Easy to use ... sort of... The Tilley requires pre-heating using meths as well as running on paraffin. The mantle (where the light comes from) is fragile and need to be replaced every now and then as any knock can cause it to break. A slightly less fiddly alternative is the Coleman which runs on unleaded petrol (easier to buy as obviously any petrol station will do) and doesn't require meths for pre heating as it pre-heats itself. Personally I prefer battery or 12 volt electric as it's cleaner, quieter, no fiddling and doesn't burn at upteen degrees C just waiting for a passing child to bump the table and knock it over. Having said that I have used Colemans for many many years.
£45 for a recon Tilley is on the good side of about right depending on condition.
Make sure it works... get the owner to light it for you. Make sure you understand the mantle and make sure you carry spares.
I think £45 is a bit on the steep side. I recently sold 5 restored tilleys, 3 X246b's 1 246A and one original guardman and they went for £100. I think the Coleman is much easier to use and it runs on unleaded which is far more convenient than the parafin for the Tilley. I think you can get a ingle mantle Coleman for about £50 new.
------------- Nigel
March 2012 - Dove Meadows
6th July Moving to Hayle
Quote: Originally posted by hettiecamp on 14/6/2009
is it bright enough to read by if you sat it on table and seats where around it?
Yes.
is it reasonably easy to maintain/use- I'm not a muppet but not into endlesslly fiddling/fixing?
If they work, they are second only to electric hookup. If they don't, problems lighting, keeping pressure, stopping fuel leaks, possibility of a fairly nasty fireball...
is this a good price?
Sounds steep. Someone had a really good one here last week for £3 from an auto jumble.
Amd what should I look for when I go to check it out?
Will it hold pressure? Is it intact? Is the lighter with it (a small clip that is kept in a jar of meths for pre-heating the burner)
There is a fairly good reason why these things went out of fashion, battery lamps are easier to use, cheaper to run & a bloody sight safer in a tent.
over prised rubbish IMHO .£99+ new for something that is actually inferior to their earlier models ,you can get the self heating versions on ebay now and again although i prefer a petromax (the real one not this thin walled modern trash available) or an Aida both unchanged since they were first made showing they got it right first time.
if i pay over a fiver for a boxed and mint tilley i feel ripped off but its ok for chucking on fleabay.
we use our rare camping gaz lamps now (in my gallery) they always get a smile and i believe theres inferior versions now available for even them
We have a Tilley lamp as above - its a bit of a Faff but nice warm glow, reasonable of fuel economy and brings back many fond memories of my dad and i fishing on the beach many years ago - thats probably why i still like it.
The mantles are very fragile, there are probably better options out there but i only paid £20 form e-bay for mine.
If you do go for one then make sure it comes complete with lighting wad and things like the meths jar that all add up if you want the complete kit.
thanks very much for everyones help...... I think pre-heating the the fuel sounds a bit of a faff..... and also unleaded is much more available, so maybe we'll look at a Coleman.
Not too worried about fire risk as we have a good LED lamp for when kiddies are still awake, this is more for sitting out after dark/kids bedtime. I've used parafin lamsp before so thought this might be ok, but it seems that at this price/faff not worth it.
I think that a bit of faff is what makes camping different.
It's too easy to just flick a switch.
What about a BBQ then ? plenty of faff there. Why not just cook it on the stove.
I recently said on here, that tenting was better than caravaning, as a caravan was too much like being at home !
I love the squirting of the meths into the burner, then sitting there waiting three minutes for it to heat up, then pumping the pressure tank, and then the gentle hiss and light and FREE heat. Honest I'm not having a rant here, but to me it's the messing about with unusual things that make camping what it is. Any way, your sat in a tent, what else are you going to do. Sorry forgot about drinking. Oh yes and waiting for it to get dark so I can go outside and light the candles in the hanging lights. OK, I'm just sad Go on get a Vapalux paraffin lamp and enjoy the moment.
OK, I REALLY am joking up to now, but please do be carefull if you decide to get any thing that burns inside your tent. I watched Sunday morning as another camper cooked inside the front awning of a two man dome tent. There was a sudden burst of flame, that must have been two feet above the stove. Don't know what caused it, but I thought he was going to be in trouble. Fortunately it died down as quickly as it flared up.
------------- Canvas tent, paraffin light, petrol stove. Heaven
I'd rather be kayaking.
Spent up, not pent up, just had my new tent up.
Try a search for Coleman 2 mantle lamps, new for £50, have used one for a few years now, gives more than enough light very rarely does it need turning to max.
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Topic: talk to me anout tilley lamps
Go on get a Vapalux paraffin lamp and enjoy the moment. 
