ELMET MARINE ENGINE – c. 1940

This attractive West Australian-built engine was manufactured by Ed and Laurie Metcalf (hence ELMET) at 338-340 Beaufort Street, East Perth.  It is a 2-stroke engine typically used in wooden, clinker-built boats (often referred to as “putt-putts”).

Mainly exported to Malaya (now Malaysia) but only in green colour as the red used was believed to be unlucky. Not many of these engines have survived, mostly in private collections.

The engine was also ideally suited to 12 – 14-foot dinghies or as an auxiliary engine in larger boats.

The purchase price in the 1940’s was £50/10/- (about $100 in today’s currency), making the motor very attractive in the post WW2 period until production costs ramped and competition from other marine engine suppliers increased.

Technical specifications: Single cylinder, 2-stroke, water-cooled marine engine. Bore 2¾, stroke 2½” producing around 2-3 HP. Ignition was by Lucas or Wilco “A” magneto.