I came across this Tilley lamp with its original shipping box. On the box it says model X.246. There are some loose parts in the box as well, including a dipstick that has to be a rare find. Can anyone tell me about this lamp and let me know its age, etc.
Welcome aboard! A lucky find and it's in good condition and it's from the mid to late 1950's, it runs on paraffin/kerosene and all of the seals will need to be replaced. It may have a date code on the bottom of the tank. This link shows the relevant gallery page. X246
Weclome @henry novak. You have a very nice example there and it will not be difficult to get it running. Chris
Thanks for the information - is there some type of operating manual available for the lamp ? I paid $56 for it - did I do well ? Its seems in really nice condition and from the shipping labels, it was shipped from Thacker Co in Pittsburgh Pa to a sporting goods store in Somerset Pa.
That was a great bargain and the link below shows the relevant page in the library, but it's only open to subscribers. Tilley
@henry novak welcome aboard, Henry! You got a real nice 246 there. Doesn't show it's age at all! What a great find! Thacker had two offices, one in Pittsburgh and another one in Clearwater, Florida, I believe.
Hmm, it looks like the burner (the three-armed thing inside the glass globe) has become detached from inside the hood. That wouldn't happen without human interference but why anyone would detach it without reason is beyond my ken. It might, however, explain some of the loose parts in the box. Let's see what those are, please...
im not sure what holds the burner in the top cap. Here's the pieces that are laying in there. One of the burners three arms has a couple grooves in it - the other two are plain.
The original burner has been replaced with a more modern one, the nut fits onto the grooved air tube and once the burner is fitted properly into the hood a brass split pin is fitted through the small holes in the grooved air tube. Then open the end of the split pin and bend the two parts in opposite directions around the air tube to hold the nut in place, if you don't have the split pin then a small nail will do and it can be bent with pliers.
@henry novak Some of those burners don't have a hole for a split pin because they would have had a spring clip. Normally you would slide this collar onto the arm with the grooves. Whilst holding it back as far as it will go, locate the other two tubes in the top cap, then slide the collar forward so that it too locates in the top cap and secure it with either a split pin or the (missing) spring clip. I have no idea what this is for
Wow - thanks for this great information. I can get a spring clip and start to get this lamp in shape. The other small part doesn't look like it belongs - maybe it was just in the box by mistake.
Also, I don't see any date code on the bottom of the lamp - just says Made in England and there is a small symbol under that - see pic
@henry novak Hi and welcome to the forum from the Scottish Highlands. That’s a great old Tilley and as others have pointed out, will be straightforward to get back into life. Look forward to seeing a photo of the lamp running, enjoy the fettle!
That's good news that it's not dated, because not long after Tilley started to date their tanks, they changed the build method and the build quality suffered. henry novak
I was thinking to use some Hoppes #9 gun bore solvent to clean the burners and small parts and even fuel tank which has a little light rust. Any recommendations for this ?
Hi Henry, The tank is plated brass so shouldn't rust as such... ... perhaps a piece of steel rested on it with some moisture and the rust just needs polishing off with some chrome polish? Great find
