WHO WOULD BELIEVE IT?!

What's wrong with this picture?

Well, I suppose 'Wingco' would object to this pilot's bad kit and his kite could do with a bit of spit and polish, but, no, it's the weather!

Generally at this time of year, those of us North of the 49th have long since confined our cars to the garage for the long and bitter winter.

This picture was taken on DECEMBER 25th...YES! CHRISTMAS DAY! Amazing!

And it really was an amazing Christmas present because next day we were indeed visited by the white stuff in abundance...although NOT as bad as poor Denver!

Photo courtesy Andrea Bottomley

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ALLOY DRUM PROTOTYPE INSTALLED!

Well, it's been a bit of a gap since our last post, it's summer after all and we've been enjoying a bit of a vacation, but we're back now and happy to post or next update...

Fresh back from a visit to Prince Edward County, we returned with the first set of alloy brake drums produced by Len Pearcey. They look superb, as can be seen by this photo. Some minor machining is being done to make them fit the very early backplate style, but this is minor.

Next step will be to install some shoes then test the fit and free-running. A second set machined for the later style backplate is already finished and will be sent off shortly to a Mike Rambour in California for his 1934 Singer Le Mans restoration.

Photo courtesy Phillip Avis

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A real 'Boy Racer' Project...

There were a number of 'go-faster' goodies available for sports cars in the 1930's just as there are today for the 'Fast & Furious' generation driving slammed Japocars.

These included Brooklands Aeroscreens; Blumels spring steering wheels; leather bonnet straps; twin spare wheels; headlamp stone guards; Bonora 'racing filler caps'; alloy valve covers; finned alloy sumps and, of course, finned alloy brakes drums.

Today, many of these bits and pieces are still available from a number of sources, such as Paul Beck, Gregory's Autoparts and Holdens and many are suitable for the '30's Singer sports cars...with one expection: The alloy brake drums.

I thought it was high time we corrected that situation as I wanted a set for my '33 Sports 4 seater. Now, thanks to the pattern making skills of Len Pearcey, we are casting a set featuring a keyed cast iron liner with a finned alloy shell. They'll look very much like the one in this photo, which were made up for a Singer 4AD Roadster fitted with wire wheels...very tasty!

Additional sets can be made up and the flange design means we can produce them for any type of Singer Nine produced between late 1932 to late 1935. Either straight frame or over-slung double-drop frame type cars. Either with back plates that wrap around the edge of the drum or the type where the drum wraps over the edge of the backplate. "Bantam based" underslung frame sports cars have a different size drum and we may look into that at a later date.

Prices are aimed at @$1,700.00USD/set of 4, which is a bargain for such a bespoke item.

Photo courtesy Paul Bouchard

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HITTING THE ROAD...

This is a new blog produced as part of my responsibilities as Pre-War Registrar for The North American Singer Owners Club. It is an on-line supplement to NASOC NEWS, our club magazine, which I also edit.

I bought my first Singer, a 1950 4A Roadster, at the age of 14 and, at the age of 17, imported my first Pre-War Singer, a 1933 Nine Sports 4 seater. I still have that car, as well as a 1936 Nine Le Mans Special Speed 2 seater.

My love affair with the Singer Marque now spans over 30 years and hasn’t dimmed. I’m happy to help anyone else who shares this passion with information, advice, parts or even just tea & sympathy.

Stay tuned for more!

Phillip Avis,

Editor & Pre-War Registrar, NASOC

Photo courtesy Paul Bouchard

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