I often get contacts through this website asking for help to identify or trace machines, but a recent request was to find a home for the decidedly derelict remains of two flat tank Douglas machines, located in Australia. This project was clearly not for the faint-hearted but, as the owner and I had agreed, I put an advertisement into the Club’s magazine and waited to see what would happen. To my surprise, five readers contacted me expressing an interest and the remains have now found a new home, still in Australia. The photos give some idea of just how far gone the parts are but (as I know to my cost!), the camera can lie and the reality with old metal parts is often worse than the pictures suggest.
Crated and freighted, these two Douglases have now arrived at their new home and their owner has sent me some first thoughts. The bare frame pictured is a 1924 Model TS, while the machine with petrol tank is believed to be a Model CW from 1925.
This tank caused some head-scratching, until the new owner realised that it was a standard ‘box’ tank, modified at some time in its life by cutting the sides of the tank at the rear, bending the back end down and soldering a new bottom in place. Happily, the original fittings are still present and traces of the original paintwork show the Douglas name.
Clearly, with these projects, their new owner is at the foot of a mountain but I’ve asked him to keep me informed of progress. If there were a ‘back from the dead’ award for restoration work, these two machines from almost a hundred years ago would be strong contenders!
The London Douglas Motor Cycle Club 