Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Black, Red and the one I built earlier...

Black or Red?


That is my question this week in regards to the Matchless project.  I have had the frame cleaned up and powder coated, secured a nice Lycett seat and acquired a new wiring harness.  The cylinder is in the shop and I have secured a replacement fork tube.

I also spent a painstaking amount of time sorting out all the nuts, bolts and washers and studs.  Of course I had to clean the really rough stuff, making my tumbler and invaluable tool!

The workbench has since been cleaned up.....substantially!


So what colour do I make the tanks and tool box?  



Or






I will reveal my choice soon...


The one I built earlier...

While cleaning my garage I found a plethora of old photographs;  I was very pleased to find this one.  To the best of  my knowledge, this is the only surviving photo of my 1969 Triumph Daytona, made entirely from a big pile of parts (sound Familiar?)



This would have been circa 1998,  about three years before I sold it.   I never did get it to run properly and only really rode it a handful of times.  If I had it now, the story would be much different.  

I had been after a British bike for a few years, in earnest since 1994.  I didn't know much about them other than what I read in this excellent series of books at the school library a few years before that. 

These are a fantastic resource that I still see at swap meets...pick them up if you have the opportunity!

For me, nothing else would suffice.  My poor old Yamaha Maxim seemed sad and ugly by comparison,  with it's cast wheels and plastic accouterments.  In all fairness, that $50.00 motorcycle served me well and I was lucky to have it.  I gained a taste for the two wheeled life that was never going to let me go.

There seemed to be a lot of basket cases around back then for a few hundred dollars.  I missed out on a Matchless (what model I don't know now)  for $350.00 by one day.  I missed out on a '59 Tiger Cub (for $600.00 Running!)  by an hour.  Luck seemed to be against me.   Another year passed,  I briefly owned a Vespa 100 which was fun but not for me.  I had heard about a shop on Sorauren Avenue in Toronto called the Rocker Box that repaired old British bikes and may have some for sale.   The first part was true enough  however the latter wasn't.  

The owner (Doug?) was polite enough and answered my questions about the bikes in the shop.  There were Triumph's, BSA's,  AMC products, even an Ariel or two.  I was certainly in heaven, to him however I was probably just some young guy burgling his time. 

He was kind enough to give me the phone number of a friend who had 'a few' projects lying around.  

That is a story for another day....











Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Firth Motorcycle 1950 Catalogue


Time seems to be getting away from me this spring!  I have been busy working  (thankfully!) Riding (gratefully!) and spending time with family.

I have quite a bit to post over the next little while, however I will be spacing it out a bit.

 Today I have another neat catalogue, still in the original folder acquired from the owner's son.  It amazes me when a piece like this survives;  when I consider the amount of paper I recycle every week I couldn't imagine something like this lasting 66 years in my house!

I apologize for the scan quality for some of the pages; I didn't want to ruin the book by flattening out the centre.  I hope you enjoy it.




In a couple years Firth would assume distribution of Matchless for Manitoba as well (as per later catalogues)

I am told that many of these bikes were sold to learners (where did they all go?) as Firths were reluctant to sell large bikes to new riders.


No mention of AJS this year at all...

Interesting to note that the engine in the picture is actually an AJS Model 20 distinguished by the timing cover.


















I am curious as to what the difference is between a 'Firths British Battery' and 'British Standard Battery' $2.50 was significant pocket change then! 




Firth did actually patent several accessories which I have found online, The Streamliner can be found here: patent

Not a Chinese part in sight.....those truly were the days.


Promised updates are forthcoming! keep an eye on this spot..

Ride Safely!