I first was introduced to Tilley lamps when I ws a kid and we used to go camping, we had a Tilley lamp and my Dad taught me how to start it. We got it at the '66 Camping exhibiton. It worked well for many years, the only problem was occasionly having to change the mantle if it had been 'ill-treated', which as we all know, sometimes happens. Fast foward many years, the original Tilley having gone the way of all things, and after a rather serious power outage I realised we had no alternative to the electric, so got this one off Ebay, and in looking for seals and things, came across the twin sites of CPL and CCS. What a joy to discover others who liked pressue lamps as well. This one's dated May 74, came in it's box with the meths bottle, I had to replace all the seals in it, I also had to get a new NRV spring which was missing completely, but once serviced, it fired up first time. Felt really good completing my first 'fettle' Taught me a lot and sent me down the rabbit hole of collecting lamps and stoves, and how much they 'breed', so addictive, just like rifles Tim
@JEFF JOHNSON and @Beanie At least you don't need a certificate to own them, unlike rifles Like all hobbies, interests etc, as long as you find what you want, have the space to put it somewhere and can afford it, what else do you need. Only got 9 lanterns and 8 stoves in 6 years, so a bit slower than you @Beanie , although I really must pay attention to my lamp/stove balance, don't want to be accused of being a 'stovie' or a 'lampie
Nice story Tim, I believe there are quite a few here that started by restoring a childhood memory. Myself included.
We later also got a Coleman 275 in it's yellow case, again I think from one of the camping exhibitions, lots of light compared to the Tilley. I have to say that we were glamping in the late sixties and seventies before it was invented
I’ve a brace of the Coleman Powerhouse lanterns , but oddly they sit in the camping kit and dont “grab me” like the earlier paraffin lamps
I've got two Tilley's, three Colemans, two Vapalux, two Hipolitos and one Bialaddin and I like all of them, the Hipos are great for light and noise
