Historical information
The website: austinmemories.com provides a list of extracts from the Austin Motor company archive and makes mention that in WW2 some 3,500 lifeboats were provided for ships. In the link above there is also reference to airborne lifeboats. It seems that the Austin 8HP so-called lifeboat motor was very often re-used by boating enthusiasts which would account for the publication or e-issue? of this manual in 1986. It seems likely that this temperamental engine was still of interest to people like ship's engineers.
Significance
Mariner Duncan had a particular regard for the Mission to Seafarers. This plate for display on a commissioned new table at the MTSV chapel acknowledges his bequest and the material donated. Collectively the G W Duncan material includes: photographs, professional data memorabilia and written and commercially printed resources. The memorabilia relates to his career at sea and in particular the role of an engineer, including a handwritten manual of notes and references relating to the mechanical and engineering aspects and areas of responsibility for maintenance.
Physical description
Commercially printed well handled small handbook or manual with rounded corners; for an Austin 8 HP engine for a lifeboat.
Inscriptions & markings
see image for front cover
Subjects
References
- Austin's big contribution linked by searching for Austin Motor Co lifeboat describes the many ways in which the Austin co contributed to the WW2 support effort in developing new motors and effective armaments. Reference in this article to the airborne lifeboat in 1945.
