Manned Torpedo: The Chariot. Controlled by British Commando frogmen these weapons were devised to seek and sink Axis shipping. Riding astride a warhead steering these pigs was for men of stern stuff. Hauling a Triumph Twin along a country road would be easy compared to this!
Bath time on Sunday night growing up I would play with my Britains torpedo, sinking boats and rubber ducks.
The Rebel Yell! We had a day trip to Milwaukee today, where the Museum of Art has been reorganized with a new layout for their modern collection. I spied this cracking bicycle devised by Wisconsin industrial designer Brook Stevens. A basic trailing arm front suspension, double rear wheel caliper brakes, stick gear shifter, comfy banana seat, and a noodle of a shape to the handlebars.
Play was so much simpler in days past: you wound your toys up and watched ’em fly around the floor. No batteries, no motor; just nicely pressed metal parts and a character sitting astride.
Tonka was a big deal growing up. The pressed steel bodies could take the typical abuse from a boy in his dirt pile. I yearned for the backhoe tractor with front loader “tractor with four diggers” is what I’d call it. Well I got it and managed to break it . So my sister wrote to Tonkatoys in Minnesota (actually Mound MN on Lake Minnetonka) crying false advertising which stated an elephant could stand on their toy construction vehicles.
So they wrote back in apology and send one of their Dump trucks in compensation. There’s customer service!
I wonder if I could get them to send one of their Triumph Bonnevilles…
As had been mentioned before when I was growing up I loved to build model kits. Aircraft, tanks, spaceships, the odd car; but I never got around to motorcycles. Well did I miss out! I could’ve had fun with kits such as this Revell treat. A 1/8 scale Triumph Tiger.
The full page advert for their particular lines is a period piece from the mid-sixties. Even Ed Roth hot rods are featured. “Wot is… Is.. Wot. ain’t…. Ain’t!!!”
“You’re Dangerous!” The epitome of fighter jock movies Top Gun will be thirty next year. Known for cool aerial antics with Tom Cruise’s Macerick zooming the skies over Miramar CA it also showcases a superb motorcycle from Kawasaki: the GPZ900 Ninja.
Now suitably available as a miniature Hot Wheels complete with decals used on the movies Moto…
I had one for 5 years and I loved it!
Some form of two wheeled transport is always wished for at Christmas. If I was a young ‘un back in the early sixties I want one of these. Red Triumph Thunderbird inspired pedal motorbike. I bet many a motorcyclist started out like this! Pillion capabilities too.
This one was sold recently on EBay for $175.
Everyone loves a performing monkey: just dress him in a ringmasters outfit, drop a Turkish fez on its little head and off hex wheels around the stage. Stop! It’s just plain wrong and a little creepy. They’re mischievous simian mammals that should be left in the lush tropical rainforests. But these wind-up tin toys a a bit of fun.
It’s still a good name for a motorcycle club!
When the motorcycle needs some spanner work done to the engine better call in Barbie and her ratchet set and Whitworth nuts. Especially when it’s an older Triumph twin head. Overalls for oily work; but she needs to tie that hair back!
Ken, on the other hand, has a bit of a liking to plastic faired remote controlled sports bikes. That baggy hooded sweatshirt seals the deal for pure street cred. The bike looks like the Toecutters beast from Mad Max…
We all feel like these workers sometimes… Especially Sunday evening with a work week ahead of us… One last memory of a weekend ride!
Brighton MA bound? Then watch out for a clash with the scooter lads and rocker kids….
Doll Face: someone’s idea of fun. Propping an articulated figure onto scale model Triumph Bonneville. Shades of Marwencol, the model town fabricated by Mark Hogancamp (look up the documentary on Netflix). This acrylic lass is called Tamara Cool Girl Harley. She has leathers too.
…not that there’s anything wrong with it…
Wind ’em up and watch ’em go! Ape bars not required just a simian attitude.
The organ grinding assistant takes to the road.
An exhibit about vintage toys at the Museum of Minnesota in Saint Paul included this collection of Evel Knievel’s stunt bike, ramps and trailer. I had the chopper and remember revving it across the playground at Wooler First School.
Angry Toy: Black brick biker (*assembly required).
I learned a lit about how things are built using the basic blocks of LEGO. These days there are countless mouldings to allow anything to be made. Early Technic sets started the idea of gears, axles, riveted beams and the like.
An early motorbike kit had the option of building a combination or chopper, both with working piston engine and chain drive.
I loved the assembly drawings.
geordiebiker.com 