The Meadows engine

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I've been trying to find some information regarding this particular engine which I understand was built thru the 1920's up until 1969. I have tried a Google but this has'nt provided info on the early engines (1920's)I am interested to know in particular when they started to use the OHV arrangement or if they used it from the outset of production. Thanks for any info.

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Meadows made many types of engine for different suppliers. The two sought after are the 4.5litre in Lagonda's & Invicta's, and the 1.5litre 4ED variant.
My brother is in the process of getting a 4ED built up for this Frazer Nash, his Anzani block died. 4ED's were also used in (vintage) Lea Francis. www.lfoc.org/ Earlier Leaf's used the 4EC which has less bearings I think. Variants of these Meadows engines were also used in boats and tanks.

I believe the 4ED is a OHV and the 4EC was similar. I have the LeaF book at home and I hear that Barrie Price is helpful.

I saw that the Bayliss on Prewarcar.com had a Meadow's engine. There were a few nice LeaF's at M. Elder's VSCC Westcott the other week, he also has one for sale, which at least shows the engine. www.vintageandclassiccars.co.uk/28leaf.jpg

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When you mentioned Bayliss Thomas - I though it was the one at Pioneer, it is, but they list it as sold.

www.pioneer-automobiles.co.uk/Resources/library/bayliss.html

How did you get on with it?

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Hi David, many thanks for the info. I had a look at the Bayliss yesterday, a lovely very original car with all the original fittings too! Super brown leather interior and brass work She started up and ran beautifully, but was unable to take her out of the garage thru lack of T@T. I thought I had found the car until Bro' spotted that the rear off side tyre was or had been rubbingb on the inside of the wheel arch metal work. Also the rear springs needed work. The other side of the rear of the car was as you would expect, a good clearance of tyre to inner guard. I can only suspect that the body is out of line or the chassis has a major fault. So sadly I have had to reject this car as a possible purchase. The owner was'nt prepared to put an MOT on it either so that sealed it for me. This is the second car we have looked out recently with the same apparent fault, scary.

As for the green Baylis, it is for sale privately by the look of it and I have emailed the seller for more info before I view. It is the same car Pioneer had a couple of years back. It looks and sounds promising and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it may be a goodun.

I'm off now to have a look at the links you have kindly posted for me.

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Continuing on, I had a look at the Bayliss Thomas (the green one) yesterday. The carb flooded when we tried to start her up, when the old girl did start she was misfiring, popping / backfiring and was general poor health engine wise. Managed to get her out the drive and went about 50 yards before it conked out

I helped push the beastie back to the owners house. He assured me that the car ran fine the other day and could'nt make out what had gone wrong. Most likely needs a good service with new points/plugs and wot not.

The other wierd thing I noted was the lack of a radiator fan?? The crankshaft pulley was where it should be but no upper shaft or pulley?? It runs on the thermo syphon principle but I fail to see how thiis cannot overheat without a fan? Looking at the LF at M.Elder's web site also looks like it has'nt got a radiator fan??

Any thoughts please.

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Any thoughts please.

Sarah's Chummey ran fine on Thursday when we washed it, to get rid of the Westcott mud. Yesterday, when we wanted to take it to the local New Year's Day VSCC meet, it started but ran badly and stopped and didn't want to re start. Lots of use of the choke meant the carb was flooded. I guess the magneto has got a bit damp, should have brought it in doors. We went in the Speed 20 instead.

The LeaF J type (with a Meadows 4EC) that Pioneer had recently sold turned up to the meet. Looked very sweet, although a RR 20hp Park Ward Doctors Coupe would have got my vote, lovely condition.

My Alvis (12/50) doesn't have a radiator fan, or water pump. In the 20's these were sometimes only fitted to the colonial models. These days if people do a lot of town miles they fit a kenlowe for use in traffic jams.

Got the Alvis back together last week - just need an MOT now.

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Sounds like you had an enjoyable day at the trials. I have overcome my nerves on wether to purchase the Bayliss and have done the deed Sould be picking it up next week sometime and Bro' has said that he will have a tinker with the carb. He reckons it could well be the problem lurking in there.Its fitted with the bronze Zenith carb' same as on my Austin, altho maybe different model.

Can't wait to get back into an open top.

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Big day tomorrow as I pick up my Bayliss Thomas to bring home, albiet on back of a trailor. I've looked up the Kenlowe radiator fans and this looks like it will solve any overheating problems the cars bound to suffer, like Q's at shows. It seems that they only provide for 12v electrics tho and as my car runs on the 6v system I will need to see if a kenlowe can be converted. Wonder if this in itself may not be possible. Also would like to have the car re-sprayed back to its original colours of unpainted bonnet and a sort of eggshell grey with black mudguards and fenders. Lucky enough that the original colour is seen in the door shuts. Just need to save up now for the work, next year job maybe!

If you should happen to come across anything to do with the marque a heads up would be appreciated, information seems very scarce indeed as do spares.