Archive for ‘50’s’

December 9, 2019

Vantage Point

Car Dog Bike | a funny photo to lighten the start of the week. Still trying to figure out the automobile but the bike is a Vincent Black Prince for sure. The dog? He’s called Scout.

December 8, 2019

delta V

Red Rocket| space age advertising for a Twenty One.

November 20, 2019

Take Flight

Percy Tait (1929-2019) – when it comes to the history of Triumph motorcycles one man is noted in the very foundation of that company. Beginning his career with Triumph as a 21-year-old factory worker he quickly rising in the ranks and started racing for the works team on the latest machines. It is reckoned he amassed over 1,000,000 miles test riding cutting edge motorcycles under the engineering eye of Doug Hele. As well as Grand Prix races he took part successfully in Isle of Man TT competitions. 750cc triple Slippery Sam is one bike that is forever connected with Percy. In his later career he went on to develop the 500cc Suzuki GP bikes for Barry sheen. In retirement he became a champion sheepsheet breeder. A giant of the history of British motorcycling, Percy Tait sadly passed away last weekend. at the age of 90.

November 12, 2019

Shell Blue

Twenty One | My nephew Dan Cook turned 21 today. So to celebrate here is Triumphs 350cc (21 cu. in.) 3TA aka the Twenty One or more colloquially the Bathtub. It was the first unit constructed engine from Edward Turner’s engineering group.

November 10, 2019

Under African Skies

Dakar or Bust | evocative photography from Nikon wielding Roger DeSilva (1925-2008) who, after capturing atrocities of WW2, settled in Senegal and recorded the young country’s independence spirit amongst the chic lifestyle of celebrities and politicians. He has a retrospective in Paris exhibiting many of his beautiful imagery.

October 18, 2019

MidCentury Mettle

Chequered Group | Sunny smiles under a Californian sky. More of the Hockie clan after an H&H race. The sled looks like it’s had fun in the dry sand and dirt.

October 17, 2019

Gumption

Tired Out Triumph! Where there’s a will…. here is Hare ‘n’ Hounds racer supremo Charlie Hockie in the SoCal desert after an equipment mishap. Charlie was a contemporary of Brothers Bud & Dave Ekins.

October 5, 2019

Smiles

Tiger Two | an updated photo of the vintage Triumph bike owner from yesterday’s post. This time with his wife on pillion.

October 2, 2019

cielo azul

La Pandilla Gato – more Blacksad. This time a motorcycle gang rorting across the plains. I like how the movement is represented but the wheels just being off the ground.

October 1, 2019

Camino Gato

Mas Blacksad | superb illustration of the hardboiled cat and his black Triumph. Southwest scenery perfectly captured.

September 30, 2019

Le Chat Noir

Blacksad | A hardboiled feline PI in the vein of Philip Marlow has the gritty underworld of 50’s America as seen from the perspective of a grizzled black cat gumshoe. Created by Spanish writer Juan Díaz Canales and artist Juanjo Guarnido its vision is stark and fresh.

September 17, 2019

Square Sign

Shop Banner Sign | Blue logo with three stripe icon below it. Good clarity of branding easily seen at 1901 S Western Ave. Chicago. The three stripes hark back to Turner days and the tank badges of the fifties Speed Twins. The building motif is appropriate too: M.C. For motor-cycle.

September 12, 2019

Red Docs

Composition | unusual imagery for an old Trumpet. What looks like a golf course with a scrap yard provides a photoshopped backdrop for a portrait of the owners daughters. It’s like an 80’s album cover.

August 26, 2019

Small is Beautiful

Sixty Mini Years | Today marks the 60th Birthday of the classic small car. Designer Sir Alec Issigonis introduced the Mark I compact runabout which always seem larger on the inside. One of the most fun cars to drive.

August 4, 2019

Marion Morrison

The Duke | A different kind of horse for John Wayne. Comic book adventures chasing hoodlums around a mountainside hairpin bend.