From Big Bang to suck-squeeze-bang-blow and beyond
One melange good…
Two melanges better? If you’ve been looking at the pics in the melange you’ll have noticed that the page takes some time to open. No surprise there—I just checked and it contains more than 700 images. That notional box of old motorbike pics you’ve come across is full so it’s time to fill another. There are, as I write this, 524 items awaiting publication (most of them courtesy of my esteemed ami Francois). As before I’ll upload them in (a highly approximate) chronological order. Enjoy… Update: November 2023; I’m still adding pics to the first melange page because that’s where the Great War and early American bike galleries live and it would be silly to split them so there are now probably 800 images. And, thanks to Francois, more than 1,000 images to upload. When ‘Melange 2’ becomes unwieldy I’ll set up a third page—just another box of memories of motor cycles and the people who rode them.
First pic out of the box dates from about 1930. These enthusiasts are posing on a 350cc Harley Model D.
More bathing belles from about the same time. The Henderson four is magnificent, the girls are pretty. But it has to be said, a smile would be nice.
Back in Blighty where it doesn’t look quite as sunny these sturdy lasses are on a Clyno.
Another British beach, a Beeza and a Zenith; this group seems to be enjoying themselves.
That’s enough glamour for the time being, the rest of this box of photos will be in at least approximate chronological order with a good number grouped together by year. Fading memories of motor cycles and motor cyclists…enjoy.
The Bollée tricar hit the streets in 1895 with a 3hp lump and claimed top speed of 27mph. It was nicknamed ‘torpille parisienne’ (the Paris torpedo).
OK, it’s a quad, but in the early days the line between bikes, trike and quads was blurred. In any case, this one’s French.
This is a Type TB Laurin & Klement which was in production from 1901-3.
This pic arrived with the caption “Blair Shaw”, presumably the name of the young rider.
This mature racer is doing his stuff in Lindethal, near Cologne.
Nemo’s piloting the pacer; Dankar’s following him.
This is obviously taken at a Paris-Madrid race but I do’t know which year which is why it’s dans le melange rather than sur en page
The rider’s faded from history but his passengers do look happy. Is thyat an extyra door near the front of the chair? It’s an impressive hunk of wickwork.
A proud dad with his daughter and his motorwheel Opel.
This tandem is designed for a lady passenger up front.
Sunday best and serious ‘taches at the start of a road trial.
Laon is in Picardy, where the Tommies thought the roses bloomed.
The peach on his petrol tank seems to haver distracted this chap from his flat tyres.
The bike looks later than the ‘1904’ inscribed on the pic. No matter; our attention is inevitably concentrated on the coat. Ixion recalled: “…all good ‘autocarrists’ wore fur coats made of the pelt of an alleged China goat. Not having visited China, I do not know whether there are goats in that country, or whether the term was a trade name. Anyhow, the individual hairs of the coat were about four inches long, and rather coarse. The ground colour was white, with patches of pale brown and blue, and the fur bristled, instead of lying flat. We motor cyclists soon decided that these coats were unfit for our use.”
Is this a real breakdown or a posed portrait? I wouldn’t want to get oil on a Chinese goatskin jacket. And that’s not a phrase you read every day.
According to the contemporary caption this young man is one B Shaw.
Pioneer motor cyclist Muriel Hind appears prominently in he timeline.
Laurin & Klements: note the cooling ran on the right-hand example; presumably for sidecar use. I believe out colonial cousins cool these devices ‘parade fans’.
This clubman (pity we can’t see the name of the club on his pennant) and his Ner-a-Car are on the road near Havana.
French army riders getting messy at Satory, near Versailles, presumably testing bikes for military use.
French army combos.
This social gathering is in Germany.
Two up on a Gillet Herstal.
This is a Puch engine, and very pretty it is too.
Elsie Janis (born Elsie Bierbower) was an American actress, songwriter, screenwriter and radio announcer. Entertaining the doughboys during World War I earned her the sobriquet ‘sweetheart of the AEF’ (American Expeditionary Force). And ain’t the sidecar a doozie?
Cairo, just after the Great War, and ex-WD bikes are going under the hammer.
…more of the same, and rather nicely colourised.
