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Don't know if these shots will come out the right way up, but heres the 2 brass plates that im having reproduced. Ive been digging through my notes on these early spec gems today, and have come to the conclusion that its probably the second oldest Gem left. G358 is the lowest that ive ever heard of. I own what is left of G367, but as its too far gone it will only ever be a doner so doesn't really count as its not a survivour. This one is G621 which is next. Then comes G667, after which ive seen 2 in the 900's (one is G927). I would love to hear of any more with a number below G951 (when the more common type handlebars were introduced.)

Just noticed my photos are coming out upside down, I don't know why apple products do this? Would a member of admin be able to turn them round please?

One of the next jobs is going to be to sort out the cover over the engine. Unfortunatley these early engine use one of a different design as can be seen in the photo. The very tatty orange one is the original and is going to take a heap load of work to smarten up. The black tidier one would only take a few minutes to give another flash of paint.

Remembered I had a camera on my iPhone so heres a few shots of the progress.

I was thinking at tractorworld that the engine on 137 looked very similar. I believe in Australia the very first Howard's had a sturmey archer engine, then jap developed this engine for howard, so perhaps they copied it? Even Howard's own engine the British Junior was after a similar design.

I'm actually welsh born and bred, can't say I've ever taken a shine to a sheep though. Lol.

All the gaskets have been made (except the head gasket as it's good enough to reuse) and I've started building the engine back up. It was quite tricky to slide the cylinder down with the exhaust still attached but there's no way that it's going to separate from the cylinder without shearing off the outlet. I had to remove the piston from the Conrod, fit it to the bore then try to line everything up and refit the gudgeon pin and Circlip with the whole assembly trying to crush my hand. Whilst at tractorworld I met up with Chris Austell again from www.vintagebrassplates I've had some of his products in the past, and whereas they are not cheap they really do finish off a restoration so I've commissioned a couple of the badly damaged plates for this project. They should be ready in a couple of weeks. Photos will have to wait until after the weekend as I've forgotten my camera.

all I had was a wide open door.

well I shall leave entering again until 2018, I'm not prepared to freeze my bum off at a show like I did at this years malvern. I spoke to a number of exhibitors this year who felt the same and even overheard a few spectaters saying its to cold to walk round. A great pity as apart from the temperature it was a great show.

Did you say to me Paul that the heat is going to return to the two top halls in two years time?

Some great photos as usual, Paul. You must of spent the entire show with a camera in your hand judging by how many shots you got, lol.

my internet would take me at least 4-5 hours to upload a video of that length. That's why most of my videos tend to be around 30 seconds or less. Even though bt has got a fibre optic box at the end of my garden they still won't let the villiage use it.

Heres a few photos

The last time I entered I was in the bottom hall and it was nice and warm, even the top halls had heat to a certain extent, but apparently its been ditched on cost grounds in the top two halls. Surely though they could of closed the doors and perhaps considered putting 50p on each entry ticket to cover the cost of space heaters again. This time the very posh severn hall and the hall with the paying stall holders was heated.

Just got back from what on the whole was a good show, just very disapointed with the way in which the organisers didn't have any heat on in the marquee and top two halls and thought it was wise to open all the doors to let as much cold in as possible. I heard a lot of exhibitors and even some spectators saying it is to cold to go next year. Congratulations to johnathan. Will see if I can get some photos to upload once I've finished unloading the truck.

Thankyou Nigel, I certainly wasn't cold by the time id finished unloading.

Took my display along this morning, heres a couple of photos of the set up day. Met up with a few members, including Expeatfarmer and Stormin. (thanks again Norman for the Baloon, James Loved it) Looking forward to tomorrow., hopefully will get lots more photos.

Ive decided its about time that I wrapped up these projects before my health gets worse. Ive had quite a few in my day to day life as well that ive hopefully overcome now. I haven't yet worked out where im going to store them yet, im sure I can allways squeeze a couple more in my sheds, lol. Wish I could take credit for the welding, however I had someone do it for me, as at the time my welder was broken. My welding is strong but not that pretty.

Hi pat, it's not a million miles away, however my painting standard has improved scince I did this one so it will be rubbed down and re sprayed again. The idea is to carry on with this one when I'm delayed on my 1943 gem.

This is my resurrected project that I started many years ago on tractorbox, but due to a number of issues never got finished. I purchased this machine in 2009 as a very good runner after wanting one for years. Overall it was very sound just needed lots of silly niggles sorting. Here's where I'm up to with it, but some things are going to need improving on.

Another project that im going to be working on when im waiting for paint to dry etc is my 1963 Series V Gem twin cylinder. Ive got about half way, but its looking very dusty and sorry for itself at the moment. Both machines are to be finished before next years tractor world. 20 years apart, in some ways they are very similar, yet in others very different. Rather than get this topic muddled up ill start a new topic for this one when I get a chance.

I will be delivering my exhibits on Friday, should take a whole 35 minutes to get there. Lol.

I usually come round birmingham in the evening on the m6 without trouble. Avoid the toll section as it is quite expensive. You must really be looking forward to the show to travel that far.

it's at the back of one of my sheds, there's a couple of things that I'd like to improve on, like a bit of slight pitting on the fuel tank that showed up under the artificial lights at t.w. I will perhaps dig it out one of the days, will need re commissioning as it hasnt run scince the show. She is a January 1968 kohler gem, one of the first made with this engine.

As tractor world is nearly apon us, I thought I'd post up a picture of my last gem that I rebuilt,at the show in 2011. Hopefully this new one should finish up about the same once completed.