Bamford EG1

Hello everyone, I'm having a proper clear-out of my garage to allow space for a new project. To that end, I'm offering my Bamford EG1 for your appreciation and purchase

109F561A-797A-4EFA-9622-83FFFDA60BCE_1_105_c by d1ck_browne, on Flickr

This, is a 1946 (I believe, it may be earlier) Bamford EG1 1.5hp stationary engine. It comes complete with a transport trolley on ancient iron wheels, which is itself worth about the asking price for the engine complete.

I bought it for a small number of reasons:

1. Because I could - I'm a bloke, so who needs any better reason?
2. To run a small table saw for chopping firewood - because preparing for winter should be a high-adrenaline/lose your fingers kind of activity
3. To annoy the neighbours whilst undertaking the above activity - this is actually completely untrue, I get on really well with my neighbours and they admire my eccentricities, I'm sure
4. As a small restoration project during lockdown

When I collected it, it would sometimes run, but only intermittently, and it wouldn't run for long. It also leaked petrol like the Exxon Valdez, if the Exxon Valdez had already processed the crude oil she spilt into the sea, and only the petroleum distillate had escaped, but I digress.

A period of head-scratching and fettling ensued. I bought a new carburettor as the old one was quite worn, but that didn't improve things, and in fact the new one was a worse leaker than the original, so I swapped a few parts over and re-installed the original.

I remembered that my first car (a Mk1 Escort Mexico which I bought for £375! If only I'd known then, etc) was a really rough runner because air was leaking into the fuel system, so I tackled those petrol leaks - everything from a new copper petrol feed pipe, to sealing some joints with 3-bond and re-brazing the filler cap thread into the petrol tank.

With all of the leaks sealed... No change.

So, checked the magneto continuity, stripped and cleaned the points and all sorts. Still no dice.

Changing the spark plug helped though!!!!! Why didn't I do that first? Ah well, at least I know that the rest of the system is good...

It now starts easily, usually first time, and will sit and happily puffing away by your side, like an ageing labrador - loyal, friendly, always commented upon by strangers and occasionally emitting a strange odour. The sound is hypnotic, it's the sound of country fairs and one of life's truly pleasurable delights.

The appearance is suitably industrial, agricultural and ancient - it's in decent condition with a Bamford's logo on the side and its identity plate intact.

Untitled by d1ck_browne, on Flickr

The firewood chopping never really took off, sadly, because I needed to buy a new table saw for a construction project, and a combination of that, my mitre saw with sacrifical blade and a chainsaw take care of all my arobreal immolation requirements in a far more efficient (although less pleasing) manner. The small vintage table saw I bought from a farmer who had stored it unused in a barn for over 40 years could also be a part of the deal, should you wish to injure yourself in creative ways.

Anyhoo, new projects beckon and space is required in the garage, so this, my vintage lawnmower and, probably, a couple of bicycles need to make way for a new garage occupant.

This one could be yours for just £200 - I'd be willing to chuck that table saw into the mix, and talk about the price, should that be needed.

It's fair to say that the Post Office are unlikely to deliver this one, it's quite hefty. It will fit in the back of a decent estate car, 4x4 or van, but it's collection only I'm afraid - I'm in Newport Pagnell, so that's got to be reason to get out of bed early in the morning for a road trip. For either of us, to be honest. It's quite a destination - from our back garden you can see where Cromwell camped during the civil war (although I have no idea what he sang... Get it? No? I don't know why I bother). Visit the Aston Martin factory, drive over the oldest iron bridge in the world still open to vehicular traffic and then turn around and look at Aston Martin again, because that's about it on the attraction front. Seriously, Dr. Johnson was stopped from declaring that when a man is bored of Newport Pagnell, he is bored of life because the council feared the impact that may have on local suicide rates.

And the kettle will be on. You may even, as one visitor did this week, have a bowl of my wife's delicious home-made onion soup thrust toward you, expectantly.

As ever, any questions, please do ask

Richard