Assembly Required: here are a few evocative shots of the Meriden factory line where the 750’s are being built. The last embers of a decades long industry. A tough time for the strong British manufacturers; cars and bikes alike.
Elbow grease and graft. Making products that go around the globe.
Another great invention of the British Industrial Revolution was the steam locomotive: it’s power to connect and move materials, goods and people about the country. Here’s an early century photo of a train hauling some freshly manufactured Triumph outfits. This is a 0-6-0 Midland Johnson engine. One of the most widely made utility beasts of the late 19th -20th C. The last of these used into the 60’s; however none remain. Nevertheless British engineering at its best!
Four Legs or Two Wheels: if you join The Force you could get to ride either. The 70’s Triumph set up with ‘blues and two’s’, tank mounted ‘phone and tall fairing give the Roz on a Rumble an imposing view of the traffic of the day. I can’t imagine giving chase at speed with that conical front brake! Cheery kids look like they’re having fun on both steeds while the local Bobby’s look on.
Don’t need no truck, trailer or van. I can jes’ tote my motos on the roof of my Caddy Coupe DeVille. If I want to head out into the woods and decide which bike I’ll ride when there it’s the perfect vehicle for luxury hauling. A decal on the wing also reinforces the Brit-Iron fandom of this scene.
Now where did I put that ramp…?
Here’s a lovely family photo from yesteryear. It’s my mother mother, Edie, sitting astride my Granda’s Norton. This was the family transport for many years; that’s three kids. One of which is propped on the silver and black pinstriped tank: my Uncle Dave. Taken during a summer during the early fifties a pyramid tent in the background denotes the seasonal camp down at Cresswell. I’ve ascertained that this is a 16H 500cc single Norton. Girder forks possibly put it in the 30’s or 40’s. this model was the platform for the wartime bike used worldwide by the British armed forces during WWII.
I’m off on a trip back to blighty to see my family. Geordiebiker gan back to Geordieland! In my absence the blog will post some prearranged entries for your viewing delight. Biker Gals galore! The fairer sex seen with two-wheeled wonders, mostly Triumphs! Here’s an Hourglass birds-eye vantage of a Triumph T100 Bonneville…
M.M. – An hourglass in the sands…
a.k.a. Chopper, Twenty Second Century, graffiti scrawlin’ sky sufin’ dude from Mega City One. Or as we know this these days and splay framed, long forked, do-dad added, straight line only, peanut-tank’d moto from the hazy days of the sixties.
Marlon…
A road beckons for some young couple. Wrapped up, packed up, and I’m sure mapped up. The onlooking pup seems interested in the proceedings.
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