Swan Generating Set

[wheeledhorseman 19]

Here we have a ‘Swan’ generator set that I got about fifteen years ago. The guy that sold it to me said it was military and certainly a number of features pointed to that being true i.e. the bronze green paint, the connection terminals were the same as used on military lighting sets, and perhaps most compelling, the fact that the spec included brass drain off cocks for the sump and gas tank (after all who else would specify costly additions like that?)

 

On the other hand there was not one piece of hard evidence in the form of a tag to confirm it as military and all attempts to identify it as military or otherwise failed at that time.

 

 

I last ran it perhaps eight years ago and it’s been gathering dust on the workshop shelf ever since. In fact I wouldn’t have given it a thought were it not for seeing a photo posted on the forum by Steve D where in the background was a gen set looking very much like mine as far as I could see. It spurred me on to research again and since I last tried a couple of sites had popped up with the answers.

 

Turns out it is military and is a bit of Cold War memorabilia. These were built by two different companies for the Royal Observer Corps who manned posts which included an underground bunker. Their main role was to report nuclear bomb bursts and monitor background radiation from installations like this:

 

 

Lighting in the little underground bunker was provided by batteries like these.

 

 

If I’m not mistaken those are NiFe cells with a pd of 1.2 volts, hence the crate of five cells represents a 6 volt battery. Two of these provided the 12 volts for the lighting and the need for a 12 volt charging system. The batteries remained in the bunker and were charged from the surface outside.

 

 

The gen sets were made either by A C Morrison (Engineers) Ltd of Southampton or Engine Applications Ltd of Banbury. Documents refer to the engine as Villiers but it is in reality a JAP (Villiers having absorbed JAP in 1959). It drives a three phase permanent magnet alternator rated at 300 watts and the case contains full wave rectifier diodes to produce the DC output.

 

So there you have it – if you see one at a show you’ll know what it was for. The name ‘Swan’ for the Banbury produced version came from their address in Swan Close Road. The company was founded in 1959, became RTD Swan in 1973, and Swan Generators in 1986. They still make generating sets at Banbury today but nothing this small, their range is 20kVA to 2200kVA.

 

Some photos are from these sites

 

http://therocproject.webs.com/  and

 

http://www.subbrit.org.uk/cgi-bin/webdata_roc.pl?fid=988265546&query=Post%2BName%3Dturton%26OS%2BGridRef%3D%26County%3D%26Date%2Bopened%3D%26Date%2Bclosed%3D%26Location%3D%26Description%3D%26Surface%2BStructures%3D%26Date%2Bof%2Bvisit%3D%26Future%2Bactions%3D%26pagenum%3D1%26cgifunction%3DSearch&cgifunction=form

 

where you can find out more if interested.

 

Andy

 

[meadowfield 1,900]

Good bit of research Andy, think you missed your vocation in life....

[pmackellow 2,738]

Great bit of information Andy, one more item to learn about, thanks for putting it on here

[Ian 2,417]

You certainly have the knack of finding information Andy...   It's nice to know a bit of history about our machines..

[mattblack 76]

Sorry to drag this thread back from the dead but I've just got back from picking one of these up. I was only supposed to be picking up the Allam Minigen that I won on ebay but the guy said 'are you interested in this...?' 

 

Well, you know how it goes...

[expeatfarmer 591]

I have one very similar that somebody gave me about 20 years ago, if anybody would like it they are very welcome to come and collect it.

[expeatfarmer 591]

This is the genset I have it has a JAP engine, I have never tried to start it but it turns over freely. The tube on the left of the first picture is for storing the starter cord which is missing,

[expeatfarmer 591]

Free to a good home if anyone wants to collect it from Cumbria.

[G0UOK 1]

Is this still available expeatfarmer?  We are renovating an ROC bunker and thsi would be great back in its original surroundings!!

 

[expeatfarmer 591]

Yes still available you are welcome to it. Hope you will post some pictures of your bunker.

[G0UOK 1]

Thanks and no problem, i've attached some pictures below from the last open day

[G0UOK 1]

On 1/25/2014 at 7:14 PM, wheeledhorseman said:

Here we have a ‘Swan’ generator set that I got about fifteen years ago. The guy that sold it to me said it was military and certainly a number of features pointed to that being true i.e. the bronze green paint, the connection terminals were the same as used on military lighting sets, and perhaps most compelling, the fact that the spec included brass drain off cocks for the sump and gas tank (after all who else would specify costly additions like that?)

