A couple of years ago I decided I wanted a shade for my X246 Guardsman. At that point I had resigned to the fact that original hoods were nowhere to be seen, let alone for sale. So I ordered a newly made hood on 'that' site in the UK, with a dealer offering various newly made Tilley items. While not explicitly advertised for an X246, it was a "precision made" item to fit "almost all Tilley lamps". With this shade seemingly the only viable model available I ordered it. Yes, I had seen a picture of this shade by this dealer, sitting not quite 'home' on a pictured Guardsman as illustrated here but I could not see me ending up with a shade that would not fit. The shade would not fit. Rather, it perched in similar fashion on my Guardsman as in the above piccy. So as to make sure if I had ordered the right item - or not- I contacted the seller and was treated with an amazing feat of BS. The explanation was that "the original did not fit either and this is how clients wanted this product, faithfull to that original" - or in similar wording. Right. The non-fitting shade was stored, with vague plans to open it out with a drum sander or similar. Then this year I chanced upon a likely very original shade, which did slide all the way down on the hoods of my X246's and sitting quite stable on the early and later versions. The cause of this different show can be clearly seen by the different inner sizes of the two shades, that measures a good 14mm difference. Very pleased with having a fitting - and an original at that - shade for my Tilley's. And since the Ersatz "precision made" works rather good on a Primus 1084 with some modification, this is a story of contentment. But also one in wonderment, as this entrepreneur would have done so much better with a simple check before the dies were made and production of this mongrel was started. As I have not read up on possible threads that have addressed already the same practice - advertising and selling a product that does not fit on Tilley's most popular model lamp - I do hope this also will help people making up their mind in case of a contemplated purchase. Regards, Mike
@M.Meijer The first shade you got is for a KL80 and is made to sit on the gallery, hence the smaller hole and long narrow slots which fit the arms of the KL80 hanging frame. It will also sit on the gallery of all Tilley LAMPS designed for indoor use. You know now but for the benefit of others who may be new to Tilley lamps (and lanterns), it won't fit LANTERNS which are meant for use outdoors because: a) a lantern hood is wider than a lamp gallery. b) the cut-outs don't need to be deep but they do need to be wide enough to fit over the lugs where the handle is attached Anyway, it's nice that you got what you wanted, eventually. The shades, (reflectors) certainly make a difference when a lantern is suspended. Henry.
I had a similar dilemma, and looked at those newly made reflectors, but thought they were not such a positive fit as the Vapalux/Bialaddin ones. The original looks to be a stroke of luck perhaps. I use a 246 in my motorhome for heating as it saves troubling the Truma hot air blower, which uses both my expensive gas and the juice from the battery. Great as cabin heating but a bit dazzling on the dining table without a reflector. I previously used a 300X with a reflector until I found a 14" copper pan lid in the back of a shed, and as the 300x was burning noticeably smellier than the X246's, I managed to persuade a friend to machine out the centre to 140mm and I cut out the gaps for the bale and the lugs with my Dremel. Works a treat but gets a little hotter than I imagined, and I'm still in two minds whether to spray it white underneath. This fits all my X246 models, except for the pork pie whereupon it will not lie flat, but still sits on top. It would be nice to have the original version however and I agree that you'd think such an otherwise astute seller of repro parts would have got that right.
Henry, Like those years ago this seller still advertises the shade I bought separately from a hood he specificly advertises for the KL80. And another for the PL53. The odd thing is that no shade is advertised specificly for a X246 model, either by this seller, or anybody else. Hence me going by what I was given to believe - "fitting most Tilley model lamps", next to the two reflectors exclusive to the KL81 and PL53. Mind, I take full reponsibility for that belief. But the absurd reaction by the seller hinted that this very shade was meant for the X246. Still, odd that there is no shade or reflector that fits the most popular and enduring Tilley model, as this lamp - and subsequent revamps- is about 70 years in production and still going. And as observed, a shade works wonders when these lamps are placed on table heights, automaticly becoming reflectors of light downwards when suspended higher. For me almost a necessary accessory with any lamp in use. Mike
@ROGER BAKER A genuine Tilley reflector will fit the earlier pork pie X246 as in Michael's original post. I've just measured the hole in three of mine, two measure 142 mm. and the third, only 141mm - they all fit perfectly. Any chance you can persuade your friend to slightly enlarge the hole ? Henry.
