OPERATION ADRIAN - Retrieval / Revival of last ‘Brooke Hundred’ Marine Motor
A short time after contacting Brooke Archivist Peter Hansford I received a call from John Brooke, who asked me to provide him a sketch of “Smuggler’s” engine beds, which I duly did (see sketch below)…
On receipt of this, John confirmed that the above dimensions were compatible with the Brooke 65-F/10 (1910) marine motor specification (a point re-enforced by Mr John Williams at the National Motor Boat Museum at Pitsea (now a part of new town of Basildon)!
The Brooke Adrian Works at Lowestoft, home of J.W.Brooke & Company which also recently inspired “Operation Adrian”.
It was some considerable time after this that a Brooke 40F-28/30 marine motor became available, and as John Brooke already had the ex-stock parts for this motor, he naturally asked if I might be interested in helping him to re-build this (how could anyone refuse)?
Our journey began on Thursday 19th November 1992, when I travelled south to Wolverhampton to meet up with John Brooke and Brian Tennant (who kindly drove the Van). Departing at 18:00 hrs, we travelled through the night in a Mazda pick-up to arrive at Fishguard for the 02:15 a.m. Ferry.
Departing from Fishguard at about 3:15, we then arrived at Rosslare Port at 06:45 (a.m.), where we continued on to Tinarana before resting for the remainder of the night in a Hotel.
The following morning we drove to our final destination for a much welcomed and pleasant breakfast with a fine gentleman by the name of Peter Gleeson, who kindly provided us accurate directions to our destination. On arrival, we unpacked the block and tackle and loaded our 1928 Brooke Marine-motor into the Mazda Van before setting off for home (see second half of below itinerary )...
After working in Adrian, Michigan (USA), John’s Grandfather named his Lowestoft works ‘Adrian’ to reflect on his memories and time there… hence “Operation Adrian”
It is the above 40-F/28/30 “Brooke Hundred” Marine Motor that now powers B26 (ML)117 ‘Smuggler’.
“Smuggler as she is seen today with the Brooke Marine Motor Installed…..
“Smuggler” with new hatch access for her 40-F28/30 (103 h.p.) Brooke Marine Motor installation.