Absolutely Wonderful. Everything on view as it was in the 60s and 70s before Nanny and health and safety stuck their unwelcome noses in. I used to go to travelling fairs JUST to see, hear and smell the generators and also to watch the ride controllers use completely open switch gear with knife switches and stepped resistance speed control. The 110v DC arcs from the knife switch when inching a ride for loading utterly transfixed me. OH for a camcorder in those far off days. Some of the ones i remember from the early 70s still used valve amplifiers and auto change record decks hung on springs to absorb the vibration of the ride. VERY happy days. Great post.
Pleased you enjoyed it, yes those were the days, it was a happy day the afternoon I took that film, the engines started early, to catch customers and we shot off to Greece the next day on holiday. Sadly Gardners are being phased out as genni engines. Thanks.
+Alan Cordwell Hi, Agree, I have a 2LW in a boat, moored alongside some other boats with nice vintage engines - a Kelvin, a National, a Dorman, Lister JP and a Ruston........and a couple of BMC's. The Gardner always sounds the sweetest and starts easily. Mike
Absolutely Wonderful. Everything on view as it was in the 60s and 70s before Nanny and health and safety stuck their unwelcome noses in. I used to go to travelling fairs JUST to see, hear and smell the generators and also to watch the ride controllers use completely open switch gear with knife switches and stepped resistance speed control. The 110v DC arcs from the knife switch when inching a ride for loading utterly transfixed me. OH for a camcorder in those far off days. Some of the ones i remember from the early 70s still used valve amplifiers and auto change record decks hung on springs to absorb the vibration of the ride. VERY happy days. Great post.
Pleased you enjoyed it, yes those were the days, it was a happy day the afternoon I took that film, the engines started early, to catch customers and we shot off to Greece the next day on holiday. Sadly Gardners are being phased out as genni engines. Thanks.
You can't beat that Gardner sound, it's a shame that these old gennies are disappearing so rapidly. Thanks for sharing! :)
+Alan Cordwell
Hi,
Agree, I have a 2LW in a boat, moored alongside some other boats with nice vintage engines - a Kelvin, a National, a Dorman, Lister JP and a Ruston........and a couple of BMC's. The Gardner always sounds the sweetest and starts easily.
Mike
I remember them very well too, oil drums at the drivers cab end, can anyone tell me why they needed 2 Gardiners for a dodgem set?