Saving Old Seagulls

Thanks for posting, what a great find!
Oh I wish it were closer to me...

It has dots with the engine # as well!

Cheers
BP

Fascinating. An early 1945 SD? In a box stenciled May 1964 and then reinspected 1969. Box looks correct with rope handles for army WW11. Went through an army stores inventory in 1964 and re-stenciled? Interesting it comes with height adjustor and the top mount pivot bolted to motor. Answers a few questions about the side mount too. Most impressive find that has surfaced in my seagull time.

Edit: Here is a comparison crate from SOS site: The one on ebay: Also the word "gasolene", I could stand corrected here, but isn't that more americanese than English? There is a mystery here.

Clutch lever with Patent on it is correct for late SD's I believe.

Comparison of side mount.

Ebay: Other:

That looks very impressive but I'd need to touch it to say a 100%, yes or no.

I'm sure we would know him if some body was capable & had the knowledge to recreate this.

Can one of us go & look at this & get a survey quality set of pics, this could be important!

Charles Wrote;

"I'm sure we would know him if some body was capable & had the knowledge to recreate this"

BnC

Collector Inspector wrote:Charles Wrote;

"I'm sure we would know him if some body was capable & had the knowledge to recreate this"

BnC

Any of these parts can be recreated... It just comes down to the amount of effort one wants to put into it!

I agree anyone could recreate these parts, but having the knowledge to do it this right, would be very very unusual!

Cost up making that transom bracket & it's associated bronze bits, bearing in mind it must be gas welded, estimate your time @ £10, A$20 per hour, scary isn't it even as a guesstimate!

Looking closely at the pictures it seems genuine to me, certainly all the details seem correct. Gearbox, tiller, mag, tank with a decal too. Even a bronze clutch lever as well. Wonder if the carb is brass? It would be nice to see the coating on the drive tube, wonder if it is the original zinc?

So yes an interesting engine, not worth going mad over though, noting the last ones went for less than £100. The original mount and box is the icing on the cake though, both are quite rare.

However I think prudence is the key here. Worth a closer look I suspect.

Anyone going in that direction that could do a photo survey before the auction ends?

It's not something I'd covet, I have too many ornaments now, if it's the real deal, it's probably unique, a boxed SD still in it's packing grease with tool kit, has anyone asked if there are any instructions in the box?

Even the sticky tape seems period.

I've often wondered where the boxes where made. Noting the army had all sorts of crated equipment, but the photos I have seen suggest they were army boxes. I wonder if they were made in the central receiving store. I doubt we will ever know.

We know the engines were carried by bridging teams and used by the sappers. Not a lot else is known, other than some parts books and I think Charles P has an instruction manual.

There is video of an SD in use by the army in the North Germany floods in the early 60s but we are still searching for that elusive picture of an engine in use during wartime. I am planning to go down to the imperial war museum at some point to search their photo archive. Not got around to it yet. Apparently the archive is growing all the time as more photos are donated.

Charles P spent 2 or 3 days there & found nothing, the same with the REME archives.

I won't be bidding either. I just hope it goes to a good home, and not split and sold seperately by some eBay captain cash in. The whole package is what makes it an interesting item.