I'm travelling through the UK (including Ireland) soon, and I'd like to visit small hardware or outdoor gear stores in the smaller communities. What are my chances of finding a new-in-the-box (non-Coleman) lantern in a small shop in a small town? I'd love to find a NOS Tilley or Vapalux on my travels. Even parts would be neat to find too.
Pretty remote, I'd have thought - especially since Bairstow Bros (1985) Ltd. ceased production of Vapalux lanterns in the UK some years ago. These days, you'd probably need to go to South Korea to buy a brand new one in the box, although Base-Camp are UK distributors and retailers. They're horrendously expensive. The last time I saw a new Tilley X246B for sale in a shop was also many years ago. That was at Maxwells in Barnard Castle, County Durham - £119.99 if I recall correctly...
The last time I was in Maxwells they had no Tilley lanterns. They also used to sell NOS Monitor collapsible stoves, but they had none of them either.
It might not be too hard to find a NOS Tilley X246B in a shop - I think I know where there is at least one. But the price is likely to be around list, say £120. Finding anything else NOS is a hardware shop will be very much more difficulty - although used, ex MOD Vapalux can be found in camping/outdoor shops. Collectable/junk shops, country auctions and car boot sales are more likely to yield more interesting and cheaper items, but can be time consuming.
The MoD Vapalux lanterns look pretty nice. Maybe I'll just look to see if I can find one of those at an antique/junk shop. I'd like to get to a car boot sale somewhere if I get the chance. Thanks for the tips.
For the last two years i visited the Ashover light festival in Derbyshire near where i live ,there you can find stalls selling Tilley and Vapalux Mod lamps for very reasonable money. Both used and reconditioned lamps. This show is late October /early November i recall. Clive.
Bought a NOS X246B a couple of weeks ago for AUS$67.50 in an "antique shop" unfortunately no box or preheater.
There is a new old stock red Tilley X246B in a box in my local hardware store. Tudor Parade, Rickmansworth. He wants £80.