 

On the other hand there was not one piece of hard evidence in the form of a tag to confirm it as military and all attempts to identify it as military or otherwise failed at that time.

 

 

I last ran it perhaps eight years ago and it’s been gathering dust on the workshop shelf ever since. In fact I wouldn’t have given it a thought were it not for seeing a photo posted on the forum by Steve D where in the background was a gen set looking very much like mine as far as I could see. It spurred me on to research again and since I last tried a couple of sites had popped up with the answers.

 

Turns out it is military and is a bit of Cold War memorabilia. These were built by two different companies for the Royal Observer Corps who manned posts which included an underground bunker. Their main role was to report nuclear bomb bursts and monitor background radiation from installations like this:

 

 

Lighting in the little underground bunker was provided by batteries like these.

 

 

If I’m not mistaken those are NiFe cells with a pd of 1.2 volts, hence the crate of five cells represents a 6 volt battery. Two of these provided the 12 volts for the lighting and the need for a 12 volt charging system. The batteries remained in the bunker and were charged from the surface outside.

 

 

The gen sets were made either by A C Morrison (Engineers) Ltd of Southampton or Engine Applications Ltd of Banbury. Documents refer to the engine as Villiers but it is in reality a JAP (Villiers having absorbed JAP in 1959). It drives a three phase permanent magnet alternator rated at 300 watts and the case contains full wave rectifier diodes to produce the DC output.

 

So there you have it – if you see one at a show you’ll know what it was for. The name ‘Swan’ for the Banbury produced version came from their address in Swan Close Road. The company was founded in 1959, became RTD Swan in 1973, and Swan Generators in 1986. They still make generating sets at Banbury today but nothing this small, their range is 20kVA to 2200kVA.

 

Some photos are from these sites

 

http://therocproject.webs.com/  and

 

http://www.subbrit.org.uk/cgi-bin/webdata_roc.pl?fid=988265546&query=Post%2BName%3Dturton%26OS%2BGridRef%3D%26County%3D%26Date%2Bopened%3D%26Date%2Bclosed%3D%26Location%3D%26Description%3D%26Surface%2BStructures%3D%26Date%2Bof%2Bvisit%3D%26Future%2Bactions%3D%26pagenum%3D1%26cgifunction%3DSearch&cgifunction=form

 

where you can find out more if interested.

 

Andy

 

That post cant have been a master post.  I'm currently helping out a little with a local master post which has been renovated and the charging lead from the swan generator plugs into a socket behind the black cap on the air shaft.  It also contains an rf connector and a pneumatic connector for the antenna mast.

 

The power from the generator then goes to a two way switch (on the far wall) which allows you to have one battery in use whilst the other one charges.

 

 

[expeatfarmer 591]

I have a set of four wooden cases that are the carriers for the glass cell accumulator batteries sadly the accumulators are long gone.

[mattblack 76]

Great to see the post restored, brilliant job! 

 

I got mine running after cleaning and setting the points and cleaning the carb out. A short video here: Swan Charging Set - YouTube

 

There was a mention of these sets in a recent issue of 'Stationary Engine' magazine, it seemed to suggest that they dated from WW2 which is clearly not the case. But were they used by any other branches of the military?

[Lewis 0]

Hi,

 

I was pleased to come across this thread as I have just pulled one of these out of my Dad’s shed.

Unfortunately the spark plug is out and it has seized, so it will be a bit of work but I’d love to get it running. 
I notice these engines Norton Villiers D07 were also fitted to Ransomes 16 lawnmowers which has shed a bit more light. 
If anyone can help I have 2 main questions. 
1. What is the correct plug. 
2. Why can’t I find any reference to the carburettor. It seems pretty clearly stamped “10112.A” but google is giving me nothing and it looks quite different to the carbs on any other Villiers D07 I can find a picture of. 

Thanks for any info. 

 

[Lewis 0]

[mattblack 76]

Hello and welcome!

 

I wonder if your set could be a later model as the engine is badged 'Norton Villiers'? The lighter green paint looks original, I wonder if they made a civilian model? The carbs listed for the Villiers 507H are Villiers S.10/2 or B.10/1. The plug comes up as NGK B6HS or equivalent.

 

 

Edited October 21 by mattblack

[Lewis 0]

That is great. Thanks very much for the info. Very helpful. 
 

I have now found the recoil starter in a drawer as well, minus the spacers, so a bit more of it to put back together. 
 

Thanks again.