Following every war someone’s happy to maske a few bob selling surplus military kit. These bikes were being flogged off in Cairo.
This ABC seems to be competing in a race sur Le Continent
This grumpy Victoria rider seems to be pointing at something.
This glum looking rider was on a racetrack in Hamburg.
The bike’s a Douglas; this snap carried the caption ‘Carmel Vinas’—and that’s all I know.
This rider’s Italian…
As is this snapshot…
…and this one….
…and this one….
…and this one.
Has that rider noticed he’s left his sidecar behind? (Right) This misty start was pictured in Latvia.
This club run headed to Devil’s Den, on the Civil War battlefield of Gettysberg PA.
Youth on a Magnat Debon, age on a Monet Goyon.
The family is posing with their NSU; the lightweight is a Motobecane.
Contrast the New York State trooper with the warlike NYPD armoured guncarriages.
“Jolly holiday maklers at a farm in Worcestershire try out a new sport with their motor cycoe and judgijg by their smiles surf riding on the farm is a great success.” Meanwhile, in the woods,it’s time for a cuppa.
A trip in the sidecar might not be too bad but the air ambulance must have been a nightmare for casualties.
DEALERS
This garage is in Hampshire. And here are some more dealers…
This one’s in Eastbourne. As my father-in-law used to say, “Dover for the Continent; Eastbourne for the incontinent.”
This dealer was pictured in 1915.
These riders are preparing for action at Porthmarnock beach, Dublin.
…this couple and their sporty combo are in Margate. Check out those disc wheels.
This young lady is pictured, presumably by the combo pilot, in the Massif De La Sainte Baume. (Right) Muddy roads demand grown-up legshields.
Three jolly Aussies share a big twin.
Judging by their armbands these clubmen are off on a trial. They’re pictured in Doncaster.
So you thought serious geezers in leather were a new phenomenon?
When you see a Neracar kitted out as a freight carrier it makes all kinds of sense.
This V-twin is a Griffon.
This is a Hulla, made in Germany from 1925-52 and, according to my trusty Tragatsch, sold predominantly in the north of the country.
These enthusiasts are Italian.
This was taken in Monaco; judging by the flowers and the mud the Duggie rider has just won an off-road event.
The caption on the postcard indicates that this Monet-Goyon scooter has been ridden to the top of la Roche de Solutré, a 495m limestone escarpment five miles west of Mâcon, France.
This 175cc Monet-Goyon was pictured at Brooklands.
And now some more dated snaps, starting with 1902
The formidable Clement V4.
This auction pic was labelled ‘Centaur Minerva’. Tragatsch reports Centaur as a British marque produced from 1901-15. Minerva was set up in Belgian in 1901 and did supply engines so…
1903
This is a De Dion Bouton, pictured in Paris. The rider’s costume would have raised eyebrows on the other side of the Channel.
1904
This four-pot FN inspired the American Pierce Arrow.
A youthful Alessandro Anzani with an Alcyon three years before he started making his own engines.
French ace Leon Demester aboard a Griffon.
Italian ace Giosuè Giuppone on a pacer; he was also a top-flight racer on bicycles and Peugeot motor cycles.
Belgian motor cycle racer Jan Olieslagers became an ace fighter pilot in the Great War; he set motor cycle and flying world records and had a memorable nickname: The Demon of Antwerp.
Tamagni, winner of the motor cycle class of the wonderfully named Course du Mille, des deux Coupes Henri de Rothschild in Nice.
This couple have dressed to the nines for this rather sweet studio portrait. I’m not sure if I’m more impressed by her hat or his tartan garters.
1905
Demester, as usual, in winning form on his trusty Griffon.
1906
Italian 500cc champion Count Dionigi Alberto.
Giuppone again, on a potent looking Peugeot at Oostende.
Peugeot-engined Nortons, pictured the year before Rem Fowler rode one into history in the first TT.
1907
We’re in Australia, the rider is one CM Dyer and the bike’s an Aussie-made Sovereign, built round a 12hp Minerva V-twin.
1908
1909
Say hello to the Los Angeles MC.
“A Walton 5hp VS [Vindec Special], Clipstone Races, 12th June ’09. One mile standing start 1min 21⅘sec.”
