Tilley lamp info needed

[Mesquite]

I was at the Midlands Game Show this weekend and there was a stall selling these

They were labelled as re-conditioned Tilley lamps complete with reflector hood and spare mantle for £20 each so I grabbed one.

Any suggestions where I can get operating instructions and info on it?

 

[falcon]

Yeah I saw those on the Army Surplus stall......trouble is I'd bought one off Jasper at the Gathering ! Is this link any use....?
http://www.base-camp.co.uk/instruction.html

 

[johnboy]

Kia Ora,

It's not a Tilley fortunately.. Its a Bialaddin. Which is a far better lamp.

The current model Is still made by Bairstow Brothers...

http://www.bairstowbrothers.co.uk/vapalux/

A visit to Be Back Later will yeild a wealth of lantern relared info

http://www.be-back-later.com/

Congratulations you have a fine lantern...

 

[leon-1]

It's got a crows foot on it, this means that it's issue. So there must be a suitable document that's issued.

If not try phoning an army surplus that you know sells them and ask if they can photocopy the instructions with the ones they have.

Kev at Endicott's was selling some of those a while back and they had the instructions with them so it may be worth calling and asking him.

 

[Mesquite]

Kia Ora,

It's not a Tilley fortunately.. Its a Bialaddin. Which is a far better lamp.

The current model Is still made by Bairstow Brothers...

http://www.bairstowbrothers.co.uk/vapalux/

A visit to Be Back Later will yeild a wealth of lantern relared info

http://www.be-back-later.com/

Congratulations you have a fine lantern...

Thanks for that Johnboy

This looks like the beastie

 

[johnboy]

Kia Ora,

It can be difficult to tell with ex MOD /WD lanterns exactly which model you have. A lot of the bits from the differing Vapalux / Bialaddin lanterns are interchangeable. So when they went back into the stores and got refurbished the resultant lantern could be a bit of a bitsa but still worked pretty well.

They are really easy to use basically

Fill no more than 3/4 full with good clean kerosene ( don't use petrol or anything other than kerosene dispite what folk say)

Refit the tank lid and leave the airscrew in the lid loose

fill the spirit cup with meths beneath the mantle.

Ignite the Meths to preheat the vapouriser tube if the mantle is new as on you lantern then this will ignite and burn and shrink this is normal...

once the meths has nearly burned out close the air screw on the tank lid and give 5-10 full strokes on the pump. The lantern should pop into life with a good clean light.

Once running add more strokes of the pump to get the desired light output.

Do it outside the first time to save burning the house down if things go wrong.

I'll knock up a photo tutorial tonight and post on here.

 

[bushscout1]

This thread has got me thinking - I'm sure that I've got one of those in the loft (left behind by the previous owner of the house)...

I'm itching to go have a look, but that would probably wake SWMBO & the kids and I wouldn't actually make it far enough to see it, so best wait until tomorrow after work.

 

[johnboy]

This thread has got me thinking - I'm sure that I've got one of those in the loft (left behind by the previous owner of the house)...

I'm itching to go have a look, but that would probably wake SWMBO & the kids and I wouldn't actually make it far enough to see it, so best wait until tomorrow after work.

Be careful, that's how the collecting bug starts... I was the same as you an old Primus No 5 stove left in the shed... Now 75 stoves and 30 odd lanterns later ( at least I think it's that many) I'm ready to admit I need help...

 

[Mesquite]

...... I'm ready to admit I need help...

To build more storage space by the sound of it

 

[johnboy]

OK How to light a Bialaddin lantern ( or most normal Kerosene lanterns)

1. Select the lantern ( this can be more difficult than it seems)

2. Ensure the lantern has about 3/4 of a tank of fresh Clean kerosene ( paraffin) do not over fill the tank.

3. Replace the tank lid and ensure the air screw is loose. This is important if it's done up the lantern will start to pressurise before its preheated and you'll start to burn unvapourised kerosene which is messy and soots up the lantern glass

4. Fill the preheater cup with Methalayted Spirits

5. Ignite the Meths and allow the burning meths to warm the vapouriser tube

6. When the meths is starting to burn down close the Air Screw in the Tank Lid

7. Then give some gentle strokes of the pump

8. The lantern should 'pop' into life...

Add more strokes of the pump to get the desired light output...

