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Post by 1951superlux on Oct 6, 2023 15:38:46 GMT
Magnus Jansson has sent me some pictures of a bike he's rescued from being scrapped ... but what is it?
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Post by buttybach1932 on Oct 6, 2023 17:11:51 GMT
Hi 1951superlux
That's are real challenge. The bike is obviously a special. The gearbox has been turned around so the drive is on the right and the gearchange on the left. Problem is the kickstart cannot be used because it will turn the engine the wrong way. I cannot work out the make of the gearbox but it has got some Albion type features.
I think that the frame has been modified because the steering head angle looks very steep and the steering head stem is an unfinished cobble up. Also the bottom engine mount and tube under the gearbox look like a modification. The petrol tank and seat are definitely from a later era.
The engine is obviously a twin exhaust port deflector piston type and I would guess that the engine capacity is around 175cc. The cast iron cylinder head and deflector piston suggest a 1930s engine. No idea of the make but it is definitely not a Villiers. There are some stamped marks on the carburettor side barrel mounting flange. The serial number: 18629 is readable but the rest is is only partially visible.
The only easily identifiable item is the Lucas magneto.
It's a mystery, what it was built for because it has no brakes, but the megaphone exhausts and rear set footrests suggest some form of racing. My initial guess was Eysink but after a closer look I have changed my mind.
A little brain teaser like my mystery 1920s frame that no one has been able to identify. Definitely worth saving.
Regards Butty Bach
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Post by 1951superlux on Oct 7, 2023 8:09:58 GMT
Thanks for that, Butty Bach. Magnus has had a closer look at the writing on the crankcase and it says '18829 Enfield'. I reckon it could be a 225cc Enfield engine. in which case, 18829 would date it to 1926. Your comment about the gearbox being reversed means that parts of the engine would have been reversed too to get the primary drive on the right. I had looked at some Enfield pictures but ruled it out because of the left-hand primary drive and having a different head. However, following your comments and armed with a date, I've found a picure of one with the same head. The external flywheel has been removed - that would be consistent with some sort of racing.
In the photo I can see that the carb has the word 'Brown' on the float chamber: so, a B&B.
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Post by buttybach1932 on Oct 7, 2023 10:13:17 GMT
Hi 1951superlux My father-in-law had a 1927 225cc Enfield a picture is attached. The bike is two speed with gear selection via two different ratio primary drives. As you stated the thumping great outside flywheel has been removed and a sprocket has been fitted. The Enfield may be like the earlier Villiers engines where both mainshafts were identical with a taper and a male thread for the 'hammertight' nut. On a Villiers can swop the crank around or change the magneto and drive sprocket to the opposite sides. Well we now have the engine, carburettor and magneto identified and a possible on the gearbox just the frame, forks and wheels to go. Very odd to use the 225cc Enfield engine in a competition machine. In standard trim they only do around 40-45mph maximum and that is too fast for the handling. Regards Butty Bach
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Post by buttybach1932 on Oct 7, 2023 19:24:01 GMT
Hi 1951superlux
Had a look at Peter Millers book on the early history of Royal Enfield this afternoon,
The 225cc engine was updated in September 1925 to a twin exhaust port design. For the 1928 model year it was further updated with a detachable aluminium cylinder head and aluminium piston. Enfield carried on selling a cheaper model with the older one piece cast iron cylinder barrel / head and cast iron piston until the end of the 1929 model year.
So the 225cc Enfield engine in 'What Is It' must be from between September 1925 and August 1929. I presume that you have some other information source that allows you to date it to 1926.
Regards Butty Bach
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Post by 1951superlux on Oct 8, 2023 7:51:50 GMT
The 225cc engine was updated in September 1925 to a twin exhaust port design. For the 1928 model year it was further updated with a detachable aluminium cylinder head and aluminium piston. That explains how, before I knew the date, I found pictures of two different versions, neither of which looked like the mystery machine. I presume that you have some other information source that allows you to date it to 1926. Yes, I have a copy of the book the VMCC regretted publishing: ISBN 0-951939-0-5
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Post by buttybach1932 on Oct 8, 2023 13:02:53 GMT
Hi 1951superlux
I forgot about that book. I have a copy and have used it numerous times. The only problem is there are quite a few typo's and misread serial numbers. Plus the issue that a lot of old bikes are cobbled together from parts from different years and sometimes different makes.
If there is money in it we are always going to have problems with fakes, but they can usually be easily spotted if you are knowledgeable on the Make and Model.
Regards Butty Bach
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d7er
New Member
I'm not that new, I re-joined four years ago. I volunteered for the south Northamptonshire area rep'
Posts: 46
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Post by d7er on Jul 6, 2024 20:10:37 GMT
Could the carb have been 'Bown' rather than Brown? Just a thought.
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Post by buttybach1932 on Jul 7, 2024 12:23:23 GMT
Hi d7er
No it is not a mistake the manufacturer is Brown & Barlow Ltd who were one of the three firms who amalgamated to become 'Amalgamated Carburettors Ltd' AMAL. The other two firms were AMAC ( The Aston Motor Accessory Co ) and Binks ( C Binks Ltd ).
Bown was a long lived manufacturer of small capacity motorcycles started by William Bown. The original company produced machines from 1913 to 1923 many with Villiers engines. The Bown name was used on lightweight motorcycles and autocycles up to 1958.
Regards Butty Bach
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d7er
New Member
I'm not that new, I re-joined four years ago. I volunteered for the south Northamptonshire area rep'
Posts: 46
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Post by d7er on Jul 12, 2024 23:26:02 GMT
Thanks for putting me right there BB, also thank you for your moral support at my very first meeting of the Northants, Oxon and Bucks section of the BTSC club at Turweston last Sunday.
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