1928 Brooklands Douglas

[roger h]

I see that Bonhams are offering a 1928 Brooklands Douglas special, 750cc.  ex Rex Judd collection, in their April auction next year. Does anyone know anything about it please?

[Doug]

It was in the Whitewebbs Museum, where I saw it in 2003 (below). At that time the sump was off getting copied by someone in the LDMCC.



It seems to be a 1925 Works frame, in that it has the plate rear lugs like the RA/OB, though with slots to adjust the axle position. These are seen in other period photos of the factory entries at races. The following year when the model became cataloged and available to general public it had the cast frame lugs seen on subsequent models. Another 'early' feature is the RA (OB?) style foot peg lugs. They only wrap around the frame tube about 3/4s of the way, and are not the fully enveloping tee-fitting like on the DT models.

The engine is a slight oddity too. The bottom of the crankcase casting is extended and milled off in one great large planer surface.



In all other cases I have seen where the sump is fitted the 'window frame' in the base of the crankcase is a raised spigot. As in this example:



-Doug