Darmic1

And a video..........

Went to see the Ploughmen and machines this morning. Various methods from Horses, Steam Plough/Frankenstein Engine and Tractors of all ages........ Here are some pictures and a video...... Frankensteins Monster!!!

What Gareth forgot to mention was his 1st Prize for his superbly restored very early, 1941 Rotary Hoes Ltd, RotehO. Otherwise known as a Series 1 Gem. This particular G206 machine is the oldest found to date and was 105th machine off the production line. Side by side with my later Series 1, G1384 machine which was 'runner-up' they showed the evolution of early models of this well known rotavator. Here they are, wearing their rosettes!

A BIG Thank you to all who travelled to Newbury for this show! As Gareth said its the 1st year so hopefully it will be repeated and continue to grow........... Here are my pictures.........

Cheers!

Thanks!

I used a couple of pictures found online to send along with the carefully removed old decals for reproduction. Titch @ Machinery Decals has done it again! perfectly recreated decals to adorn both these machines....... Here they are wearing their new clothes! The Mustang's bar decal has proved a little more difficult, however it is being worked on!

Once the paint had hardened I reassembled the machines and sent Titch the details for the decals to be reproduced....... I then hand painted the raised ORLine logo. Here is the Chainsaw and Hedge trimmer all back together with the new paintwork!

Both machines were stripped down, had the old paint removed, a coat of etch primer and the several light coats of colour matched paint applied....... The fuel tank on the hedgetrimmer needed a bit of work!

I have finally got around to restoring the 2 machines that came from Wallfish in a deal we did some time ago....... Both these machines, along with my O&R engine and Paul Mackellow's collection will be displayed at the Autumn Tractor World show in October. Here's a reminder of the 'before' condition, not that bad really, but my OCD dictated that I should restore them with a new coat of paint and some of Titch's fine artwork!

Hey! You Hijacked my video!!! Lol

Here's both the Farmers Boy's side by side...... a before and after....... And a short video of them both running. https://youtu.be/yNyyi6-ngWU

Spent the last week or so stripping down, cleaning, inspecting and reassembling the good bits of the two donor machines into one good working machine. This will be my 1st 'oily rag' restoration. I had already sorted an engine last year, just leaving a gearbox, frame and rotors to sort. Have now gotten this machine back together and fully working. here are just a couple of pictures of the good gearbox and an almost finished machine,

Thanks guys.......

'Titch' at machinery decals has also been hard at work too. He has recreated the decals from photographs I provided, of the remains of decals found on the machine. He has done a fantastic job as usual! Here are the pictures of the fully 'clothed' finished machine..........

It's been a while but I have finally got around to making the new cables for the restored Farmers Boy, the only one I felt was beyond my expertise was the 'governor throttle' cable, this was sourced from George at Villiersparts along with a new throttle lever. The other two I made up for the very first time from parts ordered from 'feked.com' Even made my own 'crucible' pot out of an old wheel brace for melting the lead in. New cables fitted and a correct length belt too!

Good to see you finishing the Gem projects Gareth! Would love another big project but space is my problem and prices for storage are outragious!!!

Its good to see you back in the 'orange' Gareth

Haha, Ian...... Sorry folks its now sold!

Ok, will call you..... just waiting on a couple of email replies

Hi, is that with the grit too??? Im off work friday, will get some quotes for courier.......

Made a start on machine number 2! This one will be left in its working clothes......... as hard as it is for me not to strip it back and paint it!!! I'm determined to have at least one machine I can actually get dirty.......... So, this one has had the engine stripped down, checked for any faults and rebuilt. I have been luckier with this one as the engine is internally very good. Its obviously had some work in the past as its fitted with a +40 piston and rings, the oil was clean and no water!!! I have only had to buy a new carb gasket and a spark plug to have it running, so its been a very cheap overhaul. See, not painted!!!

Hi all, Have decided to sell my shot blast cabinet and the remaining medium and fine grits. I haven't used it for over a year and its just sitting taking up space. It is the same one as is for sale on Ebay and other places. Its in a used but clean, good condition. it has a couple of spare window protecting sheets, it also has some different size nozzles for blasting. I have been running it using my 14cfm compressor with an inline moisture trap(not for sale, nor included) so its been kept very dry. I have about 6kgs of medium grit and over 8kgs of fine crushed glass grit for a more gentle blast to go with it. I'm looking for £50 for it all, collection from Newbury, Berkshire. Any questions, please ask?

Also been doing a little digging into the company which started making these machines. The Raven Engineering Co Ltd were in fact quite a small operation. Running their offices from what would appear to have been a residential property, and the works from a nearby small workshop. Here is a copy of the email I received yesterday...... Dear Darren Thank you for your intriguing query sent in via the website. To be honest, I had never come across Raven Engineering until now. However, I found the following entry in the 1956 Outer London (West Middlesex) Phone Book. These two locations are close to each other at their back entrances (see attached map). As you can see from the attached, the 11 St John's Road premises are residential although I guess Raven were using them as offices (and hence the two phone numbers?). You'll see that a work/live Unit has been squeezed in next door at 11b and there was a very small single story workshop there before, maybe when Raven were there too. 29 High Street (also attached) has had a very varied history: airplane propellers in WW1, parts for cockpit of the Kingston-built Hawker Hurricane in WW2, Celestion Ditton speakers between the two and more recently some of the scenery for the film Alien. But I haven't come across any other Raven Engineering stuff I'm afraid. Best regards Ray Ray Elmittauthor of Hampton Wick: Brick by Brick and other books available now at: http://www.hamptonwickhistory.org.uk/HamptonWickHistory/Publications.html He also sent me some photographs of the relevant buildings and a small map showing the location, plus the phone book entry.

Thanks Triumph66 Well, after having no luck yesterday getting it to run, I sought some advice and tinkered a bit more this afternoon...... and....... You can watch for yourself!!! https://youtu.be/HBl6OJdt_-8