1200va/350 watt generating set SOLD

[Dads bike]

For sale
Douglas 1200 VA/350 Watt generating set. New old stock?
This is the power pack for the WW2 Kerrison predictor / Bofors gun anti aircraft system, the engine formed the basis for the post war T35
I bought this item about 1980 and it has remained in my garage ever since untouched other than keeping it moving.
The engine is still coated in some form of inhibitor, however the framework, the generator and alternator are showing their age in the form of surface rust.
The engine is labelled with the Aero engines tested tag stating No oil. There is however a level of what smells like some form of inhibitor in the sump.
A second tag is hard to read but seems to indicate a military reserve identification.
The unit is complete with starting handle, exhaust pipe work, flexible exhaust pipe, silencer and hand book.
The carburettor controls are free and the engine turned freely with compression on both cylinders. Both The alternator and the generator turn freely.
I have not turned the engine quickly so as to test the magneto due to having only inhibitor in the motor.
I have tested the screened lead’s and plugs against a known good magneto and they support a good spark.
The Magneto after standing for 70 plus years has only a small amount of magnetism across it and its condition is unknown.

Don’t want to put this on eBay as it will end up broken up for parts.
Wanting £175 for it and buyer collects only, as it weighs an absolute ton. Located in Norfolk UK
Can forward further photos to your mail as required

Steve












Attachments converted to linked images - Dave, 31Jan2021

[Dads bike]

Thanks Doug
That’s perfect

Steve

[Dads bike]

Morning all
Price reduced to £175 if you need a new power pack for your anti- aircraft system.

Steve

[Vitesse]

What a lovely "thing". Can't really think of a use for it - which is a great shame!

[flea]

have 80% of one im putting together in australia , if only wasnt so expensive to ship here would jump on it , cant understand why it hasnt sold .. when mine is finished will be taking it to bike shows along with my T35 so people can see the history and how a generator inspired the building of a motor cycle ... not many other bikes can say the same especially considering the speeds the later marks / T35 were doing

[eddie]

That is a myth that the generator spawned the motorcycle engine. In May 1939, Reg Bryant produced the drawings of a motorcycle that had the original version of the 'generator engine' (see Eric Brockway's book on Douglas Motorcycles). The generator engine didn't appear for another 2 years and is considerably modified from the original 'motorcycle' engine. I have the remains of that 1939 engine - along with several photos of the bike, and quite a few original factory drawings for the parts. There is very little in that prototype engine that is interchangable with either the later Mark engines or the generator engine. It will take a lot of 'engineering' to get that engine to run again, but I am going to give it a try!

  Regards,
                Eddie.

[flea]

but are the later ww2 generator engine and the mark 1 pretty much the same except for the carbs?

[eddie]

No. About the only parts that can be swapped from the generator to the motorcycle engine are the pistons and the barrels (with some finning removed).
 The 1939 prototype motorcycle even had the upturned exhaust ports (identical to the generator motor) -see attached photo.

  Regards,
               Eddie.

[flea]

thanks eddie , good to know