You regulate the light output by releasing air from the tank with the Air Screw.

The Knob on the lantern just controls a pricker needle to clean the jet.

Don't use this to try and regulate light output you'll ruin the needle and jet in very short order... The Needle is down when the knob is rotated fully anti clockwise.

Hope this helps

 

[falcon]

OK....first niaive question of the day.....how long do the mantles last..? Just one session...?
Cheers

 

[johnboy]

OK....first niaive question of the day.....how long do the mantles last..? Just one session...?
Cheers

No they can last a very long time The one on the lantern in the tutorial shots has been on for at least 18 months and is just starting to break down.

They are VERY fragile when they are burned off so a good impact will break them but if the lanter is transported with some care they do last a fair while.

Hope this helps

 

[techworm]

OK How to light a Bialaddin lantern ( or most normal Kerosene lanterns)

1. Select the lantern ( this can be more difficult than it seems)

2. Ensure the lantern has about 3/4 of a tank of fresh Clean kerosene ( paraffin) do not over fill the tank.

3. Replace the tank lid and ensure the air screw is loose. This is important if it's done up the lantern will start to pressurise before its preheated and you'll start to burn unvapourised kerosene which is messy and soots up the lantern glass

4. Fill the preheater cup with Methalayted Spirits

5. Ignite the Meths and allow the burning meths to warm the vapouriser tube

6. When the meths is starting to burn down close the Air Screw in the Tank Lid

7. Then give some gentle strokes of the pump

8. The lantern should 'pop' into life...

Add more strokes of the pump to get the desired light output...

You regulate the light output by releasing air from the tank with the Air Screw.

The Knob on the lantern just controls a pricker needle to clean the jet.

Don't use this to try and regulate light output you'll ruin the needle and jet in very short order...

Hope this helps

re The Knob on the lantern just controls a pricker needle to clean the jet.
what is the correct position for the needle to be in when the lantern is lit and running?

 

[falcon]

No they can last a very long time The one on the lantern in the tutorial shots has been on for at least 18 months and is just starting to break down.

They are VERY fragile when they are burned off so a good impact will break them but if the lanter is transported with some care they do last a fair while.

Hope this helps

Certainly does.....cheers mate

 

[johnboy]

re The Knob on the lantern just controls a pricker needle to clean the jet.
what is the correct position for the needle to be in when the lantern is lit and running?

Hi,

The pricker needs to be fully retracted which on my Bialaddin 320 ( the lantern in the photo's)
means turning the knob fully Anti clockwise.

Hope this helps

 

[techworm]

cheers:You_Rock_

 

[Mesquite]

Thanks for that Jo9hnboy... I'll sort out some paraffin and give my lamp a go

 

[redandshane]

Thats great Thanks for the tutorial very timely for me
I have just been given a Bialaddin lamp which I am collecting tomorrow
It need some tlc but that should be part of the fun
I expect to be referring to this thread a fair bit

 

[johnboy]

Thats great Thanks for the tutorial very timely for me
I have just been given a Bialaddin lamp which I am collecting tomorrow
It need some tlc but that should be part of the fun
I expect to be referring to this thread a fair bit

Very good,

If you have specific questions feel free to drop me a PM. I'm not an 'expert' on Bialaddin by any means but I might be able to assist.

 

[Martyn]

Wonderful things, I have 3 - a Bialaddin 320 and 2 MOD vapalux M320's - essentially exactly the same lamps.

Here is the current issue Vapalux....

I got these off ebay in "unlit" condition for £35 each a couple of years ago, but they seem to have shot up in value recently. New they are around £100.

They were labelled as re-conditioned Tilley lamps

I think yours is a Vapalux 21C.