This motor was supposed to be an English Mechanics 15, except that particular motor designed by W. Cooper of King's Lynn is completely different. Close examination gave a clue to its true origins. It is an exact scale replica of the English Mechanics 30 reduced in size to make it a 15. What is confusing is that the oil tank is an original EM casting. This superb piece of engineering was built by Norman Dixon of the Heaton Club for his hydro Qwik Kit to go with the 30cc Fast Cat with its full sized EM motor. Both boat and engine are now in the hands of Tom Clement and awaiting restoration. (See bottom of page for details of EM30)

          Thanks to Tom for this fascinating piece of high quality engineering. Photo OTW July 2010

It was only after the eBay auction finished that the history of this engine came to light. It was built by John Scarnell who started racing with the Fleetwood Club around 1931 along with Charles Booth. In the late 40s John built a series of two stroke motors, one for each of the classes. Most of the 30cc motors built at the time were enlarged versions of the McCoy, but his motor has the distinctive 'Bulge bypass' of a Dooling. With generous bearing surfaces and solid construction, there is no reason to suppose that this motor would not run quite happily in a period hull.

June 2010. Thanks to David Scarnell for details. Photo OTW

In 1932, Lionel French (Spectator) described in Model Engineer the building of a 40" 'Express Cruiser' and indicated that he would describe building a small IC engine in two versions to power it. The original, simple, water cooled version never materialized, and instead in 1933 French published the plans and building instructions for a much higher performance, air cooled, 15cc motor that would be suitable for 'B' Class hydroplanes as well. Grays of Clerkenwell undertook to provide the castings in Electron magnesium alloy under the name the 'Gray Special' (grayspec). Eventually it was offered in aero or marine versions with different crankcase castings. The marine model sold for £4-2-6

This fine version in boat configuration is by courtesy of Ken Smith. May 2010

Available from the Model Aircraft Stores in Bournemouth from 1946, this 10cc engine was 'guaranteed', although what for or against was not explained. It was claimed that this motor had been 'Specially designed for speedboats and racing cars', although the four extended crankcase bolts for radial mounting would hardly indicate those uses. What is obvious and unusual is the forward facing venturi on this sideport motor. It was an engine out of its time, and at a cost of £10-10 it was hardly cheap, and probably not madly powerful either, which may account for its short existence.

Thanks to Eric Offen for this unusual and rare motor.                        April 2010

These two lovely 10cc motors were also built by Sid Smith of Chatham around 1948. The spark ignition version on the right is markedly different, apart from the finning. The rotary valve backplate has an angled venturi with an extended shaft, possibly for driving a magneto. the glow model on the left has a straight venturi. There are also other noticeable differences in the crankcase castings. Perhaps Ken Smith will relate the story of these British racing motors at some stage in the future. How he came by them is a fascinating tale on its own.
Thanks to Ken for photos of these engines                     March 2010

In 1948, Sid Smith of Chatham produced two engines under the ELECTRA name specifically for car racing. The Pioneer 10cc and 5cc were quite different in appearance and only in production for a short while. Both are very rare and the 5cc was at the very top of the wish list for his son Ken, who had restored one some years ago for John Goodall, which was believed at the time to be the only one still in existence. Ken lived in hope that another might still be lurking somewhere. It goes to show that it does pay to travel with hope, as the example  shown here turned up at the Walton auction in Nottingham, and happily, Ken had his Pioneer 5 at last.
                                                                        Feb 2010. Photo OTW

Although it has a water jacket, this 30cc two-stroke motor was designed as a hydroplane engine in the late 30s. The design by W. Cooper of King's Lynn was published in English Mechanics magazine in 1938, hence the name. It was part of a series that started on 1st April for the construction of a metre hydroplane and engine. The hull was designed by R.W. Lance who went to great pains to explain that he had deliberately ignored current practice in the design. This was somewhat obvious as the hull would not looked out of place in the 1920s. The EM 30 has powered a few boats along the way, including those of Norman Dixon and Tom Clements, but at 4 1/2 lbs is no lightweight.

Part of a remarkable lifetimes engine building by John Bertinat on display at Leamington. Jan 2010