Great War truck Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Does anybody know anything about this Austin twin shaft which was photographed by our friend Adrian up in Lincolnshire. As you can see it has shaft drive, with two shafts running to the rear wheels. Used by the British (mostly Royal Navy), Americans and Russians. Overly complicated and with reliability issues. Still, it looks nice. I know of one owned by a Paul Englemann and have seen photographs of an unrestored chassis. I have also seen an advert at Beaulieu some years ago looking for bits of one. Anybody know the story behind this one? Anybody who says it is currently owned by TG Pine will get a slap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter75 Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 There was a Austin chassis at a small museum to the east of Coningsby about 10 years ago which was sold to an engineer to be rebuilt. I think he is 5 to 10 miles north of Boston near the A16. peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 There was a Austin chassis at a small museum to the east of Coningsby about 10 years ago which was sold to an engineer to be rebuilt. I think he is 5 to 10 miles north of Boston near the A16.peter Tim, I know you wrote this on your opening post "Anybody who says it is currently owned by TG Pine will get a slap" BUT, there is a motor engineer at Stickney, just north of Boston with that very name .... and this might tie up with Peter75's post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted October 13, 2014 Author Share Posted October 13, 2014 I am sure you are right. It must be the same person as his advertising indicates that he undertakes commercial vehicle repairs and that is only a few miles away from where it was photographed. Anyway, pleased to see it has been restored. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter75 Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 If it is the same truck which i think it is. The last time i saw it, it was a chassis and axles that had been used as a trailer although the rear axle was complete. I would like to see what was under the bonnet. Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8_10 Brass Cleaner Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 If it is the same truck which i think it is. The last time i saw it, it was a chassis and axles that had been used as a trailer although the rear axle was complete.I would like to see what was under the bonnet. Peter Father had a partial chassis many years ago, I'll have to ask him where it went. I also recall reading about a gearbox that survived but was missing its lid and was consequwently pretty rusty. I do not recall where I read it however A very interesting vehicle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nz2 Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 Also a restored one in NZ and another as a farm trailer. Some parts for the restored one came from Scotland. Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8_10 Brass Cleaner Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 Father had a partial chassis many years ago, I'll have to ask him where it went. I also recall reading about a gearbox that survived but was missing its lid and was consequwently pretty rusty. I do not recall where I read it however A very interesting vehicle. Father reports the chassis he had went to a forum member. He also reminded me where I had read of the gearbox, in Old Motor!. There was a report of three chassis, and at least one gearbox and one engine. Obviously quite some time ago! Perhaps this is the result? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Peskett Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 Quite a jig-saw of parts. I actually bought all of these various chassis frames and parts back in the 1970s. The first and most complete came from a farm at Four Marks , Hants missing engine and radiator, another chassis (early type) came from Bordon,. Hants. Another gearbox ( the one mentioned in Old Motor ) came from Kent, other various chassis frames ,wheels etc. turned up. The stumbling block was no engine until one turned up in a Leeds scrapyard which I eventually bought. Other than a radiator there was now a complete set of parts. I sold this in the early 1990s to a friend in Essex who has subsequently restored the vehicle and still owns it . That is the only complete one with all correct engine etc. , I believe he supplied some of the parts for the NZ one which I think has a later Austin engine fitted. The one featured in this thread, I was told has a Sherpa engine ? I stand to be corrected on this. Also of interest I recently acquired a copy of a brochure issued by Austins, possibly in 1918, of one fitted with a forward mounted radiator ( not to be confused with the chassis produced soon after of more conventional design). Austin also retained one of the twin shaft lorries which made a public appearance at the launch of the new truck range in the late 1930s, sadly no doubt it was later broken up during WW2. Richard Peskett. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 I seem to think the twin-shaft chassis was used for armoured cars in Russia and there may be one in preservation over there. Which makes you wonder if any parts have survived as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeePig Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Really? That reminds me of an armoured car I saw outside a museum here in Poland - and this dumbass forgot to take any pictures... :nut: trevor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charawacky Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Sherpa engine or not, good to see this machine out and about. I guess the engine will be the least interesting part of this particular design of vehicle anyway. Hope to see it sometime in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8_10 Brass Cleaner Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 Sherpa engine or not, good to see this machine out and about. I guess the engine will be the least interesting part of this particular design of vehicle anyway. Hope to see it sometime in the future. Agreed, a very interesting machine indeed. I wonder if the engines in the 20's Austin tractors were based on the unit originally in these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Peskett Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 Herewith illustrations of the Austin 'twin shaft' engine, somewhat antiquated insofar as it had individual 'T' head cylinders, dry sump with external oil tank etc. With the radiator at the back the fan was driven from the rear end of one of the two camshafts. The other illustration shows the radiator, controls and gearbox. Early models had dual ignition with coil and magneto with distributor., later magneto only as illustrated but the other picture shows the coil upper right on dash panel. An 'Autovac' is fitted as the tank was under slung at the rear of the chassis.Early models I believe had a pressure system fitted and easily identified by the large circular disc to centre of front wheels. I only ever had one of these chassis. The Automobile Engineer for November 1917 has much more info. on these very interesting vehicles. Richard Peskett. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Peskett Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 Further to previous , herewith the illustration of what then was probably the sole surviving 'twin shaft' in running order. Austin's Longbridge works, November 1938. Richard Peskett. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old truck Posted August 9, 2017 Share Posted August 9, 2017 This one followed me home the other day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Bill Posted August 10, 2017 Share Posted August 10, 2017 That is most interesting. In which part of the world did you see it? The hunt is now on for engine and gearbox. We will all keep our eyes open! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redherring Posted August 10, 2017 Share Posted August 10, 2017 Wow... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flandersflyer Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 (edited) Tim,I know you wrote this on your opening post "Anybody who says it is currently owned by TG Pine will get a slap" BUT, there is a motor engineer at Stickney, just north of Boston with that very name .... and this might tie up with Peter75's post. Who's that then... Mr Tongue & Groove...? Edited August 11, 2017 by flandersflyer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8_10 Brass Cleaner Posted April 23, 2018 Share Posted April 23, 2018 I found these two videos on Youtube the other day. No of this Twin Shaft, but the other more correct one And an interesting video of the engine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citroman Posted April 23, 2018 Share Posted April 23, 2018 The engine seems less noisy than the complete truck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8_10 Brass Cleaner Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 Just had an interesting conversation with a old gent. He had a T head, aluminium crankcase, 4 cylinder Austin engine, which had been made into a stationary engine. Apparently never fitted to a vehicle but supplied by Austins as a stationary engine to a furniture maker in Balsall Common. The dimentions he indicated to me may be about the right size for a twinshaft engine and he seemed to think it matched the photos on this thread. Anyone heard of this as a fate for surplus Austin lorry engines?. This one is still about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 I suspect 5 main bearings were quite a novelty on a 4 cylinder engine back then?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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