Faster, faster – more graphics from the City of Bridges; this time a crisp screen printed poster for a race event five years ago. Held every year at Schenley Park it is for both cars and bikes; sadly our travel plans don’t intercept with it this year… perhaps someday.
July 5, 2017
PVGP
June 17, 2017
Black ‘n’ Red
£184 2s 1d – not a bad price for an urban runabout. A splendid machine in crimson glory (flamboyant bushfire red) of the assembly line at Meriden. I quite like the tank paint scheme – somewhat different to Triumphs norm.
May 11, 2017
Don’t hold your breath…
A Quarter Litre – the diminutive and underwhelming Trophy seen here in period advertisers garb. It’s held aloft with a banner of circus show exhuberance. How many different fonts can you spy?
April 30, 2017
Half a Century ago
Fifty Years – like some scene from MadMen here’s the brochure from a New England showroom a guy and his gal out for some fresh air. Precision, Power, Performance… the cards were on the table though. Honda’s sublime 750 was on the drawing board in Japan ready for release and two-wheeled domination in ’69.
March 19, 2017
Bunny O’Hare
Bank Robbery – a 1971 film starring Ernest Borgnine and Bette Davis as an unconventional pair of thieves. In wigs and fake beard disguises their getaway vehicle is non traditional too: a Triumph Trophy 250, bit of a cream-puff when it comes to power. I know this was the bike I had when first arriving in the ‘States and indeed got my motorcycle license on. I wouldn’t do errands on it never mind a bank robbery!
March 16, 2017
Greybeard
Whiskered Warrior – let your beard flow free in the wind. Cockney advertising of a Doc booted bobber rider . Spring is nearly here! Old Man Winter has overstayed his welcome…
February 28, 2017
Liquid Engineering
Oiler – here’s a stunning graphic advertisement from a late sixties magazine with no. 1 Gary Nixon powering his Triumph flat tracker in a somewhat psychedelic manner. Castrol
February 24, 2017
Pup
Pre Cub- a smaller Triumph before the Tiger Cub was the Terrier. At 150cc the diminutive scoot was a pocket watch against the larger carriage clock scaled 500 & 650 motos. But hey when you just need it to be motorcycle o’clock any two-wheeled machine will do! Miss Bobbie certainly appears happy.
January 11, 2017
Frogmen
Charioteers- Brave commando frogmen drive these torpedo ‘pigs’ to attack the Axis’ strategic ports and harbours. Rubber wetsuits and barium hydroxide laden rebreather ‘s. Dark, cold waters…
January 7, 2017
Hit the Road
It’s a Way of Life – riding motorcycles puts you into a minority. A minority who enjoys the open road with a free wind and adventurous bent. And Triumph riders? They’re the select few who enjoy the Truth of that road: it’s life giving enjoyment, and soul feeding meaning.
(Don’t take me too seriously folks! )
January 4, 2017
Buongiorno trionfo
Psychedelic Rome – true 70’s imagery from the guys in Milan for the twin & triple machines going head-to-head with the Ducati’s and Moto Guzzi’s of the day. A kind of grounded Peter Max look but used effectively on clothing sewing patterns of the early hippie seventies.
December 23, 2016
A Bridge Too Far
Sixty Eight – a pair of freshly minted Bonneville’s with their owners under the delicately suspended span of the Mount Hope Bridge between Bristol & Portsmouth on Rhode Island across Narragansett Bay. Engineering marvel is a backdrop to a motorcycle marvel. The bridge opened in 1929 a decade or so before Ed Turners development of the parallel twin engined machines that would culminate in the classic 60’s Bonnie’s.
December 18, 2016
Big Brother
Thought Police – a 1956 film adaptation of George Orwells dystopian novel published just eight years prior had the ThinkPol riding the then futuristic looking Vincent Black Knight.
December 16, 2016
Halcyon Days
Seaside Sunshine – in the midst of this wintry grapple we need some warm scene to remind us of summer delight. This BSA C15 250cc in splendid fire engine red looks quite the part standing proudly on a quayside. A yacht moored in an azure bay looks enticing but our swimsuit garbed gal seems happy enough on the Birmingham singles saddle.
“Halcyon” is a name for a bird in Greek legend generally associated with the kingfisher. There was an ancient belief that the bird nested on the sea, which it calmed in order to lay its eggs on a floating nest. Two weeks of calm weather were therefore expected around the winter solstice. This myth leads to the use of halcyon as a term for peace or calmness.
December 11, 2016
Fly the Flag
Poster – strong graphical imagery for the Small Heath armory and motorcycle makers. From gun to enjun they were one of the big British exports during the days of the Empire. The pre unit twin cylinder motor is the centerpiece of this ‘colliery banner’.
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