Hello Henry. My friend turned this on the lathe, and used to work at Rolls-royce, and is a bit of a saint with technical trials, as he has a pretty comprehensive, if extremely cluttered workshop of his own. The pan lid did have a hole in the middle allowing it to be turned in the chuck pretty accurately, but without a centre to work out of it would be a little more tricky as you can perhaps imagine trying to get hold of the thing! I try to save him for special engineering and electrical challenges only, as he'd be doing nothing else besides my stuff if I let rip on him with all my projects ! TTFN Roger
Hello again Henry. Upon reflection, I think I may have got your message a little wrong. He cut this out at 140mm, though it is a little over that I guess, but it does fit nice and snug. I'd say we're on the right sized hole if only someone with a little enterprise could produce something more befitting in a Vitreous enamel way, I think they'd be onto a winner ! TTFN Roger
I know this is an old ( but interesting ) tread.. What I did was putting a shade of one of my Bundeswehr 829 b’ s on top of my Guardsman. The bale got warm but.. the shade fits ! So now I’m not ‘ blindet by the light ‘ anymore ! Cheers from the Netherlands, Tjerk Polee
Hello Tjerk. I guess there are a variety of ways you can create a shade, and I use lanterns as auxiliary heating in the colder months, so shades are pretty important, especially on the dining table. As you can no doubt see from my avatar, I made one from an oriental design brass bowl. Inside there be dragons ! Cutting the hole with an Eclipse hand brace adjustable diameter tank-cutter took me a while though ! All the best, Roger.
The Petromax shade fits about the same way as the non-fitting reflector I bought in England. Yes, it works, but sits not flush on the lower lip of the hood of a 246X as per these photo's. Due to the too small a diameter the Petromax shade is sitting unstable atop the Tilley hood. Mind, fitting right or not, it works. Still, as a collector you want the original gizmo, and it is then that you realise an astonishing few of these Tilley shades are available. Mike
The one I have is one of three nos in a batch of lamps from (likely) Rijkswaterstaat. One went to a collector friend, the third I auctioned off on Brit Ebay. And even now little has changed; some Taiwanese bidder was one of the few awake, picking it up with many goodies like a nos dipstick on card for a pittance. But hey, I made a friend!
And with what great result! I initially merely glanced at it, noticing nothing odd, then read your text more carefully. Congratulations with this fine handywork! Mike
I'm wondering why the aftermarket has not dealt with the X246 reflector. The initial instigation of this thread related to the Shaw version, which plainly does not sit properly. I'd have thought that by now, for possibly one of the most widely sold lantern models in history, no-one has seen fit to produce a properly sized shade. Still, this does allow us to be creative and imaginative in our approach to the shade conundrum.
Hi all, I agree.. the Petromax is not sitting stable on top of the hood of my 1954 X246 Guardsman but, with the lack of an alternative , for me it was ‘ to shade or not to shade ‘ .. ( text free to mr. Shakespeare.. ) Greetz from Holland, Tjerk
Tjerk, from a practical point of view you do great with a non-perfectly fitting shade - as I guess most of us do. This tread basicly started with the wondering about so many 246X's, and so very few reflectors for them. The real answer is not really found, although Mackburner's dry observation seems to stand for past and present. And today, not so many lamps are perhaps used in such a way that their users itch for a shade. By the way, welcome (back) to the forum! Mike
Hi Mike Nice to meet another dutchman here ! Tilley’s are my favorite , they are so easy to maintain . I prefer the old X246’s ;well made, good quality material Picture of 2 of my workhorses, both with a petromax shade on top Tjerk
For all you Aussies ....... Did any original Tilley shades for the X246 make to Australia? Cheers Pete
@AussiePete G'day Pete, Reading this post I think I have one, but it's in very poor condition. I'm away at present and will have to have a better look at it when I get home.
Tjerk, I like these early Tilley's too, but I stress 'these', as no other Tilley model tickles my fancy. Not even an SDR. But for simple, robust dependancy I prefer the Willis & Bates lamps, that unfortunately are not as easy to find in Holland as the lamps from Hendon. As for the 246x shades, I somehow think vast Australia might harbour some forgotten stock yet to be discovered. And any other country with traditional links in the past with Britain. I am eager to read more about that if such finds come to light. After all, old stock here in Holland is from where I got mine, possiby given by the British as part aid after the disastrous floods in 1953 in Zeeland. Mike
