Now on display in my office entrance passage, a new Britannia Middy motor. I have placed an order for the missing air intake cover.
I say new and this is correct, as while the motor is around eighty years old, this motor has never ever run, not even had petrol in the tank!
I have decided to refurbish and not restore this motor, I will clean it and keep as much of its original finish as possible? Is it really new? well it is and we even have the original shipping crate. The engine is not just the power head, its also an alloy power leg complete with a gear and pinion which powers a 7 1/4 inch solid bronze three bladed propellor!
The carburation is via a twin jetted Amal and is controlled with a short lever arm, all quite neat and uncomplicated. The Champion number 7 spark plugs are original, the spark plug caps are not, they are from a Jaguar XK 3.8 liter engine dated 1966, what were the plug caps like in 1930, does anyone know?
On a static test with a pull rope from a British Seagull, the spark plugs give a very healthy spark. The magneto is in fact made by Villiers, the same company who supplied British Seagull. Note the high quality of the engineering.
There is a very neat crank in there, as both pistons come to compression and fire at the same time. This was before cleaning and taking the packing grease off.
As opened, the inside of the plate was coated with grease, I wonder why?
The petrol to oil mix and running instructions are on the tank lid!
Note the small wire filter in the carburetor bowl lower end.
With the ignition and carburetor being used by Seagull engines, those parts are more or less easy to find, I have just placed an order for the missing carburetor choke cover from my Seagull engine supplier.
All tricked out and nearly ready to run,s you can see its quite a new motor and just look how modern it was, an inboard leg on a 1930s out board motor!
This is neat, there is no cooling water pump on this engine, as long as the propellor is turning it forces cold water towards and into the alloy fitting you can see on the right.
All pictures by R McBride
How old is it, seems its about 80 years old, made around 1930 to 1933, or there abouts. Its for sale, either as it will be when re assembled, or as a boat and engine package. Possibly a Victorian river punt or a classic motor boat. I will not start this motor, I supect part of its value is the fact it is so old but has never been run? Its output is said to be 4hp and the engine runs at 3000rpm.
More on this later,check here to see one running. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaW8cX5-9Q4
That is the original crate? sent here to Cape Town as a private import. The two exhaust silences are in the crate.
Roy
http://www.ckdboats.com/
Found on the web:
Does anybody have one? The engine is called "The Britannia Middy Inboard Engine". It is a 4 horse power, "Mariner" Inboard Motor. We think it was built in approx 1930. It is an English boat, and English engine, and the company that built them may have been called Britannia, perhaps the Britannia Motor Company, or Britannia Motor Boats. Other Motor Specifications that might be of use: Medium speed, twin cylinder, 50.5 mm. bore, 41 mm. stroke; 105 cc. piston
displacement, develops 4 h.p. at 3,000 r.p.m.
I say new and this is correct, as while the motor is around eighty years old, this motor has never ever run, not even had petrol in the tank!
I have decided to refurbish and not restore this motor, I will clean it and keep as much of its original finish as possible? Is it really new? well it is and we even have the original shipping crate. The engine is not just the power head, its also an alloy power leg complete with a gear and pinion which powers a 7 1/4 inch solid bronze three bladed propellor!
The heads were coated in grease, there was no rust to speak of, now degreased and later coated with Fluid Film they are in perfect condition.
The carburation is via a twin jetted Amal and is controlled with a short lever arm, all quite neat and uncomplicated. The Champion number 7 spark plugs are original, the spark plug caps are not, they are from a Jaguar XK 3.8 liter engine dated 1966, what were the plug caps like in 1930, does anyone know?
On a static test with a pull rope from a British Seagull, the spark plugs give a very healthy spark. The magneto is in fact made by Villiers, the same company who supplied British Seagull. Note the high quality of the engineering.
This is after a coating with Fluid Film, which will leave the surface rust free.
This is the cast alloy exhaust collector box, very well made and has a stainless steel removable inspaction plate.
As opened, the inside of the plate was coated with grease, I wonder why?
The petrol to oil mix and running instructions are on the tank lid!
Note the small wire filter in the carburetor bowl lower end.
With the ignition and carburetor being used by Seagull engines, those parts are more or less easy to find, I have just placed an order for the missing carburetor choke cover from my Seagull engine supplier.
The copper pipe on the right hand side goes from the hull plate to the exhaust collector box, is that a way of causing a ballance? The tiny chrome insert at the center rear of the leg is a grease nipple?
This is neat, there is no cooling water pump on this engine, as long as the propellor is turning it forces cold water towards and into the alloy fitting you can see on the right.
All pictures by R McBride
How old is it, seems its about 80 years old, made around 1930 to 1933, or there abouts. Its for sale, either as it will be when re assembled, or as a boat and engine package. Possibly a Victorian river punt or a classic motor boat. I will not start this motor, I supect part of its value is the fact it is so old but has never been run? Its output is said to be 4hp and the engine runs at 3000rpm.
More on this later,check here to see one running. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaW8cX5-9Q4
That is the original crate? sent here to Cape Town as a private import. The two exhaust silences are in the crate.
Roy
http://www.ckdboats.com/
Found on the web:
Does anybody have one? The engine is called "The Britannia Middy Inboard Engine". It is a 4 horse power, "Mariner" Inboard Motor. We think it was built in approx 1930. It is an English boat, and English engine, and the company that built them may have been called Britannia, perhaps the Britannia Motor Company, or Britannia Motor Boats. Other Motor Specifications that might be of use: Medium speed, twin cylinder, 50.5 mm. bore, 41 mm. stroke; 105 cc. piston
displacement, develops 4 h.p. at 3,000 r.p.m.
News just in, 23/03/2013
Roy,
I have seen your blog on your Britannia motor and thought I'd let you know some facts.
Your engine is a wartime issue one as evidenced by the aluminium leg. There were used in two places - the airborne lifeboat, designed by Uffa Fox, and the Mk 8 cockle canoe. If the exhaust, which I can't see in you phots is as I suspect - yours is a canoe motor. I can give you more info if you are interested.
Chris Jones - UK
I have seen your blog on your Britannia motor and thought I'd let you know some facts.
Your engine is a wartime issue one as evidenced by the aluminium leg. There were used in two places - the airborne lifeboat, designed by Uffa Fox, and the Mk 8 cockle canoe. If the exhaust, which I can't see in you phots is as I suspect - yours is a canoe motor. I can give you more info if you are interested.
Chris Jones - UK
