Albion gearbox BF436 - where used?

[Albion EJ]

Does anybody know where this gearbox (2 gears?) was used?

As it is not equipped with a kickstarter it might be a stationary engine.

Thanks!

[R]

i see BF456  ?

Not that it makes much difference in identifying them by number from the gazillions of types ....

[Albion EJ]

Could be a “5”.

Does BF mean something?

[cardan]

There were many variants of Albion boxes! This is the 2-speed + clutch variant. In the 1931 catalogue for "Albion Midget Gear Boxes" this model (identical?) was referred to as the BJ. I know nothing, but maybe BF was an earlier model, say 1927?? In 1931 the EJ gave 3 speeds + clutch + ks.

Anyway, no reason it couldn't go into a bike from the 1920s, although Australian made stuff (for example, I'm thinking Waratah) tended to offer 2-speed no-clutch for a base model, or fancy 3-speed + clutch + ks. Although by 1927 maybe even the basic 2-speeder needed a clutch.

Also, chain final drive was taking over from belt around 1927.

Leon

[33d6]

Also used on the ultra-ultra cheap 98cc Villiers Midget powered machines brought out in 1931 to keep factories ticking over in the depths of the Great Depression. Excelsior were the first in April 1931 with their 14 guineas (!4 pound & 14 shillings) utility model 0, that's 0 for zero, not the letter O. When your normal range is all numbered models starting at Model 1 for the smallest, a 150cc bike, then how do you number the even smaller new 98cc model you're introducing? It becomes the Model 0.
Within weeks Coventry Eagle, Dot and Sun had also introduced their 98cc Midget powered bikes, all with the same 2-speed no kick starter box. Both Wolf and Gloria (name used by Triumph) followed on shortly afterwards. Reputedly it also sold in Continental Europe but I don't have any information on them.
The various road tests all emphasised how easy they were to start by just pushing off with your feet but very quickly the slightly more expensive kick start version of the same two speed box was offered as an extra.

So, that box could have come out of a number of makes until at least the middle 1930's. Information is sparse on all of them.

Deciphering the Albion gearbox numbering system is another thing altogether and isn't very helpful as you still have to deal with the slightly different versions of the same box which the numbering system doesn't seem to recognise.

[R]

This one has been shown here before
Gosh that gearbox is tiny !



Leon commented then on how shiny it was, and on the curvature of that front guard...