Armistice- on this day One Hundred years ago saw the end of hostilities of The Great War. A global conflict whose influence ripples to this day. Tragic in outcome; it saw the loss of a generation through industrialized warfare, epidemic disease, boundary reconfiguration, and political & societal upheaval.
Springfield MA
Indian 1912 – a fine centenarian. With pedal start, oil lamp, white tires, and exposed engine gubbins. A true antique traveler. Tweeds and goggles with stiff leather gauntlets.
Blue Blood
Royalty – with the wedding of Harry & Meghan earlier today I thought I’d look at the Windsor’s and compare them with their corresponding Triumph. Queen Mother? Model H, old world classic, suitable for a day at the races. Prince Philip? A German TWN 2 Stroke – the European Triumph. QE2? Easy, a ’59 Bonnie; timeless classic. Princess Margaret? The racy Thruxton, Charles? The too-little-too-late Trophy 250.
William & Harry? The new Triumphs! 675 Daytona or T120 Bonneville. Next generation.
Spitfire
Royal Air Force – turns 100 today. From beginnings during The Great War, through protection of various Empirical Territories it revealed its true strength in the skies over England during The Battle of Britain where, in Churchill’s words “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few,”
The Wheel
Full Circle – March 14th which in the US is also known as pi day 3.14
Top Left: Model H (1914)
Top Right: Tiger 90 (1937)
Lower Left: Tiger Cub (1963)
Lower Left: Bonneville T120 (2017)
Look Out!
Ogri’s Ancestor – further to the previous post here’s a series of cartoon panels, published over a century ago, illustrating the travels, or more accurately travails, of Motorcycle Mike. Quite destructive in his quest for a suitable worldly destination.
Comics
Motorcycle Mike – interesting doodle by cartoonist Frank King in a sheaf of autographs from 1915. King is known as the creator of Gasoline Alley, the second longest running cartoon strip (1918). A character in that strip was Skeezix who grew up and got old during the C20th. Motorcycle Mike was one of a number of characters developed by King in the mid teens for the Chicago Tribune.
Sweetheart
Back Seat – buoyant BSA rider takes a pew on the pillion seat of her ride whilst perusing a love note. There is a comfortable air to this image from a hundred years ago.
An Muinín
1916 – The Easter Rising. A time when the people of Ireland wanted to take their country back from The domination of Britain. It was also the year at his Triumph Model H was built. Seen at the National Museum of Ireland: Decorative Arts & History. In pristine condition it included a 2017 Tax Disc so is roadworthy too!
Blighty Bloke Berlin Bound
BeeBeeBeeBeeBee – after the remembrance weekend here’s a fun card promoting a victory over Germany. On His Majesty’s Service
WW1
Fat bottomed girls they’ll be riding today
I want to ride my bicycle- This 1903 Triumph safety bike has such an elegant shape. With a sinuous open frame to allow women to pedal in their skirts. These old human powered machines just look so perfect in their functional purpose. The advert to the left is a mid-Century model promoting the bike as a form of exercise; though the dropped cross bar seems a tad dated.
100 Years Ago
War is Past
Century – A private of the Royal Engineers on his motorcycle. The chevrons on his lower right sleeve show he is in his third year of overseas service… One Hundred years ago today saw the start of a British offensive at Arras which, by its end a little over a month later saw close to 400,000 losses and casualties on both sides. The motorcycle is a wartime stalwart Triumph Model H.
Edward Thomas a notable wartime poet was killed in action this day. His work extolled the virtues of the English countryside and its invigorating open airs. One of my bosses twenty years ago was the godson of Thomas’ nephew, born in May 1918 he was named after his uncle.
“And I rose up, and knew that I was tired, and continued my journey”