History Of Russell Newbery

[alan_fincher]

Can anybody point me at any web reference that details the more recent history of Russell Newbery, please.

 

There is a link that appears on this Russell Newbery Register page to a downloadable PDF file, but unfortunately that gives a "page not found".

 

Also is there any reference that can be used to identify the approximate date and place of manufacture of an engine, based on the serial number.

 

Thanks.

[Mike Tee]

Alan, this link should take you to one of the news letters we recieve. This one has an article on the archives of the company, and sugests that the new owners of the RN Diesel Engine Co may have all that is available (Dave and Deborah Bixter, details on first page). Whether they can help you or not I don't know, but it may be the best place to start.

 

http://rnregister.org.uk/RNRN-76-WebSmall.pdf

[ChimneyChain]

Has this new full lenght ex w/boat that youve got you're eye on got an RN engine in by any chance.

 

Darren

[pete harrison]

Has this new full lenght ex w/boat that youve got you're eye on got an RN engine in by any chance.

 

Darren

There are only 11 former G.U.C.C.Co. Ltd. motor boats currently fitted with R.N. DM2's, and even fewer 'Josher' motors.

[alan_fincher]

There is a link that appears on this Russell Newbery Register page to a downloadable PDF file, but unfortunately that gives a "page not found".

For anybody who is interested the RN Register people have now put back the missing PDF file with a brief history of the company....

 

Linky

There are only 11 former G.U.C.C.Co. Ltd. motor boats currently fitted with R.N. DM2's, and even fewer 'Josher' motors.

 

I presume that includes motors like Dover, even though the RN is only a few years old?

[pete harrison]

I presume that includes motors like Dover, even though the RN is only a few years old?

Yes, Russell Newbery DM2, vintage or modern (several are post 1970 engines).

[Tuscan]

I did not know that, ours is relatively modern around 1960 I believe - guess I should check.

[David Schweizer]

Can anybody point me at any web reference that details the more recent history of Russell Newbery, please.

 

There is a link that appears on this Russell Newbery Register page to a downloadable PDF file, but unfortunately that gives a "page not found".

 

Also is there any reference that can be used to identify the approximate date and place of manufacture of an engine, based on the serial number.

 

Thanks.

 

How recent are you looking for? I assume that you have read the chapter on Russell Newbury engines in Kevin Whitle's book, which covers up to the late1980's.

[alan_fincher]

 

How recent are you looking for? I assume that you have read the chapter on Russell Newbury engines in Kevin Whitle's book, which covers up to the late1980's.

No,

 

Not a book that I have at the moment.

 

Would it be obvious which book - i.e. does he have more than one.

[by'eck]

No,

 

Not a book that I have at the moment.

 

Would it be obvious which book - i.e. does he have more than one.

 

Just had a look and he seems to have three currently available dealing with a range of vintage marine diesels - see here

 

Vintage marine engines for narrow boats

A-Z of vintage marine engines book 1 (A-K)

A-Z of vintage marine engines book 2 (L-Z)

 

Specialist ones for Kelvin as well

[alan_fincher]

 

Just had a look and he seems to have three currently available dealing with a range of vintage marine diesels - see here

 

Vintage marine engines for narrow boats

A-Z of vintage marine engines book 1 (A-K)

A-Z of vintage marine engines book 2 (L-Z)

 

Specialist ones for Kelvin as well

 

Ah!

 

I'm not sure I'm interested enough to go £31 for a single chapter!

[Athy]

The A to Z of Vintage Marine Engines was first published in one hardback volume by Sytch Books in 2001. It was a numbered, signed limited edition of 250 copies and it's pretty damned fine. I assume that the Parts 1 and 2 are a recent reprint. The Engines For Narrow Boats was published a year or two later but I don't have that one so can't comment on it.

[David Schweizer]

The A to Z of Vintage Marine Engines was first published in one hardback volume by Sytch Books in 2001. It was a numbered, signed limited edition of 250 copies and it's pretty damned fine. I assume that the Parts 1 and 2 are a recent reprint. The Engines For Narrow Boats was published a year or two later but I don't have that one so can't comment on it.

 

A second (revised) edition was published in 2002. This is the version i have - Number 289 of 750 , but not signed. You are welcome to borrow it Alan, but thay all depends on when we next meet.

