Having uploaded a wide range of stories from 1895 I’ve moved on to 1896 when the law that strangled British vehicle evolution was finally dumped. There’s a lot more material to be unearthed from ’96 but in the meantime, enjoy this quote from The Autocar: “While the tricycles are making such headway it is perhaps not surprising that so little should be seen of the petroleum and steam bicycles which were believed at one time to be on the point of achieving a great deal of popularity. As a matter of fact, the motor bicycle has never had any big chance of proving a rival to the three-wheeled machine, to which it is inferior for the application of mechanism in every respect.”

All the material I have for 1949 is now published; the TT was a real humdinger and you’ll find a review of the first World Championship series. And a 4½-litre Polish V-twin combo with room for eight. And a clutch of show reports (say hello to a vertical-twindian). And a gruelling ride through Turkey on a 250. And the arrival of the Craven luggage gear which my generation grew up with. And Vic Willoughby’s tales from the Continental Circus. And roadtests including the legendary Stroud Panther and the Beeza Star Twin. And motor scooters. And Brits putting the colonials in their place at Daytona. And tales of the Motor Maids. And the Pioneer Run. And the Wooler flat four. And…you get the picture. At which point I would normally tell you I’m beavering away on 1950; but I’ve come across a gold mine of material from the turn of the century (20th century that is, and earlier). So I’m getting back to our roots; I’ll keep you posted but you’ll already find details of the first British vehicle show in 1895.

Two more years are on-site for your delectation including loads of good stuff from the 1948 Earls Court show, which featured a cornucopia of vertical twins. You’ll also find the most famous motor cycling pic ever taken, comprehensive coverage of the TTs and ISDTs and…shedloads more. And for a change of pace about 300 striking images have been added to the advertising sections from 1924-48 and to the artwork page where, as well as some fab coloured ads, you’ll find cartoons, and illustrations to gladden your eye.

There are now more than 100,000 words, and one or two pics, crammed into 1946. Yarns include reports on the new-fangled telescopic forks that were springing up in front of British bikes, including the air-sprung Dowties on the Panthers (there’s also a test of the Panther M100)…the innovations uncovered by the “British Intelligence Objectives Sub-Committee’s Report on the German motor cycle industry”…a Belgian electric motor cycle which went into series production and a petrol-powered Belgian with an odd front end…a busy programme of sporting events—despite the continued petrol rationing that had the motor cycling fraternity at its wits’ end…and…go take a gander. As 1947’s already as complete as any year is in the timeline (though I have just added some remarks by Soichiro Honda’s first engineer) I’ll get back to 1948. Meanwhile more pics are being added to the melanges all the time, and in 1913 you’ll find harrowing tales of American desert racing. Enjoy.

I’m adding yarns and pics to 1946 on a daily basis. Latest tiotbits include the first great post-war trial (it was a mudbath, but two-stroke tiddlers were making their mark among the big four-strokes); a 9cc, yes 9cc-powered bicycle that combined a 15mph cruising speed with consumption of 1,280mpg; head-banging street racing in Rome; and some exquisite drawings from a Jap prison camp.

Over the past few nights I’ve made a small inroad into the towering pile of old photos received from my esteemed amigo Francois. A good number are from the world wars; many more are from the US (not, not just Indians and Harleys, we’re also talking Thor, Flying Merkel, Excelsior and Emblem); some exquisite pre-WW1 ads have been aded to the Artwork page—and many more pics have been absorbed by the main timeline and the second melange page, which is filling up to the point that I’ll need to set up Melange III. I now plan to get back to 1946 after which I’ll get back on schedule with 1948.

Some great snaps of pre-war Harley dealers and German road racers, more veterans, more images from the Great War (in Le Melange) and WW2 (in their own page), loads (and I do mean loads) more Indian and Harley snaps plus a couple of Hendersons, two Aces, a Reading Standard and Excelsiors—the latest batch from Francois (merci mon ami) is scattered through les deux melanges so if you have some time, brew up and take a look.

I was busy uploading more images in les melange when I came across a great batch of yarns from the colonies, including a record braking trans-continental trek on a Thomas. And a town that fined motor cyclists for motor cycling. And two watery motor cyclists: a Brit who set fire to a river and a Jerry who was caught out by a raised drawbridge. And an American reaction to a British Fairy. Enjoy; I’m going back to the pictures.

Since my last post my esteemed ami Francois has sent me several dozen excellent pictures. Many date from 1947/8 and will be published under their respective years, or in the melange; others are from the first and second world wars; there’s also a great batch of pre-Great War pics from the USA and…you get the idea. Normal service on the timeline (eg 1948) will be suspended while I get stuck into the photo files. I’ll post updates so you can check out the latest additions. As a taster here’s a snap of a nipper and his Adler.