GREY WITCH
Given the budget & a free hand the old masters could create something pretty special, Grey Witch from the T M Lane yard must have turned a few heads + 24 knots. Would have look amazing at that speed.
photo ex ‘Sir George Grey Special Collections (Auckland Libraries)
Update ex Harold Kidd
This image is reversed. T M Lane & Sons built her for C.A. Whitney of the Colonial Ammunition Co in December 1905. CAC had done rather well out of supplying .303 ammunition for the Boer War. She was originally fitted with a single 50hp (rated) Monarch engine but that was replaced by twin Antoinette aircraft-type V8s of 55hp each in late 1907. They were English-made by Adams & Co and were set up in line to drive in tandem, the forward one being de-clutched for economy running.
In the image, Whitney is taking the current Governor-General Lord Plunket for a blast around the Waitemata. She caught fire in her shed at Ngapipi Road in December 1916 and was completely destroyed.
Update #2
She did 17 knots on the Monarch, 24 knots on the two V8s (reputedly). The forward V8 was taken out and kept as a spare but she still did 17 knots with just one. I am sad that there is no recording of the sound she made at max (1400) revs on the two 7 litre side valve 90 degree Antoinettes, 2 V8s wuffling away like caged lions.The Adams-built Antoinettes had a reputation for breaking crankshafts but that doesn’t seem to have afflicted Grey Witch.
PS The Antoinettes had an early form of fuel injection which makes sense in an aircraft engine.
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PS The Antoinettes had an early form of fuel injection which makes sense in an aircraft engine.
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I Like the vents on the cabin top for the huge air consumed by those V8’s !
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She did 17 knots on the Monarch, 24 knots on the two V8s (reputedly). The forward V8 was taken out and kept as a spare but she still did 17 knots with just one. I am sad that there is no recording of the sound she made at max (1400) revs on the two 7 litre side valve 90 degree Antoinettes, 2 V8s wuffling away like caged lions.The Adams-built Antoinettes had a reputation for breaking crankshafts but that doesn’t seem to have afflicted Grey Witch.
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At Sea
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This image is reversed. T M Lane & Sons built her for C.A. Whitney of the Colonial Ammunition Co in December 1905. CAC had done rather well out of supplying .303 ammunition for the Boer War. She was originally fitted with a single 50hp (rated) Monarch engine but that was replaced by twin Antoinette aircraft-type V8s of 55hp each in late 1907. They were English-made by Adams & Co and were set up in line to drive in tandem, the forward one being de-clutched for economy running.
In the image, Whitney is taking the current Governor-General Lord Plunket for a blast around the Waitemata. She caught fire in her shed at Ngapipi Road in December 1916 and was completely destroyed.
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