I have just acquired a steering box. This seems very unusual in that the casting for the box is in Bronze as seen in the photo below, there are no casting marks on it that I can see.



The sideplate is in aluminium with Burmal cast into it as seen below, so that looks standard.



The angle of the column to the chassis rail is 48 degrees and it seems to run parallel to the centreline of the car.

No-one I have asked has been able to suggest what it belongs to. One suggestion was off a boat based on the Bronze but I doubt that they would have used aluminium for the sideplate after going to the trouble to cast the body in Bronze and it would be unlikely that they would have left the brake pedal shaft boss on, its not something you need on a boat.

Any ideas welcomed

Cheers


Marcus

Location: Auckland NZ

Very interesting Marcus, I've never seen anything like that, looking forward to finding out more!

How long is the column?

Charles

From the top of the threaded brass piece that screws into the box to the top of the column is 24 1/4"

Marcus

Location: Auckland NZ

Marcus, my vote goes for it's a repair. It was very common for parts to be recast in bronze or brass when broken, stripped, cracked. I have another vintage car with lots of zinc diecast items that have oxidised. They have all at sometime been replaced with bronze/brass, distributor body, starter end plate, starter switch, dynamo brush holder etc. cheers Russell

Location: oz

Thanks Squeak,

If it was the standard box you could be right but this box is 48 degrees whereas the standard box in 1928 the 1A6041 is 41 degrees so this box is much more upright than normal.

Marcus

Location: Auckland NZ

What about a steering box from a Brockhouse tractor or some of the groundsman type machines, the Brockhouse was certainly more upright than the 7,

if this link works I will be surprised, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g91-ObfV1Ls

or try looking up "1940s BMB Tractor" on YouTube, it shows the positioning of the box halfway thru the video,

Location: Deep south of sussex

Well possibly, although the video shows the steering box mounted on a bracket and I would have thought it is a huge amount of work and expense to cast a special steering box when they could have just angled the bracket to alter the angle of the column.

Interesting little tractor.

Cheers

Marcus

Location: Auckland NZ

There were a few little tractor orientated specials well worth a google.

Location: Deep south of sussex

Marcus, have you completely stripped the box yet, if it is indeed of Austin manufacture I would expect that you would find some sort of tell tale inspection markings or stamps. The Tractor idea or some other industrial utility vehicle seems the most plausible explanation.

Location: NZ

Hi Ian,

Almost completely to assess its condition, everything looks like a 1928/29 except for the bronze casting with the higher angle, I thought maybe a Van or similar, but I couldn't understand why it was cast in Bronze.

You are very welcome to call around and have a look if you are mobile enough.

Cheers

Marcus

Location: Auckland NZ

What's the betting it's a military box?

Location: Near Bicester.

Ivor,
I wondered about that, now we just need to find out if any Military Sevens still exist and see if the owner can have a quick look to see if the casting is bronze.

I doubt that there are any in existence in NZ but I'll be very happy to be proven wrong. Are there any still in the UK ?

Cheers

Marcus

Location: Auckland NZ

The 1935 Military Tourer that was listed in 'The Automobile' for many months is marked as sold by 'The School Garage'.

Tony.

Location: Malvern, Melbourne, Australia.

There's an original Military A7 in Cornwall under renovation.

Marcus, I've sent the owner your email address, perhaps he will contact you.

Location: On the very Edge of Europe....West of Jelbert, Brian, Alastair, Bob and everybody else..

Thanks for your help Sandy,

Hopefully the owner will be in touch and we can see if this solves the mystery.

Cheers

Marcus

Location: Auckland NZ