D type gearbox identification 2 ¾

[GlenDouglas]

Attached url for ebay D type gear box.  Sort of looks right can anyone confirm?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Veteran-or-Vintage-Douglas-Model-D-motorcycle-gearbox-211cc-1912-to-1924-/325140746559?

thanks Glen


URL shortened to remove personal information - Dave, 18Apr2022

[EW-Ron]

211 cc  ??

[cardan]

Hi Glen,
This caught by eye a week or so back. I got as far as being pretty sure it wasn't Douglas. I thought maybe New Hudson (or similar) two stroke, but didn't chase it fully.
Cheers
Leon

[cardan]

From the ebay advert: "It was suggested that it might be for a 211cc New Hudson machine. I imagine the 211cc was significant, as I am now reliably informed that it is infact for a Douglas Model D from the early to mid twenties. It might suit other lightweight veteran or vintage motorcycles from about mid 1920s back."

Lesson: beware reliable informants.

It's hard to get a proper look at a New Hudson 2-speed gearbox, but in this shot you can see the oil filler projecting at the rear (in line with the two mounting studs, so it needs to go into a very particular frame) with the large square-head nut. Also the change lever at the front low down. In the VMCC register of machines there are a number of two-stroke New Hudsons with gearbox numbers 19xxx and 20xxxx, so my best guess is that the ebay gearbox 20/1596 is 1920 211cc New Hudson. Right the first time.

Cheers

Leon

[Ken Rogers]

Hi it is a New Hudson  Delux 211cc I own one.

[cardan]

Lovely Ken - you can have a lot of fun on one of these.

Should mention that we know the box is not Model D Douglas, because the Model D gearbox, unlike most/all Douglas models from 1912-on, was not a cross-over gearbox. https://www.douglasmotorcycles.net/index.php?topic=2093.0

Cheers

Leon

[Hutch]

This is from The Motor Cycle Aug 4th 1910 introducing the new Douglas 2 speed. I think in this period there were some aftermarket 2 speed kits avail. to convert some of the single speed Douglas models, I think ROC were one such company.

cheers

Ian

[cardan]

Hi Ian,

Douglas were very early with their 2-speed counter-shaft gear. At the time most change-speed-gears were in the rear hub (e.g. ROC) or in the belt pulley (e.g. NSU). The ROC 2-speed counter shaft gear was tested by the Motor Cycle in July 1914, so would have been first seen in 1915 models.

I'm not sure if Douglas were "the first" with a motorcycle counter-shaft gear in 1910, but certainly most of the competition didn't appear until 1913-14. Of course cars and forecars used them earlier (Chater Lea had a rather chunky example), but the Douglas box was notable for its compact and light design.

Cheers

Leon