1975 Harley Davidson brochure

Here's the 1975 Harley brochure from the dark days of AMF. Only three models in the range...

1975 Harley Davidson brochure page 1.

1975 Harley Davidson brochure page 2.

1975 Harley Davidson brochure page 3.

1975 Harley Davidson brochure page 4.

Lambretta SX 200 brochure

Billed rather immodestly by Lambretta themselves as 'the world's finest scooter' the SX 200 was produced from 1966 to 1969. This is the British market brochure.

Lambretta SX 200 brochure page 1.

Lambretta SX 200 brochure page 2.

Lambretta SX 200 brochure page 3.

Lambretta SX 200 brochure page 4.

Geoff Duke at Blandford Camp 1950

Earlier on in the year Geoff Duke had shown the competition the might of the Norton 'Featherbed' frame  for the first time. He returned with the Norton works team August 7th to Blandford Camp for the Blackmoor Vale MCC Motor Cycle Road Races. Once again he won the Senior 500cc class. Not such an achievement as back on April 29th as this time the competition was mostly of local club competitors rather than other works teams in an international meeting.

This post is a taste of things to come, I'm working on a potted history of motor cycle racing at Blandford. Keep watching...

1950 Blandford Camp Road Races programme
signed by Geoff Duke.

Merry Christmas 2012

Merry Christmas 2012 to all!

The Economic Babyweight Motor Cycle brochure

This one's a rarity, the condition of the brochure is slightly poor but it warrants reproduction. I have never heard of a complete survivor though an engine used to be in the Stanford Hall museum. There is some useful information on the NACC website. 

The Economic seems fairly typical of a number of cyclemotors produced in the years immediately following the First World War. What sets it apart is the engine, a flat twin two stroke. The only other examples I can think of are the East German IFA and the Velocette Viceroy. There are a number of advantages to the design, it is inherently smooth, relatively simple, but production costs are significantly higher than a single and with little power advantage. With early two stroke technology the flat twin format probably made a lot more sense with the two cylinders better able to even out erratic firing from hit and miss carburation and oiled up plugs.

Although the flat twin two stroke is a more expensive unit than a single perhaps the Economic managed to be produced on the cheap by the use of ex US army surplus motors - the design originated from trench pumps and it is unclear whether or not Economic made their own motors or had merely bought in a batch of army surplus units. The trench pump was made by Johnson of marine outboard motors fame.

The Economic also seems to differ from competitors in that it was apparently only sold as a complete machine in ladies or gents options rather than as a clip on attachment.

A shame there don't seem to be any survivors. Seeing one running would be a great experience, that is if you are a nerd like me who likes early two stokes....

Economic Babyweight Motor Cycle Brochure page 1.

Economic Babyweight Motor Cycle Brochure page 2.

Economic Babyweight Motor Cycle Brochure page 3.

Economic Babyweight Motor Cycle Brochure page 4.

Economic Babyweight Motor Cycle Brochure page 5.

Economic Babyweight Motor Cycle Brochure page 6.

Stunt riding on a Rudge Multi

Rudge Multi stunt rider...

Picked this postcard up recently. Looks like it was a Rudge advertising giveaway, presumably Mr Hodson was well known at the time. The script on the reverse of the card reads.....

"Mr H Hodson, an enthusiastic Lancashire Motor Cyclist, has such trust in the steadiness and excellent steering qualities of his Rudge Multi, that he has no hesitation in doing stunts at speed.

This particular photograph was taken of him whilst travelling at 35mph. He is a keen competition rider."

1954 Manx Norton Model made by Bert Hooper

This scale model 1954 Manx Norton was one of a pair scratch made from works drawings between 1954 and 1955 by Bert Hooper, Dispatch Manager at Norton Motors' Bracebridge Street factory.

One was presented to Tom Garner for services rendered and the other was given to Gilbert Smith, the Managing Director. The Gilbert Smith example sat into his office until retirement and then disappeared, location unknown. This example is the Tom Garner one and was collected from Bracebridge Street by Graham Garner on the Friday before Silverstone Saturday in April 1955. In the eighties it was bought by a son of Norton works rider Syd Lawton from Graham Garner. It was then passed down the Lawton family to another son before finding a new custodian.

Detail on the model is very fine down to the Avon trademark on the rubber tyres. The petrol tank is one solid lump of aluminium and the chains were made link by link.

If anyone knows of the other model or any further details please get in touch.

1954 Norton Manx model right hand view.

1954 Norton Manx model left hand view.

1954 Norton Manx model petrol tank close up.

1954 Norton Manx model engine close up.

1954 Norton Manx model right hand view.