Did they copy Alfa Romeo?

Sir,
The Beverley Barnes engine used in the Burney Streamline was certainly not copied from Alfa Romeo! At £50 each they were surely surplus Beverley-Barnes engines originally intended for their own cars.

The designer was E Petit, better known for his work for Salmson, which included an 1100cc straight-eight with central timing gears and a supercharger for each bank of four cylinder. A layout better used by Alfa Romeo. Did they copy Petit? I honestly don’t know! I have some photographs of the Beverley Barnes engine given to me by Petit but I have never had the chance to inspect one. Do any of your readers own a BB-engined car?
C B Draper,
Koniferendfad,
Germany.