1927 EW350 engine undertray

[ncundy]

Firstly, I'd better introduce myself. My name is Neil Cundy, and I'm asking a question on behalf of my father who is restoring a 1927 EW350.

The bike is lacking the engine undertray, however we have had no luck getting anything other than rudimentary details with which to make one up.

Would anyone be able to provide some photographs or dimension/sketch of what it should be like?

Thanks in advance
Neil

[Doug]

Neil,

The EW model was not fitted with an engine under tray, so it is not surprising details are scant! If there are remains of such, my guess is it was something fitted ex-factory add additional protection for local conditions.

-Doug

[ncundy]

Doug,
Thanks for your responce. We have done a little more digging and come up with the following which suggests that maybe they did.

In the 1927 Douglas Handbook for the EW350 it states

"Undershield; a steel undershield ribbed to provide rigidity and strengh forms a partial closure to the underside  of the machine"

and in the 1927 Douglas Catelogue there is an illustration of the leg shields offered as an extra on the EW350 that shows what looks like the front of the undershield.

My father also has a photo of the 1928 EW350 in the Science Museum that also shows the undershield, although we believe the 1928 'shield was different to the 1927 and 1926 versions (the Science Museum bike was loaned by Douglas themselves).

On a further note it seems the aluminium footrests were originally painted black, any view on this??

Thanks again
Neil

[Doug]

Neil,

Sorry, I was at cross-purposes. I was thinking 'bash-plate'. I had a look at the '27 EW options brochure, and it only mentions leg shields, both leather and steel patterns. But I did see a mention in a catalog description of a 350EW fitted with steel leg shields and a 'new pattern under shield'. It does not turn up in the spares lists, but then neither do the leg shields so must be considered an omission. Still no idea what it looked like.

-Doug

[Alan Cun]

Years ago I vaguely remember seeing one of these undertrays in my first heap of EW stuff but looking at its frail construction and not considering it a necessity put it aside. A quick trip to the shed but its location at this stage has me wondering as nothing regardless of condition gets tossed. If I can find I will take a pic.

Can I suggest that this may have been an option for colonial models as in the past I have seen mentioned EW's having mudguards of the standard light weight and deep section colonial.

regards Alan

[Edin]

Hej Neil
If nothing better comes up to you,- I can help you with some foto of an 100% original undershield,- from  model E29 600 ccm from1928-29 with aluminium footboard
I have never seen other Douglas bikes with undershields.
Regards Edin DK

[Daren W Australia]

Hi Edin

I would like to see a photo of an E29 undersheild as my E29 has had a hard life Regards Daren

[Edin]

Hej Daren
I shal email you some foto in few hour,- my camera need power before I can use it.
I email direct to you - it is easyer
Regards Edin DK

[Chris]

Hi Neil
      On the subject of painted footboards I have never seen the alloy black painted footboards on the 1926 and 1927 350cc models and they appear to be natural alloy in illustrations I have of these models. However, there is the look of black painted footboards in illustration of the later 600cc versions. Likewise, there is no suggestion in the specifications of the standard 1926 350cc models that I have seen of an undershield but I do have the one illustration for which I have no model number or date that as Doug says has the statement about " a new pattern undershield".  Chris.

[ncundy]

Thanks for all your replies. We have now located the original foot boards. These were badly worn and new ones were cast sometime ago. There is black paint on the underneath and small remaining vestiges on top (photo 3). Together with the 1928 Science Museum photo (photo 2), these seems to confirm they were painted ???

The undertray picture from the 1927 catalogue (photo 1) is nearly an adequate basis for a replica, but if Alan (or anyone) could find an original one that would clinch it.

Thanks again, good fun isn't it

[Doug]

Neil,

Well, at least I now know what the slots in the ends of the foot boards are for!

-Doug