Another Marconi-Stanley

It is frightening isn't it - were it not for our little hobby Stanley Engineering would probably be remembered only as a manufacturer of invalid carriages!

Well, I've got it up together, timed and it runs in the manner of the incorrectly tuned two stroke - for a few strokes only! My right arm now aches and I get pins and needles in my fingers when I type, but this will pass - deo volante, it always has before ;p)

As it was so corroded, I felt justified in simply wire brushing the crud off the surface with a brass cup brush and then lacquering the bare aluminium, using satin black for small unplated steel items and matt black for barrel and head. It is a finish I enjoy looking at and although I found occasional traces of grey paint, that's what they were, traces. I've carefully preserved a few paint samples on out-of-the-way corners so that some later owner can get the correct colour should they wish to do so.

I've taken a few more photos of it and have made it an album of its own in Webshots. You can see before and after pictures at

Next job is a petrol tank. I've got a pretty little sausage shaped Atco lawnmower tank which I think will fit in very well with the overall scale of the engine and will fit alongside the diagonal side of the head cowling. It will be the only splash of colour and I'm mulling over choices.

Aren't I good, finishing one thing at a time with the ABC vee4 lurking in the offing? ;o))

Regards,

Kim Siddorn

Although the ABC Vee4 is now in the workshop and tempting me, I got the MS going properly yesterday. It was simply that oil had pooled in the crankcase and once I had repeatedly taken the plug out and dried it off, it started and ran in an enthusiastic fashion, the first time it had done so since

Although I fed it a petroil mix to start with, and it does appear that the little oil adjuster on the back of the engine is actually bleeding oil into the crankcase because the reduction in smoke from the exhaust manifold is noticeable when you rotate it onto its seat. I must assume that the depression in the crankcase is hauling oil up the line from the "sump" (for want of a better term) I suppose there is a ball valve somewhere in the line, but I saw none when I dismantled it during the clean up.

Now I sit and write this, it comes to me that there was no sign of a governor attempting to control the throttle - perhaps the throttle's manually adjusted for load.

Time to make up an exhaust system and fit the petrol tank - more news as it happens ;o))

regards,

Kim Siddorn

"Kim Siddorn" wrote (snip):-

Sent off-list on Saturday:-

"Kim, Just noticed from your new pics that there is a piece missing from your throttle linkage - nothing drastic, just a small eccentric disc which alters the position of the throttle with respect to the governor shaft corresponding to the 'F' and 'S' markings on the larger disc near the carb. You should be able to see what I mean from some of the pics I sent you."

Either the email vanished into the ether or I am casting these pearls in vain ;-)

"Kim Siddorn" wrote (snip):-

Given the sealed oil filler cap, I think it probably uses something like the Villiers automatic system which presurises the tank from the crankcase. Unlike Villiers though there is no visual confirmation (drip feed) that the system is working, so, like you, I played safe and added a dash of oil to the fuel. Wonder how many of these units were wrecked by someone forgetting to open the needle valve?

No, I did get your post thanks Nick, although it would have made no difference as the shaft did not move in response to rising revs.

Do you/we have any idea how many were made?

They are an interesting little engine to men of our stamp, but without a practical use other than that which they were designed for - hence they vanish without trace ;o((

Regards,

Kim Siddorn

"Kim Siddorn" wrote

Ah, perhaps the governor (lurking in the mag drive tower) is stuck then.

I think between us we have the two extremes of the currently known Type M5 serial number range - ie 289 and 330, so at least 42. Wonder if they were used on anything else - only 14 Ensigns.

Many engines seem to survive the scrapping of the vehicles to which they were fitted in some numbers - AC Sociable, ABC Scootamota etc - particularly ones which are small enough to lose in the back of a shed.

The man I got it from said his dad had brought it home from work in 1947 - he could just remember it, associating it with the dreadful winter that year - and put it under the bench "as it might be useful one day," his dad working at the place where Ensigns went to die.

It never was, of course, but I'm glad he did!

As to numbers, Marconi - Stanleys cannot be called Legion, but I know it was common practice for manufacturers in the 1930's to start numbering things at

I wonder how one got to New Zealand?

Regards,

Kim Siddorn

particularly

The type M4 in NZ is No. 243 so, prior to the appearance of your engine, I had made the totally unsupported and now clearly incorrect assumption that M5 numbering may have started at 300.

I made up an exhaust system today. I used some appropriate bits of car exhaust to achieve the downpipe, cutting a hole in a small round exhaust box and brazing it in at a right angle. It is unobtrusive and fits in well with the outline of the engine. Sounds easy, but the exhaust manifold is a very odd size and it took some creative cutting, shutting and brazing up to get a snug fit.

I found some 3/4" square section steel tube and planned the stand frame. This will also carry whatever I decide to direct drive, either a small ex-Merlin type compressor or a 28 volt 350 watt Air Ministry generator (anti-clock, Nick ;o)) ). I'm loath to substantially increase the weight of this very light and easily handled engine and the generator will easily double its weight. The compressor is light, I've got three of the things standing about doing nothing and only one generator. I'll see how it goes tomorrow.

Regards,

J. Kim Siddorn,

"Kim Siddorn" wrote (snip):-

Are you sure? I just went out to the garage and twiddled the starting handle again which definately seems to rotate the engine in a clockwise direction looking towards the generator.

See you tomorrow.