April 9, 2017
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”
Posted in 10's, History, Military, Triumph Motorcycle, Writing |
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March 17, 2017
Frige’s Day (Frigedæg in old English)- Norse goddess who had the power of foreknowledge. A sturdy TT Triumph is a suitable Valkyrie-like ride for possible warming spring weather that is in the foreseeable future.
Posted in 60's, Gals, History, Triumph Motorcycle |
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March 13, 2017
Trainspotting – a bunch of friends in the mid sixties enjoy each other’s company whilst chasing steam around the country. Based in Weymouth they were present at the waning of coal powered transport. Left to right: Norman Gillespie, Denis Turner and Keith Robertson. The large bottles of Guinness must be some story… the photo us Denis’s who worked on the railways in the sixties.
Posted in 60's, History, Photography, Triumph Motorcycle |
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February 2, 2017
Punxsutawney Phil – being the 2nd of February today isn’t just when the Wood Chuck eats us know if winter will stretch out for another six weeks but is now also known as a repetitive day. After Mr Bill Murray’s comedy movie from 1993, where a selfish TV reporter finds himself in a time loop on 2nd Feb and only through self learning of selflessness he escapes the cycle.
The photo is Bill on a Honda XL175 dirt bike as a camp counselor in the film Meatballs.
Posted in 90's, Film and TV, History, Honda |
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January 20, 2017
Weekend’s Here – well, we got through 20th January 2017 in one piece (-ish). All I need is a horizon, a stout moto to get there on, and my gal riding pillion with me…
Posted in History, Triumph Motorcycle |
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January 19, 2017
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.
Posted in 10's, Design, Engineering, Graphics, History, Motorcycle Art, Triumph Motorcycle |
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January 17, 2017
Giant Scarab – I spotted this patina-rich coffee & doughnut van scuttling about the City recently. Elegant hand painted script cheerily advertising a morning refreshment for construction and office worker alike. It’s a doughty International Harvester Metro Van, produced between 1938 and 1975 keeping its distinctive flowing form well into the sixties when its edges were squared off to meet a demand for something new. The flowing gumdrop lines were created by the capable hand of Mr Streamline himself, Raymond Loewy.
Posted in 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's, Cars, Design, Engineering, Graphics, History |
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January 16, 2017
Gallipoli Galloper – beautiful period photograph from a century ago of the Reverend Cecil Howard Edwards who served as the army chaplain for the ANZAC troops. I’m sure he experienced the worst of humanity in the Dardanelles. His model of transport is a Triumph Model H 500cc to get around Southern Queensland.
Posted in 10's, History, Military, Photography, Triumph Motorcycle, Vintage |
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December 26, 2016
Boxing Day – what a wonderful image this is. Low Canadian sun lighting up a frozen roadway with a hardy soul taking his svelte Triumph Tiger Cub out for an icy spin. Heavy mitts keep the digits warm, but an open face helmet will cause some frost nip to the nose…
Posted in 60's, History, Photography, Triumph Cub |
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November 26, 2016
¡Viva la Revolución! – love him or loathe him, but you must agree that Comrade Castro believed in his country and its population for more than half a century. From coming ashore with his band of revolutionaries headed by Che Guevara on their clapped out cruiser Granma; to the overthrow of Batista; multiple asassination attempts; and hardships after the collapse of the Soviet Union; as well as crippling trade embargoes with the US. He stood by his socialist ideals for good or ill, only time will tell if his words of defense may come true: “History will absolve me!”
Posted in 50's, History |
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October 21, 2016
Flares – the early seventies sure were an interesting time for fashion: Platform boots and bell-bottom trousers. Package holidays at the Costa del Sol; Dad’s Army or On the Buses on the Telly. Decimalization in the wallet, Harvey Smiths V-sign to the Establishment. What better way to venture beyond the Age of Aquarius than on a sturdy Triumph?
Posted in 70's, Clothing, Gals, History, Photography, Triumph Motorcycle |
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August 21, 2016
The Grand Hotel – back from a weeks much needed vacation touring Michigan. We spend a night at the much lauded establishment on Mackinac Island, where only hotlrses and bicycles are used for transport. I spied this vintage Coca Cola delivery bike in the the foyer in red paint and shiny bell.
Oh, and the roads in Michigan are wonderful, I now need to plan a motorcycle trip there someday…
Posted in Bicycle, History, Travel |
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May 30, 2016
Motorcycles in Wartime. This weekend sees another time to appreciate what others did to ensure a less troubled world. Sacrificing your life is the ultimate act of selflessness for freedom. I’m posting this image of some Harley Davidson Rotax engined dirt bikes used by troops probably somewhere in Southeast Asia. A Cobra stands idle behind.
More dirt bikes being utilized; this time the dry sandy conditions of the Middle East. It’s one way of traversing rough terrain quickly.
Posted in 60's, Aircraft, Harley Davidson, History, Military, Uncategorized |
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May 12, 2016
If you had to pick four motorcycles to be carved in Dakota granite like Gutzon Borglums mighty heads of US history what would they be? Here are mine: Washington is a Vincent Black Shadow; Jefferson is a Kawasaki Z1; Roosevelt a Ducati 916; and Lincoln a Bonneville, new 2016 or old 1968 model.
Posted in Ducati, History, Kawasaki, Triumph Bonneville, Vincent |
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May 2, 2016
E = mc2 Albert making the most of energy, mass and the speed of light in the sun of Palm Springs CA sometime in the fifties. No beach, but a pipe, deck chair and sun hat evoke his relaxed state of energy at rest…
Posted in 50's, History, Photography, Uncategorized |
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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.
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