An ex-marine engine in need of a rebuild

[Steve kay]

   

And since Austin Marine Engines are being discussed, here is an ad from an undated but certainly pre 1914 copy of The Motor Boat Manual. Somewhat scruffy, I will happily post it on to anyone who needs to find out how their Wolselely petrol/paraffin carb should work, or set up their Parson's positive-type reverse gear.

[David Stepney]

Surely post 1914, given the name of the manufacturer is The Austin Motor Co (1914) Ltd.

[Steve kay]

David, I should have noticed that, so thank you. I could always send you the piece, and you could comb through it for further clues. What distracted me was no mention of the war, either preparation or how to have lots of fun with cheap exRN craft. So when did the company add 1914 to the title, was it in the first few months of that year?

[David Stepney]

Steve. The Austin Motor Company became a public listed company ( with a capital of £50,000!) in February 1914. War broke out in the following August. I think we can therefore date the advert to somewhere between these two dates.

[Dave Mann]

That's it Colin, but the lifeboat engines had a shaft running the length of the engine with a starting handle on each end.

[AustinWood]

Two starting handles would be useful if some of the crew wer left-handed.

[dickie65]

There were coil ignition Thetis marine engines made.
I had one which I displayed at 750 MC rally in the 1990s
That sort of corrosion is very common on old marine engines with raw water cooling.