After the last few entries of assembly here’s a review of the exploded workshop manual drawings. I’ve posted these before during research but now we’ve seen the components go back together they have more life.
The cylinder head with valves; crankshaft, pistons and timing cams. I like the penmanship of these technical drawings, you can see the draughtsmans unique hand in them.
A couple gaze adoringly at a possible new two-up ride. The shiny moto peers back at them coolly knowing they’ll undoubtedly make the purchase. This magazine cover has the typical B&W with color printing of the time for uncomplicated presentation. Nearly newspaper like.
I need me this instruction manual for the reassembly…. A step-by-step photographic explanation of the strip-down and bolt-together of this diminutive power plant.
After yesterdays ‘EM’ I was kindly sent this image from Bill in Carlisle UK of this superlative Matchless G50. The Walmsley set-up puts it way above the rest…built from the ground up by Lancastrian Fred Walmsley they’ll take any vintage racer worth his mettle to a chequered finish. $50k and one could be yours!
Once the largest motorcycle manufacturer in France Motobécane was crucial to Gallic all two-wheeled transport for over half a century. Literally “motorized” “bike” its logo is quite striking with the capital “M” and facing Mercurial or Hermes heads. I saw this on a locked up bicycle today and had to capture as part of my ongoing collection of M’s (my wife’s name begins in this strong symmetrical letter).
Back in 1920 youth of the day had one adventuring inventive lad called Tom Swift to read about. His first foray in print was a tale regarding motorcycles.
After acquiring it after a friend crashes it he restores it and learns how to operate it on the dusty lanes of Upstate New York. The teenage protagonist chases down patent thieves on his derring doings.
The original hardcover book has appropriately contemporary graphics from the time. Victor Appleton was a pseudonym for Edward Stratemeyer, creator of other notable YA (young adult) tomes such as Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew and the Bobbsey Twins. He prolifically penned, though some ghostly, over 1,300 stories.
Hinckley, UK
April 1, 2014
A statement earlier today from Triumph Motorcycles rung dismay in the strengthening British industry for two-wheeled vehicles. With their state of the art factory in the heartland of Leicestershire and worldwide facilities in the Far East, and soon Asian and South American markets, their future indeed looked bright. However owner John Bloor, 70, made a press release stating that he was “selling up!” And “Moving to The Caribbean”, to “Play more golf”, and “do more fishing” as well as “drink more cocktails on sunny beaches”.
A new owner has already been found which will entail a re-badging of all current and future products. A certain Teutonic company who have a strong stance in both the car and motorcycle industry have stepped forward as the new management of this organization.
A spokesman from BMW, Herr Gruberwurst, 54, said: “we are thrilled at this opportunity for an expansion of our current line-up; however some changes will of course have to be made; the renowned Bonneville with half a century of history behind it will be renamed “Der Gutstadt” and the all-terrain Tiger “Die Panzerrad” Also with some duplication with our current models some of the englisch mottorrad may be canceled…”
As Mr Bloor will be taking the name “Triumph” with him to into obscure retirement, renaming a Bahaman atholl he has procured Isle Triumph, all existing owners will be sent blue and white checked rondel badges with the famous Bayerische Motoren Werke logo to apply to their tanks as well as a pair of decals for bodywork. Of course those with the original Meriden Triumph motorcycles can keep original logo badge due to their ‘historical significance’ towards British history.
In other motorcycling news Honda are eyeing up a certain Milwaukee motorbike maker for a takeover…
An early sixties Triumph model brochure shows off their available models. This technical airbrushed illustrations was typical of the time. It shows off the details of the bikes well.
Make sure you scrub behind the ears! The oily finish old British moto engines can get sometimes need a wash down to let it sparkle. A period can of degreaser shows off a bath bound Triumph getting brushed down. Nice two color print graphic.
The Women’s Royal Navy Service was an auxiliary group to support the naval arm during WWII. They took over land based tasks so that all able bodied men could be aboard ship. “Become a Wren – Free up a man for the Fleet!”
One duty was as dispatch riders ensuring secure document communication could be maintained between the Admiralty, its harbored fleet and the Commanding Chiefs if Staff in London.
Here’s one such dicky bird on her Triumph at work with courier satchel. They carried out a crucial role especially during the Battle of Britain when keen motorcycling skills through the bombed streets of the capital were key to the success of the countries defense.
Buckingham Palace acts as a backdrop as this lass kicks over the very capable 3H single cylinder 350. Which were a bargain in 1938…
Here’s one of those enlisting posters…
Very smart they looked in their uniforms too: double breasted suit with tricorne hat.
“Hoist up the Union Jack lads!”
New identifier for the blog header. Takes its appearance from the triangular patent plate found on the timing side if a Triumph engine.
Easy arithmetic and a sum worth aiming for. Well the end of the week IS The Great Escape!
“American moonshine: don’t smoke right after you drink it!”
Yesterday we went to the Holocaust Museum in Skokie to see an exhibition about Wartime austerity in Britain. The population had to tighten their belts, utilize less, close-in, and create a stalwart ‘fortress’ as the Axis shadow grew.
The use of posters was key to promote the needs and my favorite illustrator of the time Cyril Kenneth Bird aka Fougasse created pure form and message.
At the exhibition there was some wonderful COLOUR film from the war years some showing events during The Blitz, others about rationing, and one about the plans set afoot within the defending island state as German forces were breathing down their necks. There was a few scenes of the Home Guard ( Dads Army) going through their paces across a muddy common on motorbikes to become dispatch riders.
Could be a BSA M20. Spotlessly new and ready for service.
Wonderful film.
Nope! Not for a boot; nor an antimacassar doily neither: but the front wheel. Getting things sorted and ready to build the front wheel for the Cub. A 21″ alloy hoop, to match the rear 18″ one and forty new Buchanan spokes.
There are four different spokes for inner and outer hub rim as well as left and right side.
When you look at the typical pattern it has a geometrical elegance to it. A ferris dance of tensions on the ‘cycles primary component of conveyance. The wire spoked wheel was invented by Yorkshireman Sir George Cayley (1773-1857) who was also the father if aerodynamics. Understanding the principles of flight a century before the Wright Brothers. The optimism and supporting scientific and engineering progress of the times were truly present in “Eeh bar gum! Ar George” .
geordiebiker.com 