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Terence Roberts
New member
Username: terence_roberts
Post Number: 1
Registered: 05-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - 04:15 am: | 
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Here we have a recent victim of the Black Saturday Bush Fires that roared across Victoria Australia on Feb 7th 2009.This engine is one of a whole collection wiped out and have now been donated to the whittlesea vintage machinery society to be dealt with. The only marking I could find on the engine is the cast lettering of "labour". In no place on the engine could I find any reminance of an identification plate and so I find myself here. I suspected it was of the marine nature looking at he rounded sump but was struck by the fact that it is on what looks to be an original stand hinting it may have been used for something else. Any help with identification and restoration of this engine would be greatly appreciated and will be put to good use. Thanks Terence   |
Mark S
Senior Member
Username: marks
Post Number: 101
Registered: 03-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 07:32 pm: |
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Hi Terence,
If you look at this post http://www.oldmarineengine.com/discus/messages/3454/1037.html
You can see that your engine looks very similar, and is either a Labor or Felix.
Cheers,
Mark S |
Terence Roberts
New member
Username: terence_roberts
Post Number: 2
Registered: 05-2009
| | Posted on Friday, May 29, 2009 - 07:08 pm: |
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thanks for that ,that heads me in the right direction.This engine actually has labor cast into the unlike the ones in that post which seems odd because they said they were rebadges of felix.
thanks anyway
terence |
Darryl Ovens
New member
Username: darryl
Post Number: 3
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, May 30, 2009 - 06:00 am: |
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Hi Terence,
The name Labour is a new one to me but I'm not surprised as I am aware of four (now 5) names these engines have on them. I have an Electra, other names include Felix, Nimrod and unfortunately the other name escapes me and I cannot find the reference at the moment.
I have a copy of "Instructions for Working Electra Engines".
On the cover it says Masnufactured by The Hillman Motor Car Co Ltd. COVENTRY.
I also have a copy from a magazine showing an illustration and the caption "Felix industrial motor, from a 1911 J.B. MacEwan catalogue. this 3 to 5 hp engine cost 65 pounds and they were still advertising parts for them in their 1929 catalogue." I have a copy of a MaEwans advert in the Electra name. There was also a twin cylinder version (7 hp), but I've not seen one (yet).
I understand they were also made in Europe and possibly elswhere. This may be the reason for the various names. I'm not sure if some were copies or licenced or what.
There is quite a lot of variation in minor details. For instance some (like this one), have those nice rounded edges to the hand hole in the base, while others have square, almost sharp edges, (like mine). Some have nicely machined and polished brassware others (like mine) are quite roughly made. I've also seen a much lower base, (just high enough to clear the flywheel), I've seen one of these direct coupled to a generator on a big cast bed plate.
Your one appears to have an original gear cooling water pump, most here in New Zealand have lost theirs.
My Grandfather had mine in a boat at one stage amongst other applications. The feeling amoungst people I know is that they are designed to be cooled by cold water as the water jacket is rather light and they have the forced water circulation. The manual recommends a 40 to 80 gallon cooling water tank if tank cooled.
Most of these engines here that have their original carburettors tend to run rather rough due to air leaks around that sliding piston throttle, I know one where the owner has remachined and bushed it and his runs nicely, as do those with other carburettors.
This one appears to be missing the cover over the magneto gear, most have a row of small holes in this cover which act as the crankcase breather.
I regularly run mine at shows and displays along with pumps and other engines, so have become reasonably familier with them. Hope this is of interest.
Cheers
Darryl Ovens
(PS have forgetten my password) |
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