Remembering the 1949 Brockhouse Corgi
The 1949 Brockhouse Corgi was a scooter developed by John Dolphin. John created this scooter as a civilian version of the 98cc Welbike. The Welbike was a small folding-seat motorcycle produced during the Second World War. Countries like Italy, the USA, and Germany provided the Welbike to their airborne forces. The scooter was an improvement over the Welbike since it had a more solid frame and a fuel tank between the handlebars and saddle. Also, the founders probably did not want to alienate their clients by producing scooters for army personnel only. Therefore, they had to tweak its features to make the scooter suitable for all demographics. Based on the brief introduction of the scooter, you at least have a rough idea about it. Let us now discuss some of its features below.
Engine Type
The Brockhouse Corgi uses a single cylinder. There are two pistons in the cylinder, which makes the scooter’s engine a two-stroke engine. That means the engine only requires two piston movements to generate power. Therefore, two processes occur in the cylinder; compression stroke and power stroke. The inlet port opens up in a compression stroke to allow air and fuel into the engine. For that to happen, the piston has to move upwards. While combustion takes place within the engine, some gasses need to be expelled. It is during the power stroke step that the wastes get discharged. To do so, the piston moves downwards. The beauty of the scooter’s engine system is that its maintenance cost is cheaper than motorcycles which use more than one cylinder. For instance, if your scooter broke down, you would only replace one cylinder. For vehicles with two cylinders, you would have to incur the cost of both. So this scooter is cost-effective if that is your goal. Next, the scooter’s engine is lightweight. That makes it ideal for the rider to carry a heavy load, navigate hilly areas, or board trains with it.
Brake Type
According to Mechdiploma, the 1949 Brockhouse Corgi uses expanding brakes featuring two shoes that face each other perpendicularly. The outer surface of the shoes contains some friction material that prevents them from wearing away. In the absence of the friction material, the scooter would otherwise creak. The shoes are attached to a cam. The shoes are pushed upward to stop the scooter when the cam operates. Since the scooter only needs the cam and shoes to brake, its braking system is not complicated hence needs less maintenance. Its expanding brakes are fitted with drum brakes. The shoes press against the drum brakes to stop. As they press against each other, friction is created. The friction then creates thermal energy and distributes it evenly within the brakes. Drum brakes provide more braking force than other brake systems. The phenomenon is due to the brakes having an increased friction contact area. Its brakes are thus useful when you are in a position likely to encounter an accident.
Top Speed
Its maximum speed is 56.3km/h. Since scooters are mainly for short distances within towns, that explains why the speed is slow. Towns tend to be overcrowded because they are the center of all activities. Any speed beyond 56.3km/h means there is a chance you could injure or kill a lot of people. Since the scooter is mainly for short distances, the speed is not high. At high speeds, you would quickly exhaust your fuel. Also, the fuel capacity is generally low since it can only hold 4.73 liters of fuel. Therefore, the low speed makes the scooter the most fuel-efficient mode of transport. Also, with low speed, you save the environment. As vehicles accelerate, they tend to release a lot of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The gas acts as a blanket since it traps some of the sun’s heat, which leads to global warming. There is no chance you will release the gas into the air at this standard speed with this scooter.
Cooling System
The scooter uses an air-cooled engine. Its engine uses natural air to cool the engine. When harnessing more air, the scooter’s engine has fins that increase the surface area for easy air passage. Most riders generally prefer an air-cooled engine to a fan-cooled engine. This is because air-cooled engines trap air with minimum effort due to their streamlined shape. On the other hand, in fan-cooled engines, the fan has to complete certain revolutions to generate air. It thus takes a bit longer to cool the engine. Besides being able to trap air easily, the fins are lightweight. With a fan-cooled engine, the fan adds some weight to a scooter. Remember, no rider wants a heavy scooter. It would explain why the founders made the fins light. Also, it is why you see people boarding trains with scooters. Compared to scooters that use liquid-cooled engines, air-cooled engines do not experience coolant leakage problems. This is because air-cooled engines warm up faster than liquid-cooled engines. In instances where the coolant in liquid-cooled engines does not completely warm up, some liquid begins to leak. The phenomenon is common when the coolant is a lot. When coolant leaks, it may either be hot or cold. If hot, it can fry the engine and cylinder; and when cold, it can cause cracks within the engine. With this scooter brand, you are unlikely to experience engine failure.
Conclusion
Ask an average person about the mode of transport they prefer, and they will mostly mention automobiles or motorcycles. Possibly, they do not know how convenient scooters are, especially the 1949 Brockhouse Corgi model. The scooter meets different needs such as saving the environment, braking easily, or infrequent engine breakdowns. With its numerous advantages, it is no wonder that the scooter is still discussed today. It is a sign that the model continues to age well. Even if you are not keen on its functionalities, you can admire its unique design. For instance, with its long handles, you can appear respectable or confident to others.
