.
That's a nice lamp well preserved, even the box is still tidy. I was lucky enough to get a similar one recently. Sorry to diversify here but I noticed the mantle shape, I have some Tilley original ones and they seem to go a similar shape when fired, maybe I'm wrong but I seem to remember them going more ball shaped like a small golf ball, is this just my memory?
@rayw, the mantle is broken and this is the brand, no its not just your memory i seem to believe they have changed as well. @Walkop, don't worry this baby is a shelf queen and will never be lit, I have others types of Tilley lamps that I use regularly.
That's interesting Henry do you think this is just another product which has been cost reduced or have they been redesigned
I really don't know. It's a long time ago now but using either the address or telephone number on the back of an old packet, I once got in touch with 'Anchorflag' only to be told that they (the company) didn't make them, they bought them in, packaged and marketed them and they didn't do them anymore. I'm sure they were based in Southport but I'm afraid that's all I can remember. The design on the packet in the link seems a little different to what I remember but that could be my age.
Southport indeed - according to this REPLACEMENT WICK FOR PARASENE 591A BIG RED HEATER ANCHORFLAG WICK NUMBER 154 R5 | eBay Anchorflag Limited changed its name to The Scott Partnership Limited in 1999. Companies House says the company had the earlier name from July 1983 which sounds a bit recent for Henry's reminiscences. Maybe it was not the same company selling the mantles - or maybe it is somewhat older than suggested.
1983 does sound recent but when the Tilley TL10 was brought out of retirement in the 1970s and again in the 80s because of disruptions in the electricity supply caused by striking coal miners, there was no need to buy modern mantles as there were plenty left over from the 1950s and early '60s when power outages were not uncommon and the electricity may been be off for 2 or 3 days never mind 2 or 3 hours.
What a stunner! I’ve still not got my head around the notion of pre-demise shelf queens. If a lamp is no longer serviceable and it is of historic significance or has sentimental value then sure, keep it on the shelf. But if I have a lamp then surely it should fulfill its destiny and burn brightly! Perhaps I’m still in the enthusiast realm rather than being a collector. Either way, what a stunner! :-)
