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Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies Ltd.

Ipswich, Suffolk, England.

More usually known for steam engines, threshing machines and other agricultural equipment, Ramsomes made a few forays into the internal combustion engine market although overall numbers of engines produced were comparatively low. The Wizard is a particularly interesting engine in that it employs the Brons (Dutch) system of ignition which requires neither spark ignition nor the application of heat (more details of this system can be found at www.bronsmotor.com ). The take up of the Wizard by the engine buying community was low and ultimately only 514 engines were sold. These days they are very rare with only a few known survivors.

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Ransomes Wizard No. 4 - 4 HP - 1923

To paraphrase the owners very fine information board: Built by Ransomes Sims & Jefferies Ltd of Ipswich in October 1923. 4HP and 7HP Wizards were produced from 1921 to 1929 with a patented fuel injection system. This is a 4HP water-cooled, two-stroke compression-ignition engine running on paraffin injected through the overhead valve. It starts without applying heat and has no electrical ignition system.

 
 
 
  © Mark Howard - 2006