Ballarat Bulldog

[Patrick M Livingstone]

Does anyone know much about these engines? They made around 600 engines but not all have the curved spokes.

[Eric Schulz]

As nobody else is commenting, I will put in my 2¢ worth.

William Osborne’s Ballarat Engineering Works or Bulldog Engineering Co P/L, seem to have built these Waterloo Boy-style engines from 1920.

Flywheels had 5 wavey or 6 straight spokes. Most engines had a water hopper cover with a round hole. The one photographed is rare.

Ignition was usually by a rotary magneto driven off a short sideshaft, but some used a trip type.

I would be interested to know what the production quantity of 600 engines is based on. Are there engine numbers at high as that? The ones I have noted (and I haven’t seen them all) are below 100.

It should be pointed out that the carburettor on the above engine is from a much later Moffat-Virtue engine. Originals are not easy to find.

Eric

[wegotallama]

Just my novice opinion....It is a beauty. Maybe I just haven't seen enough engines, but I don't remember seeing the wavy spokes on the flywheels. Waterloo Boy? Guess I have lots to learn

[Wayne Timms]

Hi Eric,

Strange you should mention the engine numbers, I was speaking to someone at Lake Goldsmith and they asked me how many were built. I said probably less than a 100, as I haven't seen a three digit engine number.

Hi wegotallama,

Your right, the Waterloo Boys don't have wriggly spokes. I have seen a 6hp Bulldog, with straight spokes.

Regards,
Wayne

www.bluefuel-whitesmoke.com

[cobbadog]

One of these Ballarat Bulldogs was on display in early July this year at Timbertown (Wauhope). It belonged to a very knowledgable bloke from the Northern beaches area of Sydney. His one when we saw it had a very highly polished surfaces on the outside edge of the flywheels. He said he started holding emery paper then finer and finer wet n dry papers against the flywheels as they turned, hence a very very shiny surface. Either way, they certainly are a lovely engine.

[cobbadog]

Well speak of the devil. The engine I saw at Timbertown is on page 17 of the latest TOMM along with its owners name. I know that this guy really knew his engine and all the statistics about them in general. The only thing on his engine (from memory) that is NOT original is the flat belt drive pulley, but as he said "it had curved spokes that matched the flywheels so on it went". Owners name is Trevor from Syney's northern beaches.
Cheers John.

[Patrick M Livingstone]

Thanks for the info Eric 7 Wayne,the 600 figure was given to me by the owner of the pictured engine.
They seem to be quite a rare beast.