Lightweight generating set

80 watt lightweight generating set. This generating set has a brass plate stating “Charging set lightweight 80watts E.C.C. Ltd. 1944”. The end of the engine carries another plate stating “Engine overhauled by 37 Base W/S.R.E.M.E. Date 1 / 56”. There is a canvas cover that fits over the top with a handle that locates on the top bar for carrying. This engine runs well but without a silencer it is quite noisy.

Below are a set of files kindly sent by Kim Siddorn of The Wessex Stationary Club. These give the history and a lot of other information about these charging sets. Click on the images to go to the full size versions.

A Westbury ECC 80 watt Charging Set

By Kim Siddorn

Edgar Westbury, working under contract for Stuart Turners, designed these neat little 80 watt 12 volt units in the early years of the Second World War for battery charging in the armed forces. They were soon in production by Douglas Motors, Enfields, Stuart Turners and EEC - probably Electrical Equipment Co, though some believe it to be Economic Electric Co. They were ground breaking units at the time as it was rare indeed to set out to design a small capacity (35cc) high revving (3,500 RPM) four stroke, side valve, all aluminium engine in an age of heavy, slow revving motors. They gave very little trouble in their day and were especially valued for ease of starting and spikeless power output. The latter is due in no small part to the inclusion of a separate ignition generator unconnected with the main alternator.

The unit is very complete, even to its canvas cover. From the look of it, it has seen virtually no use at all, the badge on the crankcase that says "ECC 1945" (Enfleld Cycle Company) is still in its yellowing varnish over brass. When I tried to get it running after purchase, it had a depressing lack of ignition electrickery. It is very nicely made and the tiny plug hides inside a fully shielded lead that runs in armour plated magnificence back to the black plastic ignition generator cover. It is a pretty major excavation to get at the points as the carrying frame, the carb, the heat shields and the plug lead all needing to be removed before it is possible to take off the generator cover. After that, it was plain sailing. The points are opened by a rising pin a'la Briggs & Stratton and I suspected the pin of being seized or stiff, but it was OK. The points were clagged with storage oil though, but that soon gave way when faced off with 600 grit W&D paper and a blob of spit!

Re-assembly completed and a drop of petrol dribbled onto the air filter element to give the direct lift carb a head start resulted in a splutter - then it picked up and ran. Without a battery attached, the generator puts out 38 volts. Connecting it to a 12 volt battery induces the nominal voltage to rise from 14 to 17 volts, the revs drop perceptibly and it runs more steadily.

The illustrated example is owned by Kim Siddorn of the Wessex Stationary Engine Club, based in north Somerset but with members all over the UK. kim.siddorn@blueyonder.co.uk