Oddball engines and prototypes

[Ocean1]

never thought I'd see one of these running.
https://youtu.be/MuvJIoUTA8k

Backwards

Maybe the prop's on the wrong way around. More likely it's just what was lying around...

[Frits Overmars]

Backwards . Maybe the prop's on the wrong way around. More likely it's just what was lying around...

Or the engine used to do service on a flying boat. Or a Zeppelin .

[husaberg]

I cant remember his user name but he had an unusal posting style.
You said.....
I say.....

[Ocean1]

Or the engine used to do service on a flying boat. Or a Zeppelin .
Attachment 339453

Oh I wasn't looking at the flow direction, I'd spotted the brass leading edge casings... trailing.

It matter's not a jot, of course, it's going nowhere, all they needed was some sort of flywheel / minimum load.

Having said that I've seen a few trailer mounted vintage engines that I personally wouldn't want to be around should full throttle somehow occur...

[Frits Overmars]

Oh I wasn't looking at the flow direction, I'd spotted the brass leading edge casings... trailing.

Looks like leading to me...

Having said that I've seen a few trailer mounted vintage engines that I personally wouldn't want to be around should full throttle somehow occur...

Most, if not all of 'm, I'd say .

[Ocean1]

Looks like leading to me...


Most, if not all of 'm, I'd say .

I think you're right now that I look again. It'll be some antipodean perspective tripping me up no doubt.

[guyhockley]

Don't think we've had this one, although it reminds me a bit of the V8 Monkey Bike! "1930 Elcar with Powell Lever motor. The interesting thing about these engines was the use of a lever to double the piston stroke. The normal con-rod was coupled to one end of a rocking lever pivoted at its opposite end to the crankcase and coupled at its centre to another rod operating on the crankshaft big-end. Two versions were used in the Elcar, both L-head sixes, respectively of 2.5 in. x 8 in. (236 Cu. in.) and 3 in x 8 in. (340 Cu. in.). Known respectively as the model-83 and model-85, they were geared at 2.4 and 2.1 to 1. The American journal Motor remarked unkindly that while these unusually high rear-axle gears were interesting, it had been unable to discover why the Powell Lever Motor offers any notable advantages over conventional engines of the same piston displacement!"

[Frits Overmars]

Reminds me of this:

[WilDun]

I mentioned this (Welsh) guy, Mark Wardill earlier on the thread, his great grandfather produced the interesting "Wardill" machine around 1927 and any traces of it had all but disappeared until now.
He has successfully reproduced the frame and now hopes to reproduce the two stroke engine which has an integral supercharger - it has an annular piston running in a cylinder outside the main cylinder making it compact .... and unique! At the moment it is using a Suzuki GN 250 but he is hoping to replace that with an original engine.



BTW does anyone here know who this guy is and what bike is he riding? guy who showed me the photo thought it might be a Benelli.
Pic possibly was from Wigram (Christchurch) around 1960

[husaberg]

I mentioned this (Welsh) guy, Mark Wardill earlier on the thread, his great grandfather produced the interesting "Wardill" machine around 1927 and any traces of it had all but disappeared until now.
He has successfully reproduced the frame and now hopes to reproduce the two stroke engine which has an integral supercharger - it has an annular piston running in a cylinder outside the main cylinder making it compact .... and unique! At the moment it is using a Suzuki GN 250 but he is hoping to replace that with an original engine.



BTW does anyone here know who this guy is and what bike is he riding? guy who showed me the photo thought it might be a Benelli.
Pic possibly was from Wigram (Christchurch) around 1960

pic looks to be norton Manx with the short circuit tank or AJS 7R but the brake looks wrong for a 7r
The gap behind the rhomboid oil tank screams manx.
plenty of people collect programs so it would be posible to track
few people had Manxs.

[WilDun]

pic looks to be norton Manx with the short circuit tank or AJS 7R but the brake looks wrong for a 7r
The gap behind the rhomboid oil tank screams manx.
plenty of people collect programs so it would be posible to track
few people had Manxs.

Not sure about the vertical shocks - first sight I said G50 then the front brake threw me off the scent (maybe an Oldani or something,) Norton foks? Norton Manx seat but to be honest the short megaphone and the tank threw me! (probably a "special"), but I would like to know more about it for sure! - reckon somebody will recognize it or the rider!

[husaberg]

Not sure about the vertical shocks - first sight I said G50 then the front brake threw me off the scent (maybe an Oldani or something,) Norton foks? Norton Manx seat but to be honest the short megaphone and the tank threw me! (probably a "special"), but I would like to know more about it for sure! - reckon somebody will recognize it or the rider!

It could really be anything given the time if you know the year for sure
But it fits the Manx silhouette

[Grumph]

340076[/ATTACH]

It's a Manx. Short pipe suggests a 350. Number doesn't ring a bell - a lot of riders used the same number for years.
Front brake is standard 2ls black painted magnesium hub.
I can confirm it's not me, LOL, I didn't ride there till 1969. But I was there in 1960 - the old man was one of the founders so we always worked at the meeting.

Pretty sure the book published a few years back History of the Motor Racing Club has the full entry lists of the bikes - so it should be possible to ID the rider.

Edit - The tank looks like a 3 1/2 gal locally made short circuit one. Neither of my manxes had the big tanks by the time I got them - long gone.

[husaberg]

It's a Manx. Short pipe suggests a 350. Number doesn't ring a bell - a lot of riders used the same number for years.
Front brake is standard 2ls black painted magnesium hub.
I can confirm it's not me, LOL, I didn't ride there till 1969. But I was there in 1960 - the old man was one of the founders so we always worked at the meeting.

Pretty sure the book published a few years back History of the Motor Racing Club has the full entry lists of the bikes - so it should be possible to ID the rider.

White loooking helmet though would that have been rather flamboyant for the time?

[Grumph]

White loooking helmet though would that have been rather flamboyant for the time?

No. Aviakit or some similar name. English make. The pudding basins were on the way out and it would only be a couple of years before the first "jet" helmets. Google a pic of Stirling Moss around 1960 and that's what he wore.
It's possible that the helmet is the reason for the pic being taken....