That Seal Sociable again...

I came across this old photo recently. Frankly it's a pretty awful image but what was interesting to me is that it appeared to be the same Seal Sociable as in an earlier blog post. Or at least so I though until I looked a bit closer - for one the sidecars are on opposite sides, this could however be down to the developer getting the negative back to front. This shot is certainly a studio print with the Seal as a prop. Most likely the other image is too. Seems a bit unlikely that there would be two different Seals both used as studio props.

For interest there are a couple of Seal Sociable pictures on the Sheldon's EMU site:
http://cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/classics-s/Seal-1922-1291.htm
http://cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/classics-s/Seal-motorcycle-and-sidecar-with-steering-wheel.htm

Seal Sociable sidecar studio prop.

Seal Sociable sidecar with steering wheel

Here's an unusual photo. It's a Seal Sociable. Made from 1912 to 1924 in, presumably, very limited numbers. It must have seemed like a logical idea at the time - most big v-twins were made to haul sidecars so why not combine the two together and allow rider and passenger to sit side-by-side?

It is powered by a JAP v-twin and at least one survives, in the National Motorcycle Museum. Strangely the sidecar in this picture is on a different side from other pictures I have seen. They must have made left and right hand versions.

The machine might be a studio prop as was popular at the time, but it would have been quite an expensive device for a studio to own. Perhaps this couple are in fact the proud owners.

Seal Sociable posed photo.