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richarddurgee
Senior Member
Username: richarddurgee
Post Number: 1068
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 03, 2006 - 12:48 pm: | 
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This 1909 ad is rare, thought it might help someone put a name to an Old Marine Engine somewhere in the world !
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miro
Senior Member
Username: miro
Post Number: 218
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 04, 2006 - 03:38 pm: |
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I wonder if any "colonial buyer " actually placed an order.
Miro |
robert
Senior Member
Username: robert
Post Number: 107
Registered: 07-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 12:34 am: |
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Interesting how the flywheel is shown between the engine stringers/beds. If not just a mistake in the drawing it would indicate very wide base flanges and/or a small flywheel diameter. A good idea as it would allow the stringers to run as far forward of the engine as desired. This is a pretty unusual feature isn't it? Or am I just forgetful?! |
bartropr
Member
Username: bartropr
Post Number: 6
Registered: 06-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 - 05:49 pm: |
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This is typical English practice. My 1908 Brooke launch and engine has a similar size engine fitted in a similar way, but it is a 4 stroke in an 18ft open launch. Starting it is with a cranking handle off the end of the crankshaft -flywheel end.
You have to be careful about crank and timing position, or you can get a backfire which "stretches" your arm and can smack your knuckles if the crank catches you on its backward movement!
Once started it goes all day and the 4HP pushes the boat along  |
bartropr
Member
Username: bartropr
Post Number: 7
Registered: 06-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 - 06:01 pm: |
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A picture of Diana's engine, and reversing gearbox |
jb_castagnos
Senior Member
Username: jb_castagnos
Post Number: 201
Registered: 07-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, November 23, 2006 - 02:42 pm: |
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Good looking boat, is the engine original? |
bartropr
Member
Username: bartropr
Post Number: 8
Registered: 06-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, November 23, 2006 - 06:12 pm: |
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This is DIANA's official history which I have discovered and recorded. I will post some extracts from contemporary magazines later.
Built & engined by J.W.Brooke of Lowestoft in 1908/1909 for Mr.J.Barrett of Cambridge.
Historic Ships register No. 1829
Hull:
Built under contract by F.Miller & Co. of Mutford Bridge Lowestoft (builders for J.W.Brooke from (1907—1911)
Carvel teak on oak, mahogany seats and floors, pine decks. Varnished.
Engine
J.W.Brooke type 4A, 4 h.p. single cylinder petrol engine with epicyclic reverse gearbox. No.L1357. Currently established as Brooke’s earliest recorded restored production engine.
History:
Some of the following details are taken from a letter written by Mr. A.E.Barrett about Diana in 1976.
Ordered by Mr.J.Barrett in 1908 (Commodore of Cambridge Motor Boat Club) and delivered in early 1909 for use on the River Cam. Passed on to one of two sons in 1922 when the original engine, side seats and steering were changed. A marinised Austin 7 or Chummy by - Elephant Motors was fitted and maintained until 1973.The boat was then passed to the other son, Mr.A.E.Barrett. He had the boat overhauled by the Two Tees Boat Yard in Cambridge, before selling her to Mr.D.Mills in 1976. I acquired her from Mr.Mills in the same year, minus the Austin engine, etc.
Having stored ‘Diana’ for a number of years, I set about her serious restoration in the autumn of 1989. The engine and gearbox, found lying under a hedge of a small cottage fitted exactly where it had been in 1908 together with its original wood and glass engine housing. It was possible to rebuild this using much of the original mahogany, despite it having languished in the garden for many years.
‘Diana’ was entered in ‘The First British Classic -Motor Boat Regatta’ held at the Steamboat Museum on Lake Windermere in August 1990, where she was awarded first prize for the ‘Best Restoration’.
In April 2000, Diana, although outside of the current parameters was accepted on the Historic Ships Register (no. 1829) because of her social and historic importance.
However her engine was never easy to use or reliable, and this led me to exhibit her for nearly 10 years at the British Motorboat Museum in Basildon, Essex.
In 2001 I set about making her completely reliable which included an engine rebuild, new propeller and work on the hull.
She has now been to a number of ‘Brooke Boat’ reunions, Thames Traditional boat Rally and other events, and revisited the River Cam (motoring into the centre of Cambridge, and visiting Two Tees yard on the way) where she spent her life with the Barretts.
In 2004 ‘Diana’ was awarded the Dean Marine trophy for the best engine at the 27th Thames Traditional boat Rally.
In June 2006 ‘Diana’ was accepted on the National Small Boat Register (no. R700) established by the National Maritime Museum (Cornwall). |
robert
Senior Member
Username: robert
Post Number: 141
Registered: 07-2003
| | Posted on Friday, November 24, 2006 - 01:21 am: |
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A remarkable story and what a labour of love. You certainly deserved a trophy or two.
"In spite of all temptations, to be pushed by other nations, she retains an Englishman..." ;-)
Oh, wait, it's a Brook. Well that doesn't rhyme so it'll have to stay as is, sorry! |
bartropr
Member
Username: bartropr
Post Number: 9
Registered: 06-2006
| | Posted on Friday, November 24, 2006 - 06:08 pm: |
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‘Diana’ – Anecdotes, to be read with the History
posted Thursday November 23rd 2006.
I have a letter from the son of the original owner, which was written in 1976.
He was about 5 at the time his father Mr Barrett bought ‘Diana’.
Mr Barrett was the owner of a shop(s) in London, and lived in Cambridge.
He became a Commodore of the Cambridge Motor Boat Club and organised regattas and races in the area.
There is a picture of ‘Diana’ in the November 1910 edition of ‘The Motor Boat’ magazine together with 14 other boats on the Cam at Cambridge reporting that they had taken part in a race and that “it is expected that a club would be formed next season”
In June the following year (1911) ’The Motor Boat’ reports that there was something like 80 motorboats on the Cam in the Cambridge district and subscription to the club had been fixed at 5 shillings(25p in todays UK money) per annum.
Finally a report of the second race meeting held in September’s 1911 ‘The Motor Boat’ tells that a race over two miles at Denver(down the River Cam) with ten boats taking part (including Diana) took place and that ‘Diana’ won.
She was awarded the Coronation Challenge Cup, which was presented by
R de la Rue Esq., and was received by Rear- Commodore Barrett.
The letter comments that ” when racing, with Diana stripped, and with two people in her (one steering at the stern and the other by the engine) the speed reached was 7 knots. When under these conditions, the wash left her stern”.
After Mr Barrett died in 1922 she was given to one of his son’s who modified her, and eventually she passed to the other son, who wrote the letter.
In 1991 Peter Hansford, then Planning Manager of Brooke Yachts wrote to me to confirm that Diana’s engine “is the earliest production engine number so far established, as a restoration. Brookes started building engines in 1902”. |
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