Ariel flat tanker at Beamish Steam Fair

[andrewhawkswell]

Saw this today whilst at Beamish Museum's "Great North Steam Fair"

[tony.barnett]

Very nice. Looks late vet/early vintage with the gearbox in the rear wheel and free engine.

[jasonbrown]

Beautiful machine Art in engineering.

[leon.mitchell]

Very nice. 1913-ish

Leon

1913 Ariel

[adrie.degraaff]

I think it had a 1916-18 gearbox when leaving the factory.

[andyhughesflattankarielpre25]

Hi Adrie,why do you think that?

[adrie.degraaff]

In 1913 the tube went close round the beltrim, only with the gearbox model it started widening at the mudguard like this one.
The saddle and carb are 1916 or later, the topframetube is bigger than the saddleclampcasting and the curve is to sharp so it's new, the tank is new (see the oilpump angle).
The magnetoplatform is aluminium instead of iron.

[andrewhawkswell]

The tank is new - the owner said the old one was like a lace curtain

[andyhughesflattankarielpre25]

Well spotted Adrie,I must agree with you, the tank and top tube are as you say and the oiler fitting seems to highon the tank,still it looks nice and at least it is being used, regards to you,Andy.

[leon.mitchell]

The saddle and carb are 1916 or later

Hi Adrie,

Other than the air inlet, the carb looks to me to be a 1914-pattern B&B as announced in September 1913. Lycett saddles of this pattern were available in 1914 also.

I don't get too worried about small details like this, but the frame is a concern. The sharp kink in the top tube made me think it might be an early (1911-ish) straight top tube frame that was modified in the period, but now that you point out the problems at the back...

Cheers

Leon

1914 pattern Brown and Barlow carburettor

Lycett saddle, July 1914

lycett-july-1914.jpg (37.65 KiB) Viewed 4061 times