Bantam 2 stroke by Douglas 1934/5/6

[Daren W Australia]

Hi I have a Bantam 2 stroke and Chris Wright in the London club has one also, his is fully restored do any others exist????

There seems to be 3 different years of production with 3 distinct models as well as standard and deluxe versions in all years.

The first version has a cast bottom frame whereas the later types have a tubular bottom frame.

The early bikes engine fins are radial, which inhibits the cooling on an engine that is horizontal, and the later bikes the fins are std Douglas style fore and aft.

The first version has no engine stays the second version has tubular engine stays and the third has angle iron stays.

The first version tank is different to the second and third version

The later engine will not fit the early bikes, as the mounting hole spacing is smaller.

Another interesting item is the front wheel that is laced to the outside of the drum but is otherwise identical to other Douglas wheels of the period and the rear is standard style with detachable steel drum.

This is a pic of an early frame with second version engine stays and third version motor, which has had the exhaust stubs cut off.



Larger view here

[Dave]

Image added.

[Doug]

Saw this complete Bantam at the LDMCC 2001 annual rally.  Not sure who it belongs to, but it is not Chris Wright's.

-Doug

[Stuart Lister]

There is a good write up of the restoration of a Douglas Bantom By Doug Frost in the May issue of "Real Classic" magazine.  You can order a copy here   http://www.realclassic.co.uk/

Best regards,

Stuart.

[Doug Frost]

The article mentioned by Stuart Lister is not for a Bantam but a near relative being  two strokes thrown together by Douglas as a show piece for the first Earls Court Show in 1937. Have just started reading these excellent pages and questions hence the time delay.
Doug Frost