How to light an ancient Tilley Lamp 

Hi Thomas, thank you for your comments, Tilley are still making and selling their lamps and sell spares on their website tilleylamp.co.uk .Cost of parts will depend of course where you are, Tilley are based in the U.K so for me parts are readily available, as an alternative if you can find an old style iron mongers some still carry old stocks, another source you could try is the Pelham website www.pelam.de or www.huricanelamps.co.uk all the best John.

Paraffin is the name used in the UK for Kerosene.

Hi Lewis, There is always more than one way of doing things, but if your way works for you don’t be swayed by my method as yours is the correct way! The reason my method works for me as shown in this video is the lamp is so old, was so abused before I got it and the tank had blown a bubble in the bottom, it won’t even stand upright properly anymore it just wobbles about (I usually hang it up now) so I have adopted the method shown. I’ve really moved away from Tilley lamps and gone over to Petromax (not very patriotic I know) but they do look prettier being all brass and give a lot more heat and light, even if they do use a bit more fuel, a new Petromax costs about the same as a new Tilley. I have bought five Petromax’s now dotted about amongst friends and family as well as my own two. Just enjoy your lamp , whatever you have, I am sure it is a real talking point at an evening in the garden when you have friends round. All the best John

+Jesusandbible I think you have misunderstood somehow, these lamps don't run on meths we use meths to get the paraffin hot enough to vaporise which is what they run on, paraffin is miles cheaper than gas and a gallon of paraffin will last ages (8 fillings, one filling would last a couple of evenings). These lamps are a great talking point at a barbecue in the garden, especially for those that have never seen the like before.

mine was a fire hazard. The fumes they produce is dangerous indoors when burnt

Jesusandbible ...... hi, Tilley lamps if properly maintained will not smoke or fume, yes you do get a little smell sometimes of paraffin usually due to spillage when filling. They will go up in flames if you haven't pre heated properly or if the carburettor needs replacing, all you have to do under normal circumstances is shut the valve and release pressure and wait for everything to quieten down, experience tells us the do's and don'ts. It is perfectly acceptable to use a Tilley indoors but only in a well ventilated room - I would always light up outside first, then bring the lamp indoors. Personally I would only use these lamps indoors if there was a power outage, I certainly wouldn't use a Petromax indoors at any time they are far too bright! Outdoors is best and placed in a secure spot or hung up away from prying little fingers

Indeed, you can still buy them new.

+Manuel Luis, if you don't release the pressure you will have to leave the valve closed so that fuel won't squirt up the vaporiser tube, leaving the valve closed puts stress on the cleaning wire, its point and the aperture it sits against. Leaving the valve open and the pump released especially over long periods is the preferred option.