The great British seaside holiday! Not too sure where this is but someone will surely recognise that pier? The bike is fairly easy to recognise as a Triumph from those front forks, I would say it is probably a 1911 model though this picture was likely taken a while later as the bike is looking rather well worn. Unusual points to note on the bike are the gear lever on the petrol tank - probably a later proprietary fitment to a bike that started life as a single speeder, the heavily valanced from mudguard and the unusual doll mascot on the front mudguard.
I wonder if the old Triumph carried all four of them to the sea on holiday?
 |
| Veteran Triumph combination by the sea. |
another nice period pic; BJ is an east suffolk reg 1904 -may 1925, there is a tax disc so its taken after 1921, likely a big resort such as Gt Yarmouth.
ReplyDeleteIs it a Triumph though? thats a coffee grinder gear change handle same as Douglas and I think, Zenith among others.
Hi Ken,just back holiday hence the late reply... I do have some doubt that it is a Triumph. I went by the forks - they certainly look Triumph, as does the tank and sidecar lining. I think that perhaps the coffee grinder gear change was a later addition. As you say, the picture must have been taken post '21 so it is very likely that the bike would have been upgraded to keep it in use. All the best, Richard
DeletePossibly a "pose with the motorcycle in front of the pier" photo? The passengers don't seem to be in motorcycling clothes and there is no sign of any attached gear they'd have taken along. And there are four of them. The doll is the sort of thing that gets attached to decorate a "posing" motorcycle. Or perhaps the photographer in this case is the husband of the "extra" adult woman and only he and she came down in the motorcycle outfit to meet the friends in the photograph.
ReplyDeleteThat's an idea, but people did ride like that in those days during fine weather; yes I now think thats a pier behind them. Mascots were also common in the 1920s, I'm hunting for a Felix the cat as shown in a photo here way back. The rider/driver also looks to be quite a darker skin than the others, wonder if there is a story there?
ReplyDeleteOn leave from India perhaps?
Hi Ken, there's a Felix mascot in the Bonhams Beaulieu sale coming up soon. https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24877/#/aa0=1&MR0_length=10&w0=list&aj0=lot_number_asc&q0=felix&m0=0
DeleteCan't say I would personally pay that much for it, but it is a nice mascot. If it was a bit cheaper I could be persuaded to buy it and get some replicas cast up...
Thanks for the tip, but its a soft one I'm after, preferably ratty to match the bike. I have a small lead one very similar the one in the link, 20-odd quid off ebay.There was one, tied to the forks on one of your veteran combo pics a while back, so you are to blame! I also have a pukka Red Devil mascot on the bike.
DeleteNow I look it it at leisure I reckon it probably is a posed photo, as the rider does not really look relaxed or at home on a bike.
ReplyDeleteKen, I think you are absolutely right. The guy can't even manage a scowl. He's virtually sneering. Something tells me he considers this nonsense and he probably is the one paying for the vacation! Great photo, though.
Delete