 

Whether the two volumes include any pdates, i do not know, I sopoke to Kevin some years ago and informed him that at least one 36 hp V4 Turner Engineering engine was installed in a Narroewboat (Pisces), albeit after it's working days. He was aware of the engine but not of it's use in a Narrowboat.

Edited October 11, 2013 by David Schweizer

[by'eck]

So would this one on eBay at £42.50 be worth the money as a collectors item?

 

[alan_fincher]

You are welcome to borrow it Alan, but thay all depends on when we next meet.

Well we certainly have not yet ruled out being at the Long Buckby banter, but it depends on a number of things.

 

I know you were not a "certain" for that, but know at one point you were at least down as a "possible"?

By the way it seems that the book as two separate ring bound volumes might be cheaper from the HNBC.

 

I haven't checked, but maybe it is only available to HNBC members at these prices - not sure?

 

Linky

[Athy]

So would this one on eBay at £42.50 be worth the money as a collectors item?

 

Absolutely! About 230 pages, profusely illustrated, a handsome volume and a very good reference work. If it was published now, I'm sure its selling price would be at least that much, probably a bit more.

If you're mechanically inclined it'll have you wanting to get your hands on some of those engines, strip them down and put them back together again. If you're like me, it'll make you want to listen to them running and polish them.

[pete harrison]

I did not know that, ours is relatively modern around 1960 I believe - guess I should check.

R.N. serial number 22E 1395 was new when fitted into ABER in 1986.

 

edit - to add serial number.

Edited October 11, 2013 by pete harrison

[Tuscan]

R.N. serial number 22E 1395 was new when fitted into ABER in 1986.

 

edit - to add serial number.

Thank you

[GBBS]

Thank you

Engine no. 22E 1395 built for wharf side boatfitters supplied to JB woollard on 23/05/85 with an industrial air manifold as opposed to a marine version by request.

[Tuscan]

Thank you , met Mrs Wollard by coincidence at Cosgrove last year quite emotional, she recognised her husbands artwork in the back cabin.

[Mike Tee]

R.N. serial number 22E 1395 was new when fitted into ABER in 1986.

 

edit - to add serial number.

Ours is 22E 1517 and am pretty sure it is circa 1991 - does that mean 122 engines built over 5 years? The original invoice is on the boat, but I'm sure it had a Southampton address on it.

Met Graham Pearson while cruising this summer, so guess I should have asked him!

[by'eck]

Can anybody point me at any web reference that details the more recent history of Russell Newbery, please.

 

There is a link that appears on this Russell Newbery Register page to a downloadable PDF file, but unfortunately that gives a "page not found".

 

Also is there any reference that can be used to identify the approximate date and place of manufacture of an engine, based on the serial number.

 

Thanks.

 

 

Hi Alan, I imagine you have read the RN history on the info sheet you linked to.

 

Having just received a first edition copy of Kevin Whittles A-Z of vintage marine diesels, I can confirm that the RN chapter offers little further history although dates of change of ownership in the 80's and 90's don't seem to concur with those in the info sheet.

 

It does cover a surprising range of models though including the D, E and F series culminating in the 20160cc F6S producing 160 hp at only 1000 rpm and at the other end of the scale the 815cc single cylinder FV1 Husky There was also a single cylinder RD1 much as Gardner produced their 1L2 and 1LW and Lister the 9/1 (JP1), all to slightly different design than their multi-cylinder counterparts especially with regard to oil and injection pumps.

[Athy]

I am unsure that there was ever a Gardner 1LW. Have you any evidence of its existence?

[Timleech]

I am unsure that there was ever a Gardner 1LW. Have you any evidence of its existence?

 

I've certainly never heard of one, though the 1L2 was slightly changed in later years to use more LW components - bearings, con rods and injectors, I think.

It was still very much an L2, though.

 

Tim

[by'eck]

I am unsure that there was ever a Gardner 1LW. Have you any evidence of its existence?

 

 

 

I've certainly never heard of one, though the 1L2 was slightly changed in later years to use more LW components - bearings, con rods and injectors, I think.

It was still very much an L2, though.

 

Tim

 

Absolutely there was an nb sold a couple of years ago by ABNB with a 1LW fitted. Like their single cylinder counterparts from other manufacturers they were often used as research/development engines and supplied to colleges with dynos' fitted. See below the 1LW (ex dyno) on the left and 1L2 on the right

 

 

I think Tim's comments may explain some of the confusion though.

Edited October 15, 2013 by by'eck