Fifty years of crankshafts

[dheywood]

In 1975 there was a sales announcement from the late John Miles: Lotus engineer. F1 racing driver and Austin Seven enthusiast. He was selling a batch of new 1.5 inch pressure fed crankshafts, made for him by Gordon Allen of Slough. Machined from EN40B steel and nitrided, the narrower journals, thicker webs and  radiused corners eliminated the crack-inducing changes of section that had weakened the originals. Miles gave a list of satisfied purchasers, all happily racing their Sevens without fear of explosions in the crankcase. The price for an Allen crankshaft was £150, but hurry because the next batch will cost £200. Enquirers were invited to phone John Miles, or write to his North London address.