Start of a 'dynasty'

This 'as new' motor turned up at a swapmeet and caused a deal of 'head scratching' until a long time tethered hydro and car enthusiast cottoned on. It is one of the very earliest OPS 60s from around 1970 before the initials appeared on the transfer ports, and the forerunner of a family of immensely successful motors, many still in use. These early motors were used in cars and boats, but the Zimmerman disc valve meant that the motor could not be turned round, resulting in tuned pipes with U bends. Eventually a new crankcase solved that problem. Mind you, the OPS and Monza stamped on the lugs should have given a clue to its origins?
                                  Thanks to Stuart Robinson for the loan of this motor. May 2012

This horizontal twin boat engine is completely fabricated, which does give some clue as to its age and possible origins. A similar engine was described in Model Engineer. It seems to be based very much on the work of the Arkell brothers and was rumoured to have some connection with them. The use of pushrod operated inlet valves makes it significantly later than their better known motors. The owner would welcome any help in identification please.

Thanks to David Japp for this item and photos. April 2012

This must be one of the very earliest  boat motors to ever come onto the market. It was supplied by Gamages of Holborn as a 'Racing Boat Motor' and adverts exist as early as 1913, so it may even be earlier than that. The cast feet show that it was specifically designed to lay flat in a boat hull, although arranging a drive might have proved interesting. A final sale price of £818 was conservative for what might be a unique example of model engine history.

Thanks to the vendor for the photos.  Mar 2012

Another wonderful example of someone setting to and building a 10cc racing engine from scratch. The separate cylinder with its huge exhaust but moderate transfer passage is bolted to the crankcase via a flange, Hornet style. The choice of round head screws for the cylinder head is unusual as is the fixing of the front and rear housings with studs and nuts rather than screws. There are no clues at all as to who made it although the 1954 stamped on the crankcase flange could give us an idea as to when, making it relatively late.

Thanks to John Goodall for this item and photos. Feb 2012

We were missing one vital photo that would have given us a clue as to the maker of this motor as his name was engraved very clearly on the face of the prop driver. Following an appeal for information on the MEN site, the following was received from Sam Alexander up in Scotland.

I know  the full history of this engine, being the person who first purchased the unfinished motor from Mr. Cameron's widow sometime in the late nineteen eighties. Mr. Cameron had been a watch maker  of some merit with a shop in the small town of Gatehouse of Fleet. In the late forties and early fifties, his hobby was building and  running tethered racing cars. At the time I purchased this engine, I also acquired the remainder of his equipment, including hand-built cars, parts and the remainder of his engines - GHQ's Hornet's etc,. all of which have now been sold on. The Cameron engine was the last one on which he worked before he died. I gave it to a good friend who, like myself, was into  vintage team racing and was also a qualified engineer. He stripped this motor, reworked it and made some  new parts before returning it to me. Over the years I never found a use for the engine so I sold it on  my stand at the British Nationals swap meet, about 2006 - 8.

It transpires that Mr Cameron was also the owner and builder of two tethered cars we featured some while ago. Thanks to Sam for all this valuable information.  Car 1   Car 2

A 'Sparky' motor with a difference

This copy of George Lines' iconic design came from the collection of the late Gerry Buck. It follows the published design almost exactly, even to the brass rimmed flywheel. The obvious diversion from the plan is the brass water jacket on the head and a venturi that is significantly smaller than usual. Whether it was originally built in this configuration or altered at a later date is not known, but it must have been a handful in anything other than a hydro. The engine mounting blocks as per George's design would suggest that it was intended for a hydro hull. OTW had to sit on their hands when it came up for auction at Gildings!

                                  Thanks to Stuart Robinson for this item. OTW photo Jan 2012