Saving Old Seagulls

I thought I might post about my anzani super single outboard - one of the oldest I have seen around. I got it for free halfway through last year and it has been sitting at the back of my workshop for the last few months. It has the villiers ignition and an Amal carburettor so I believe it is complete and original. I do have the end cap for the exhaust chamber as well. I thought maybe it had been brought over to Aus during WW2 as military surplus but have no proof... If any interesting observations are made please let me know.
Serial no. - SS 453x S.

Hello all

Have recently been pondering about the anzani SS's and believe that I have one of the oldest(if not the oldest) one around.
A fellow collector here in WA has one that is less than 200 serial numbers younger than mine - I have SS 4537 S and he has SS 4763 S.
Both cylindrical fuel tanks have remnants of the same battleship gray on the tanks, possibly a war dept. one like the wartime seagulls?

Does anyone on here have an older one than mine?

Cheers
BP

You have a very nice looking engine!

I mentioned "Do Not Touch the Gearbox"........................I mean that!

Why do you say not to touch the gearbox?

Hi Nudge

B has recommended not touching the gearbox because it has not been apart before at all; it is common that the end cap on the SS's are butchered as people do not have the correct removal tool and do not know they have a left hand thread for the end cap bolt.

Cheers
BP

I still have one knocking about, still not done anything with it, not all that keen on them really.

Hi Keith

If it's not too much to ask, would you be able to advise the serial of that one?
It doesn't look that bad...

Cheers
BP

I wouldn't have a clue where the serial number is on that motor, I got shot of a later one I had, still have some parts about though.
The old one is right at the back of my shed, so I will have to get over a lot of motors including five Anzani miners and a unitwin, this may take some time.
Hang on, is the serial number on the back end of the crank case?
Also shouldn't it have brass thumb screws on that one?

No, there shouldn't be brass thumbscrews.
The serial no. is on the crankcase lug to the right of the carburettor.

Cheers
BP

The thumb screws are plated brass, I can see by the one in your picture has them.

The serial number is SS3550L, Long shaft.

Keith, you seem to have an older one than mine; so I now have possession of the second oldest SS known.
I have the oldest one in Australia and until proven otherwise, the oldest one in original and unrestored condition.
Thumbscrews are plated brass, just had another look at mine.

Anyone else have one with a cylindrical tank?

Cheers
BP

I've often wondered if those round anzani tanks were made in the same place as Marston tanks, they seem very similar?

I wouldn't be surprised in the least if it was, I think the cap is probably worth more than the motor now, daft really.