Marston on ebay.

sandymac · Post by **sandymac** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 9:43 pm

Looks reasonably complete??
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VILLIERS-SEAGULL- ... 240%3A1318

Sandy

timberman2004 · Post by **timberman2004** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 9:54 pm

aggressively bidding chaps

Horsley-Anarak · Post by **Horsley-Anarak** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 9:59 pm

Oh no not another one to have a go at

What will she say

H-A

timberman2004 · Post by **timberman2004** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 10:11 pm

ummmmmmmmm

rather decided not to tell her ...

cheaper to swamp her with Easter chocolates hoping (all things being equal with Mr Ebay of course) whilst snout firmly embedded in Dairy Milk Smartie /Mars Bar Suprise, she may just not notice a new addition amongst the clutter of the nest

course it could all go pear-shaped as she has a nasty talent of counting up dismembered tanks in relation to no of props ...very able to spot an addition ...cunning old boot !!!

Post by **Charles uk** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 11:32 pm

This looks like an OG or an OK, so 102 cc's, FNR gearbox, wrong transom bracket, & air intake/ choke assembly.

Before you start bidding it might pay to have a look at it & check the water jacket & the gearbox both of which could turn this into a static exhibit.

If the serious collectors get wind of this it could go for serious money.

mick r · Post by **mick r** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 11:51 pm

Count me out of the bidding.

BUT

What a pretty little 40 series sitting along side it in photo 2

That one got my interest

If you guage it by the one on the bay for for Â£350, that one must be worth a grand

Post by **charlesp** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:03 am

Nice to see another one surfacing, or should I say a significant percentage of one! I hope that whoever buys it will communicate its serial and JM number to me.

The fuel tank is a home made replacement, and I am sure there's damage to the gearbox front cap. The photographs could be better.

I have never warmed to the FNR teardrops. Damned clever, to be sure, but they're clonky things. They were very well regarded by the boating magazines of the era, and I have never understood why they were dropped by Way-Hope and Pinniger. Probably failure to negotiate the patent rights I suppose.

Post by **Charles uk** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:33 am

I can't blow up the pics, what's wrong with the tank?
Can't even see the endcap.

Post by **charlesp** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:04 am

The tank has flat end caps, and has probably been manufactured from the remains of the original.

The OG that lives just down the road from me has a similar tank, made by the current owner when he was on nights in the fifties.

Post by **charlesp** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 2:48 pm

New photos on there now, and serial and JM number. Saves me a trip - I was planning to pop over there this evening, but the combination of current price (good heavens!) and bits missing puts me off.

Interesting motor, one of four OK models that are thus far registered. The tank on this one is definitely a later fabrication, and the carburettor is an odd substitute, which may well have compromised (must have compromised) the interrupt that formed such an important facet of Mr Harper's patent. I cannot see all round the block photographically, as it were, but the vendor seems a reasonable person and I'm sure would oblige.

Lots of money will be needed to put this one back together, assuming as ever that the integrity of the block is not compromised. Spare carburettors are very difficult to find, and the reverse interrupt for it would be impossible. The other Charles has experience of, and I believe bits for, remanufacture of tanks. But you're looking at hundreds...

The serial puts it at 1936, the very last of the teardrop singles to be marketed. The magneto number is entirely appropriate for the motor, and it's only a cvouple away from one assembled the same week. It was available alongside the OJ, which remains my personal favourite.

But blimey, what a price!

Your thoughts, Charles?

timberman2004 · Post by **timberman2004** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:34 pm

getting cold feet now....Mr P makes it sound like a right bag of bolts

what the hell is a reverse interrupt ?? sounds like a particularly poor parking manoever from HID

'course it's alright for you lot with a shed full of Marstons to joyously drool over, but for us mere mortals the chance to obtain the Holy Grail of a teardrop ...well ....what can I say ??? But still not keen on acquiring an engineering nightmare

phil · Post by **phil** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 2:26 am

Does anyone know the final price on the Marston? Last time I looked it was at 265 GBP.

Post by **charlesp** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 3:29 am

Yes it went for an eye watering £577 or thereabouts. I can't help but think that the final price the purchaser will be paying is completely over the top.

Add to that money the cost of repairing the water pump housing - which looked from the photos to be rather sad to say the least, and perhaps more important replacing the carburettor, and you're looking at a lot of money.

The carb will be very difficult to find, and of course this one would have to incorporate the modificatiuons for the FNR throttle cutout.

The vendor must be smiling!

40TPI · Post by **40TPI** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 3:38 am

So that's two of us on antipodean time clocks.....

Peter

phil · Post by **phil** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:55 pm

That is amazing, the only comparable that I know of here is a 1906 Waterman serial # 11 going for the equivalent of 500 GBP. A couple of years ago, happened to be in my little village as well!
The First US production outboard, and early in the first year of production.