My father in law has just found 2 Tilley Lamps in his garage that he'd forgotten about. Both are boxed / never used and he's giving one to us. Aren't we lucky? We've often toyed with the idea of getting a Tilley or Coleman lamp so we're pretty well pleased with this gift.
The only problem is that we've never used one before. So, is there anyone out there who can give us a few pointers and general do's & don'ts on their usage.
Hi. My dad gave us a old red one too not so long ago and they are a bugger to get started. The mantels are £2.75 each and we went through 6 in 2 days just trying to likght the thing we also payed £7.00 for a gallon tub of paffifin. Mantels are like paper once they have been lit if you touch them they will just falls into crumbs However after striping it apart, finding out how to fill it etc, (there are instructions on the net somewhere under tilly lamps) we managed to get it working and the light from it was loverly. I just could not be bothered with going through all the hassel of lighting it each time and also storing the parrifin when we went camping so we ended up buy EHU. much cheaper and cleaner. But now its all in great working order we will probebly use it on sites with no EHU.
Good luck with it, maybe someone here will have more better advice for you
Pen
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we have the Coleman dual fuel one and its brill as tophat says the mantels are a bit fragile even though we are still on our first one and we have had ours for over 11/2 yrs and its used a hell of a lot..we us ours in our awning but mainly outside when we are all having a beer and a chat and keeps the chill off a little.
Tilley lamps are fantastic once you've got the nack of lighting them there's instructions here
If the lamp is very old you might have to give it a fresh set of rubber seals which can be bought very cheaply direct from tilley. Just do a google for Tilley Lamps and you'll find all you need.
Tophat - All lamp matels whether gas or parrafin are fragile. I've managed to find mantels in a local camping store for a lot less than you paid so might be worth shopping around. You can get a gallon of parrafin from Total garages for about a fiver and it lasts for ages.
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need to use meths in the meths cup to pre heat the mantle and tube so that the parafin vapourises properly,and its dead easy ,i have had the same mantle on for ages and can even take the top of to clean the glass with mantle undamaged.all mantles are the same anyway in fragility ,but i got through more in a gas lamp than the tilley somehow
I have been using my tilly lamp for over 20 years now and it never given me any problems. once you get used to it you will never want to be without it. as for the mantles , if your carefulwhen moving or storing the lamp they will last for ages, in fact I still have the original box it came in.
I have 4 tilley lamps ,1 is an old brass lamp, the other 3 are the red or gold coloured style,they are brilliant. The old brass one is the best of the 4.giving off more light & heat.
I use Tilley (and equivalents thereof) exclusively. Massively bright and very cheap to run. 2 pints of paraffin will give you >10 hours light (and heat).
The key is the pre-heating with meths. Don't rush it. If it's freezing clod, then two pre heats will help the situation.
There are variations on the 'Storm lantern' (Model X246) which is the 'common' one
1950's are all brass and are the dog's danglies. Unfortunately, being 50 years or so old, they may look tatty. This matters not!
From 70's to the present day, the Tilley bean counters made as much as possible from sh1tty alloy. Still do a good job, though.
As a previous poster mentioned, a new set of seals (Tilley part no. SP3, I think) may be in order. A drop of oil on the pump leather never goes amiss.
Tilley lamps are excellent, once you've mastered the art of lighting them, and are much safer than petrol lamps - for obvious reasons.
There's a picture of mine on my website. It's a pre 1960 (straight legs, all brass fittings and brass pump) and cost just £12 from a local Sunday market. After a strip-down and rebuild with a new set of seals it still works perfectly. I wonder how many of todays lamps will still be working after 50 years service.
Quote: Originally posted by Breezeblock on 19/11/2006
Tilley lamps are excellent, once you've mastered the art of lighting them, and are much safer than petrol lamps - for obvious reasons.
There's a picture of mine on my website. It's a pre 1960 (straight legs, all brass fittings and brass pump) and cost just £12 from a local Sunday market. After a strip-down and rebuild with a new set of seals it still works perfectly. I wonder how many of todays lamps will still be working after 50 years service.
Hi Breezeblock,I have the same brass tilley lamp but it has started leaking parrafin quite badly from the on off valve, any ideas how this strips down and where to get the spares.
Hi john, the link Als has provided above contains an exploded view of all the parts. Although it shows a later model the principle build is the same.
The on/off knob pulls off and then the sleeved nut can be unscrewed. There is an o-ring behind the sleeve that simply needs replacing. That should cure your leak.
Service pack one contains all the service parts you need for the control assembly (on/off knob and valve to you and me) and the pump assembly, but because the service pack is for the later model I did have some bits left over.
Quote: Originally posted by Breezeblock on 20/11/2006
Hi john, the link Als has provided above contains an exploded view of all the parts. Although it shows a later model the principle build is the same.
The on/off knob pulls off and then the sleeved nut can be unscrewed. There is an o-ring behind the sleeve that simply needs replacing. That should cure your leak.
Service pack one contains all the service parts you need for the control assembly (on/off knob and valve to you and me) and the pump assembly, but because the service pack is for the later model I did have some bits left over.
Thanks for the above info Breezy and thanks to Alsparker for the Link.
Quote: Originally posted by alsparker on 12/11/2006I have been using my tilly lamp for over 20 years now and it never given me any problems. once you get used to it you will never want to be without it. as for the mantles , if your carefulwhen moving or storing the lamp they will last for ages, in fact I still have the original box it came in.
We got the coleman duel fuel too but it isnt a patch on Als Tilley its like central heating and in the summer time you can watch all the critters try and get inside it....
Better than a bug zapper....
I have never seen Als struggle with his.......Unless he was tied up.....
Once you get the knack of it you will never be with out it...
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Topic: Tilley Lamp
we us ours in our awning but mainly outside when we are all having a beer and a chat and keeps the chill off a little.
