Tilley X359 dated 8/59

Discussion in 'X359' started by Buggerlugs, May 18, 2020.

  1. Buggerlugs

    Buggerlugs Australia Subscriber

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    hello all here is my X359 as i got it.

    X359  August 1958 1.jpg X359  August 1958 4.jpg X359  August 1958 5.jpg

    But as you can see it doesn't have a pre burner, so i will be on the look out for one. If i'm lucky i will find one. Also i thought she needed a clean and the bail sprayed.

    X359  August 1958 6.jpg X359  August 1958 8.jpg X359  August 1958 11.jpg

    A nice polish for the burner Head and air nuts and she is a ripper. and yes i know she is bent but i will one day try the ice test to fix her up.
     
  2. BigStevie

    BigStevie United Kingdom Subscriber

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    That’s come up well! I’m sure someone out there has the missing parts. Well fettled!
     
  3. Buggerlugs

    Buggerlugs Australia Subscriber

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    Thanks sorry no money shot i forgot, got carried away.
     
  4. Matthew92

    Matthew92 Subscriber

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    Are you sure it’s bent? Mine has a tilt away from the preheater as well, it makes room for the preheater tube to fit inside the glass.
     
  5. Buggerlugs

    Buggerlugs Australia Subscriber

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    Oh okay maybe it's not bent that would be great thanks.Also can you send a photo please.
     
  6. David Shouksmith

    David Shouksmith United Kingdom Founder Member

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    Surely an X359 without the blowlamp preheater is just a very expensive X246A... ;) :lol:

    Apparently so many X359s were returned to Tilley under warranty that they simple removed the preheater and replaced it with a blanking bolt. Whether there was any refund of the price premium paid, I don't know... =;
     
  7. Matthew92

    Matthew92 Subscriber

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    Tried to show it as best I can. You can see from the horizontal lines the camera is level. But the top of the lamp is closer to the right than the left.

    IMG_20200518_144159.jpg

    Then a close up of the middle, you can see how the control cock mounting is off center. With the preheater tube up inside the glass.

    IMG20200518143551.jpg
     
  8. David Shouksmith

    David Shouksmith United Kingdom Founder Member

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    Wouldn't the tilt in that direction bring the glass nearer the blowlamp?

    I hadn't realised the control cocks were placed off-centre - well-spotted! When I find my X359, I'll have to check that...
     
  9. Matthew92

    Matthew92 Subscriber

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    I think it somehow kicks the bottom of the glass over to allow more space. Or that might be due to the off center cock.
     
  10. podbros

    podbros United Kingdom Subscriber

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    If you move the centre line of the vapouriser, then the burner won't fit on either? :-k

    Perhaps they altered the position of the spigots slightly? Or the cage???
     
  11. Henry Plews

    Henry Plews Subscriber

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    The control cock on my example is dead centre.
     
  12. JEFF JOHNSON

    JEFF JOHNSON United Kingdom Subscriber

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    It cleaned up well!:thumbup:
     
  13. Buggerlugs

    Buggerlugs Australia Subscriber

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    Thanks for the photos, I'm glad now I know it's not bent, and to answer the question of price I got this one in a lot I bought, and from the photos I didn't know it was a X359, so it was a bonus as I thought it was a X246A and it worked out to be AUD$30, so I think I got a cheap X359
     
  14. Anthony

    Anthony Australia Subscriber

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    I have 3 359s and control cocks are all centered.
     
  15. Tony Press

    Tony Press Australia Subscriber

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    @Buggerlugs

    Does your X359 have a date stamped on the bottom?

    Usually 3 or 4 numbers followed by XA. As in “1159XA” for November 1959.

    Cheers

    Tony
     
  16. Buggerlugs

    Buggerlugs Australia Subscriber

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    @Tony Press
    Yes it sure does 11/59 and 8/59 as I have 2 now.
     
  17. Tony Press

    Tony Press Australia Subscriber

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    Thanks!

    Cheers

    Tony
     
  18. Buggerlugs

    Buggerlugs Australia Subscriber

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    @Tony Press
    Why do you ask? And what dates do you have?
     
  19. Tony Press

    Tony Press Australia Subscriber

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    @Buggerlugs

    I am looking for early dates on this lantern. They begin in early 1959 (?March) as far as I know.

    Cheers

    Tony
     
  20. David Shouksmith

    David Shouksmith United Kingdom Founder Member

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    :-k I'd also be interested in latest dates so we could know how long Tilley persisted with this model before giving up on it...
     
  21. Buggerlugs

    Buggerlugs Australia Subscriber

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    @David Shouksmith
    As far as I know it wasn't very long.
    I don't quite know how long they persisted with this model for as they quickly figured out that the preburner wasn't a very good idea because it makes your glass go black pretty quick and on top of that the preburner thread was actually plastic And in my opinion it wasn't the smartest material to be using as most of them melt.
    They quickly started to replace the preburner with a brass plug and hence y the pre burners are hard to come by.
    @Anthony might know a little more than I
    about the dates
     
  22. Tony Press

    Tony Press Australia Subscriber

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    The Reference Gallery has one that’s November 1960.

    Tony
     
  23. stuartc

    stuartc United Kingdom Subscriber

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    I have recently acquired an incomplete model which is dated January 61
    B442866D-9FEC-4088-B4D2-A28B3E415F31.jpeg B81B30AE-0718-4421-AE23-55ED782F9A1C.jpeg
     

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