Would you swap tanks?

I have a bit of a tank dilemma...

I have a Tilley X246B where the tank has been taken back to brass, and whilst I know unprotected brass is frowned on a bit it does look very nice. However this tank has a couple of small dents and has been over pressured at some point. It's sill sound but when pumped up and stood on a table the center of the base touches the table... I've checked with a ruler across the base.

Anyway I have another tank in better condition but a more recent date and I'm wondering about stripping that back and swapping tanks... That is so it still looks the same but would have a tank that hadn't been over pressured.

Worth doing or would you just leave it as it is?

 

As discussed in the link below the balance of opinion is to NOT risk using an over-pressurised fount:


http://0flo.com/index.php?posts/25204

 

If it's a user I'd definitely swap the tanks. No point risking the current tank failing and leaking paraffin everywhere.

Sid.

 

The distorted tank will have a failing bottom seam which could give way at some point. Given the X246B is ubiquitous, I would change the tank without giving it a second's thought. To be honest, I wouldn't bother trying to preserve the originality of any X246B - there must be gazillions of them out there. Come to think of it, it's their 50th birthday/anniversary next year. I don't suppose there'll be much celebration, but maybe we should nominate a day and have a nationwide light-up (assuming anyone can be bothered!)

Years ago, someone (might have been Jeff) reckoned a Tilley tank was worth 90 pence scrap. Gotta be worth double that now I would have thought. That's where all my dented X246, 'A' and 'B' tanks are going anyway.

Anyone know the price of scrap brass in the UK at the moment?

 

Tilley when making lanterns had a long run with the models etc .So there will be more to turn up for
replacement .The old one good for spares .
Bob .

 

Have a look [url=http://0flo.com/index.php?threads/4846 At Some interesting pics

 

Swap it is then...

I quite like that idea...

I'm rather fond of them as I expect like many people it was an X246B that started my pressure lamp collection and indeed brought me to this forum.

 

OK, I admit it, me too, although I suspect the seed was really sown in the late 50s when all the heating we had upstairs was a Tilley R1. Discounting the coal fires in each bedroom, of course, which were only ever lit when we were ill - really, really ill.

What about Newark Saturday, 2014 as world X246B day? I seem to recall we did a similar thing over at CCS but with stoves. Someone nominated a type of stove and a date and we lit them up all over the world and posted a pic. I suppose we could even go for a world record X246B light-up...

 

Your link doesn't appear to be working Ray, although I know which one you mean. Perhaps it's just me.

I've only got one X246b and I don't light it as its all been done up nicely and I don't want to get it dirty. It's not my first anyway, the good old X246 guardsman was mine and they hold a bit more (insert word here, I can't think of the one I mean ) for me.

 

Hi David, I'm good for that mate. Are we going for 246 x Tilley 246B's, like the 111 x Optimus 111's?. We can only try! Steve.

 

Actually, my maths is crap and it's their 50th birthday next year.

Just the X246B, Steve...

 

50 is an even better landmark...

I'm in too...

I'm sure you could make up a runner between now and then...

 

Wait, I lied I actually have two in my room, one chrome tank and one chrome hood. No more are allowed in the house though. My rule.

 

As it's the 50th I don't suppose you have a gold one handy?

 

OK I'll fess up. As a yoof I did 'liberate' an X246B from the local scout troupe while nobody was looking. Not something I can say I'm proud of but did spark an interest in all things paraffin fueled. And if any ex scout masters are reading this and can recall losing a lantern back in the 70s in Yorkshire then it may have been down to me and I sincerely apologise.

Sib (Names have been changed to protect the guilty)

 

All mine are gold*









*except the red ones...

 

Maybe we should start a thread in the "Events" section so that; how shall I put this delicately?... our aging community hasn't forgotten by next year...

By the way, has anyone got any idea why this thread title has a smiley as I'm quite sure I didn't put it there?

PS. And now it's vanished

PPS. OK I thought I was going mad but it turns out you can only see it from the home page when this thread is the last to have been posted in. Strange...

 

Well I thought about that but, so far, it's only me, you and Steve.

Besides, how would we stand the excitement of a 10 month build-up to the event...

 

You could start a large digital counter on the home page?

ONLY 7,290 HOURS TILL INTERNATIONAL X246B DAY!!



I have a couple of London Transport modified ones, would they be allowed?

Alec.

 

No idea, Alec - although we used to allow Optimus 22s into the world record 111 light-up (and count them as two, into the bargain!)

Have you got an LT3? - I could do with one of those...

 

World record lighting? I'm in!

 

Now there's a thought...

 

OK, I think (note, think) Newark 2014 will be the 6th-8th June. That would make World X246B day, Saturday, 7th June 2014...

 

I've just written to Tilley to see if they plan to make an anniversary model... It may not have even occurred to them that this anniversary is coming up...

 

It won't have.

Last time I spoke to them they hadn't a clue what they made last week, never mind 50 years ago. They just don't seem to know (or care) anything of the history of the company. Sad really...

 

I'll let you know what they say, but an anniversary lamp might have commercial appeal to them...

 

If only they could make these to the old production standards!

Best regards,

Wim

 

Goes for a lot of things these days Wim

 

Unfortunately old production standard prices don't appeal to the mass market... as it is a new Tilley is over £100 so something of a luxury for many.

To be honest I'm not sure how they keep going these days unless it's through selling spares.

 

OK, then - just so you don't forget - click here...