Here's a challenge - identify the machines in this photo. Personally I've drawn a blank. It looks rather like the picture was taken during a sporting event in the late veteran era. The photo mounting is rather nice so I included it in the scan...
 |
| Mystery veterans... Can you identify? The prize being the smug knowledge that you are an uber anorak of veteran motorcycling! |
I've got nothing but questions. Is the man pictured in a kilt? The photo is shot from a very odd low angle. Perhaps by someone sitting in a sidecar combination, the rear tire of which visible at right? Perhaps this is a ride-out rather than a sporting event, as the sign in the background suggests we're on some High Street, meaning downtown, a place to gather, not race.
ReplyDeleteA kilt on a bike? the mind boggles! actually he is wearing Plus Fours, de rigeur for the time. To me that looks like the inside of a large building, notice the wall buttresses, only ever on the insides, whitewashed walls again suggest inside some kind of industrial/commercial premises as does the sign writing at the back; pre WW1 I'd say and the shape of the tank on the bike on the right bugs me as I should recognise it. The whole scene reminds me of nothing else more than a pre-1914 Isle of Man TT preparation scene. shame we can't see all the writing or the number plate.
ReplyDeletePlus fours. I must get a pair of those! I still suspicion that this is an outdoor courtyard, as the advertising signage in the background would be wasted indoors and the state of photography at the time would prefer sunlight to interior lighting.
DeleteCould be Indoors because there are high windows on the right and possibly glass roof, I have seen indoor signage like that in huge old garages of those days.Sunlight? This is England! Good luck with the Plus fours, you'll need nerve to wear them.
Delete