Identify this tank please

[JFerg]

This is close to the last item from a deceased estate I am clearing.  It's a lovely tank, but what's it from?  Nicely made, with the bottom edges rounded to roll under, it looks European; but the threads are all Imperial, so I guess it's British.  It has (or had) a hand auxiliary pump.  That makes it a very early saddle tank, 1925 or 1926.  Best suggestion I've had is OEC, and it could be; but all I can find on OEC is either later or so focussed on duplex steering that the tank gets neither mention nor photo.  Mountings are 9" x 5 1/14".

[murdo]

Doesn't look like any pictures I have of an OEC. Would it have been made in Aus during the twenties by one of our local manufacturing companies?

[cardan]

That makes it a very early saddle tank, 1925 or 1926.

Hi JFerg,

I think you've got it exactly right, although I wouldn't rule out 1924. Chater Lea had a similar tank in 1924-25, but I'm not sure whether or not it had an oil tank. In fact there was a gaggle of machines with similar tanks, mostly fitted with ohv Blackburne motors: OEC-Blackburne, Rex Acme, (British) Excelsior and so on.

A side-on silhouette photo might help get the shape right.

Cheers

Leon

[chaterlea25]

Hi All
Leon,
That is the same Chater Lea model I have, but the tank is not like JFerg's
I have a lot of Chater Lea pictures and catalogs but none have an inbuilt oil tank except the 23/24 wedge tank
I posted a similar reply on the facebook post about the same tank

John

[JFerg]

a couple more pictures.