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I've just looked it up. I bet the serial number of this machine is G4497?There are photos on my website of it. i was offered it a few months back but the seller wanted a lot more than Harry paid for it.

I wasn't far out then. From research late series 1's had the air filter location in the same place as series 2's and the last of them came with "The Gem" embossed on the chain cover as well.

heres the engine I will be using as a doner, although I will probably have to use the tank and carb off the other one.

I just been having a proper look over it, this morning. I may get the engine done quite soon so I can then leave it running with a load of bricks and off cuts of metal in the drum to get off most of the build up of concrete from inside. Found in the past this is much easier than chiselling it off by hand.

Hi, I don't know the code but I'm sure in the past I've used a Kubota Blue as a close match, just watch out as there's a few different shades of Kubota blue.

Pity it's so far from me.

In reality that just a coincidence, lol!

What you've got there is a series 1 gem from 1946-1947 I would say from the position of the air cleaner.

True, but I'm already half way through filling my second filing cabinet. Also hard to find brochure can get expensive.

Hopefully not. The drum though is going to prove a challenge. Its going to have to wait until my gems are done. New drums of this design are obsolete so I'm going to have to see what can be done with my limited skills.

Thanks Paul. I fancied a change from always doing Howard's, plus my father was a dealer for them in the late 1970's- 1990's. i have just purchased an original sales brochure for them off eBay, probably more rare than the mixers themselves!

I'm often on the look out for early light plant, but due to the harsh environment and health and safety, its survival rates seems quite low. well today after a bit of a road trip I picked up this very early version of a Belle cement mixer. i don't think the engine is the original( I do have a more inkeeping one in my shed) and the drum although good for a mixer is still a bit battered. But I've never seen another survivor, only original photos from the 60's. Anyway here's some shots, hopefully will make a nice winter project for me once my Gems are complete, and at least the colour is right!

After enjoying last years show, I've decided to enter again. 7th and 8th October. Managed to book the very close by Travelodge for £31 a night. Who else is planning on attending?

Ive started to turn my attention to the backend. As you may of seen originally I was going to use a set off a Dowdeswell. However without going into boring rivet counting details, these arent quite correct for a machine of this age. The other day I managed to do a swap for some engine parts for these covers which are period correct. Overall they are in very good condition, however Ive already welded the trailing back into place and a bit of straightening is also needed. Digging through my store Ive also turned up an original spec serial number plate.

Pleased to see the carb was OK as it had hung round the workshop for years so had no idea how good it was

From the bits ive done with generators, the excitation sockect is to re excite the capacitor. Used to do it with a 12 volt battery on quite a few generators that I purchased dead, half the time it would get them working again and a nice tidy profit.

If you get stuck for bits I have a very limited number of s/h spares for these machines as ive broken an incomplete one up. I've also got a few more engine bits through my Wacker machines.

It's great to see another Hako on here. You've probably seen mine under step by step restoration? At the present mind is set up with tines, but I've also got a set of guards and narrow blades like yours. Titch has already worked his magic on decals for them.

Thankyou Norm, its slowly getting there. Just the backend to do now. At least its staying somewhere near on budget. Looking forward to starting it again, but am almost nervous at the same time, as if you get it wrong it can give an almighty kick!

Today I finally applied the decals to the fuel tank, something ive been dying to do for a few weeks now, but wanted to get the bonnet refitted in order to line everything up. When it came to connecting up the fuel lines, as ive been struggling to find some one to make new ones up at a reasonable cost and the damage to the old ones was only asthetic, I tried using some heat shrink tube. It seems to of worked a treat.

Heres a couple of shots of the painted bonnet in the sun and the under belly fitted with all the brackets lined up.

Some great photos Norman, did you get the serial number of the Gem ? as its one of the short gearbox models, the number will be under G501 but from the rear shaft And rotor selector it's after my G206

Back in 99 and 2000 I had a g reg and a h reg hatch cavalier, but due to my age and insurance they were only 1.6's still went well and averaged 42 mpg. At present I've got a m reg 2 ltr cavalier, a one owner from new and only 46 k with full main dealer service history. Just like a new car but without the stupid electronics that go wrong, no expensive dual mass flywheels and more importantly no depreciation, I gave £600 for it and already have had a few people offering me over a grand. when I photod the cadet and tarpen I thought of you lol. There was another cadet there but checking through my camera I don't seem to of snapped it.

Thanks for the compliments pat,I've been doing a bit more painting on this machine this afternoon but didn't take my camera with me so photos will have to wait till next week. The engine itself is in very good condition and now the injector has been overhauled it should be kinder on my hip to start.

Popped along to my local rally in Monmouth this morning. The amount of exhibits on display seems to be declining each year sadly, but there was still quite a bit to see. I even spotted an old Cavalier in the carpark. Its the first one apart from mine that ive seen on the road for several years!