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.
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.
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.
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,”
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)
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.
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.
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.
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!
BeeBeeBeeBeeBee – after the remembrance weekend here’s a fun card promoting a victory over Germany. On His Majesty’s Service
11-11 we’re up to ninety nine years since the armistice of 1918. The end of The Great War… as well as the horror of the trenches, heavy bombardment of the guns, the first aerial bombardment, some units used early motorcycles, such as this BSA, for despatch duty.
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.
Red Cross – A serious young medical sargent on his 1917 Triumph. Agile enough to zip along behind the lines ensuring critical supplies get to where they were critically needed.
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”
Neon – 102 years ago today French inventor Georges Claude patented the gas discharge tube, more commonly known as a Neon Tube. Formed into pictographs and writing they herald a company’s identity or message.
