Now that it's ended, I have to ask about this eBay listing: TILLEY TILLY PRESSURE OIL LAMP LANTERN X 246 1952 NEVER USED BOXED COMPLETE NEW Was anyone else here watching it? Anyone here the eventual winner? Although it wouldn't satisfy the fettler in me, I must admit I was tempted by a nice lamp in such pristine condition. I knew if I had it I'd have to light it though, and it would very quickly lose its collectibility. So what's the consensus on here with lamps like this - light or collect? --Dale
I think it's a case of damned if you do and damned if you don't. Personally I wouldn't really get any satisfaction from owning a lamp like that. For me the pleasure is in getting them back in working order and seeing them in use. If I was spending that much money on a lamp it certainly wouldn't be a guardsman, whatever the condition
Depends whether you're a lighter or a collector... I'm a collector so I wouldn't light it. Obviously there's no point in paying a huge premium for an unlit lantern and then lighting it, thus immediately reducing it's value by about 50%. There will be few unlit X246s knocking about but probably thousands of lit ones. Mind you, I wouldn't collect it either at that price. But you know, whatever floats your boat - I hope whoever bought it is happy with it (and doesn't light it!) Edit - on second thoughts, I'd rather pay £190 for the Guardsman than £185 on this.
yeh I think your right dave I would not run it either but then I am a lighter. Once had a OL51 unlit minter wanted to run it but never did sold it in the finish far as I know its still not been lit pete
I think I must also be a lighter. As much as I like seeing the lamp in this condition as a snapshot of history, I know I wouldn't be able to resist firing it up! With that in mind, the bidding on this one far exceeded what I was prepared to pay for it.
Well, if you want to light an X246, just go to a few car-boot sales. You'll come across a suitable lantern quite quickly and generally for a very few quid. Just fettle and light that one and you'll have saved yourself about £175. Simple...
I'm heading off to another car boot on Sunday with the hope of starting another fettle. I guess it was naive of me to think I could stop at one lamp!
Thanks! I didn't find a Tilley, but I did pick up a Bialaddin 315. It's my first non-Tilley lamp, but it appears to be in quite good shape. If not, I'm sure I'll be asking for help in the fettling forum in due course!
Once you get that 315 lit, you will see how much better it is compared with a Tilley. I have four of each make (different models), and I know which is best.
Bialaddins fettle like Tilley except they are simpler because there is no control valve. The only slight difficulty is the pump check valve is not so easy to get to but it comes out easily enough with a big screwdriver and then it is the same type as a Primus. No question that is a better lamp than a contemporary Tilley. ::Neil::
One thing I don't like about W&B lamps is I find it harder to make the pump check valve washer seal properly coz its so damn tiny compared to the Tilley one.
All my lamps are "working lamps" even if I've spent a lot of time restoring them to something like their former glory... so basically I'd never bid on a pristine unlit lamp. To be honest I'm happy to just bide my time and pick them up from boot sales... For me the joy is in restoring and lighting but I can quite understand why a collector would pay that for a lamp in that condition. Compared to many other collectables it's peanuts really for a sixty year old item in mint condition and with it's packaging....
