Unknown engine

Are any of you folks familiar enough with this engine to enlighten the rest of us a bit on its origins, uses, etc.? I just received an email from a close friend who asked me about it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3169682117&category=2594

Thanks.

Other than the fact that is is a Sabre .49, one of the earlier engines built by Gordon Burford in Australia, I can't be much help. There are definitely people here in Oz that will be able to. Names like David Owen and Maris dislers spring immediately to mind. What do you really want to know about this engine?

I have had a (very swift) comment from Maris Dislers, who has had a look at the photos. He says:

`If it is Serial No. 653 (?) then it is a typical "branded" engine. From the authenticity point of view, the prop washer with all those bumps and NVA are not kosher. The engine dates from around 1952-54. '

I Hope that is some help. By `Branded' engine Maris means that it was one of the standard production run motors and not a prototype. I believe that Gordon typically made a few pre-production sample engines without a name on the case before modifying the dies so that the engine was identified with a brand name.

Charlie,

I am unfamiliar with the brand. That is the reason for the question. Was the displacement .49 or .049, or did the 49 marking refer to something else entirely? How long was the engine produced? Was it well suited for a specific task? Et cetera, et cetera.......

Thanks for what you've already provided.

The engine was a .49 cubic inch capacity (about 8 cc). As far as I know, they were just a general purpose engine. I never owned or operated one and the only guy that I know for sure that did was West Aussie Len Armour (Now Deceased) who used it in his early `Lasher' stunters. I can remember him telling me that it ran cold and he used to bind string into the fins to make it run hotter (true). What it's power was like I can't say, but I imagine that it was low by modern standards.

LAST EDITED ON Jan-29-04 AT 06:40 AM (CDT)
 
moving to correct location

LAST EDITED ON Jan-28-04 AT 09:50 PM (CDT)
 
Mike, your reply should be on another thread, started by Tony Elmore, about the engine you bought (and got at a bargain price, I think!). The engine referred to in this thread is indeed a Gordon Burford made Sabre .49 from Aussie. Don't confuse OS, he has "mysterious connections" everywhere, and will "reach out", if need be. Or at least, that's what he tells me, when I get rough on him. Steve

Edit: You can click the "edit" button and remove most the post, at least, and should be able to copy and paste the whole post and picture url, so it won't have to be downloaded a second time. I'm glad to find out what that Russian engine is!