1910
These chaps were about to start a race in the Aussie state of Victoria.
1911
This charming shot was taken in Les Sables d’Olonne a seaside town in Western France.
This seems to be a line-up of US WD machines.
1912
This pic’s contemporary caption (in rather fine copperplate) reads: “Coupe Challenge Lamberjack—Blanchon, amateur sur moto-tandem Rene Gillet 80×100 2 cylindres.” No doubt the ‘Lamberjack Challenge Cup’ was named after Dominique Lamberjack, who was a Griffon factory rider in 1904/5.
Also riding in the Lamberjack Cup was DeVay aboard a New Hudson.
These chaps rode with the MC Mandalieu in the Côte d’Azur.
This is the start of a hillclimb up the main drag of Montanglaust in Île-de-France.
This workshop is the Bendigo Cycle Agency, in the Aussie state of Victoria.
Judging by thye number these women are competing in a trial. Their Wilconson TAC combo is certainly imposing., and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. By the way, that ‘DL’ number plate indicates they bike was registered in my adopted home on the Isle of Wight.
Husqvarna dates back to 1903. Early models were powered by FN or, as in this case, Moto Reve.
Another Husqvarna-Moto-Reve. You wait for ages then two come along together.
Yes, it’s another Husqvarna-Moto-Reve; in this case equipped with an extravagent carrier.
These weary travellers have reached the Cat & Fiddle in the Peak District—officially Britain’s second highest pub until it closed in 2015; it’s still in use, as a distillery.
1913
This group is on a spree in Nebraska. It doesn’t look like they’re having a very nice time.
This is the Inverness MCC and someone is running his two-stroke.
These combos are competing in the Paris-Nice rally.
The chap reading his map is a competitor in the Redditch MCC’s Teme Valley Trial; his sidecar passenger seems to be cocooned against inclement weather.
1914
This pic bears the caption ‘Colmar’, which is a town in Alsace, so we’re in France, but with the outbreak of the Great War Colmar fell into German hands. What’s in those packages? I have no idea.
In the ‘long hot summer’ before the war a chap named Dubost won a hillclimb at Argenteuil aboard a 750cc outfit.
This pic, and the next one, were taken at the St Louis Motordrome.
These bikes were being requisitioned in Paris for military service pendiong the arrival of WD models.
1915
This twin’s a Motosacoche.
The contemporary caption tells us that the rider’s name is Robert (French surname rather than British first name, I suspect); the bike’s a 500cc Motosacoche and the road he’s scorching along is near Geneva.
The chaps are members of the Newcastle MCC of Muswelbridge, New South Wales (ditto the following pic).
…and here are members of the Newcastle club with their wives and nippers.
SH Hilebrand and her daughter Fay rode from Pennsylvania to Oklahoma to visit family (a journey of some 1,300 miles).
The machine is a Sun-Villiers.
Unusually, this snap comes with an exact date: 22 June 1915.
Militaire.
Tiger Autobike.
This Norton Big Four bears its civvy livery; the ambulance sidecar indicates it might have been pressed into military service.
1916
The contemporary caption indicates that the bike’s a 4hp Douglas, the rider is one Rupert Karner and he’s clearly being scrutinised for sort of test.
From LA to Clacton; no further detail to hand about this formal gathering.
The heading needs no translation; the French newspaper caption (usual apology for mon français d’écolier): “Carrying a dispatch and anxious to deliver it to its destination, he increased the speed of his motorcycle and on a slope, at the risk of breaking his neck, he proceeds literally by leaps and bounds; it is not yet the flying motorcycle, but it is not far from it.”
Wanderer was a pioneer German marque that was established in 1902; twins like 4hp example were put to good use by the German army during the Great War.
1917
1918
The front end is clearly ‘Baby’ Triumph and the engine looks right (a 225cc two-stroke) but there are some puzzling anomalies. In any case, a cool pic, don’t you think?
This New York motorcycle cop is armed with a Browning M1897 machine gun for ‘riot control’.
1919
This woman bestrides a Motosacoche.
This stately combo is a Husqvarna.
These travel-worn riders were pictured on the famous Cannonball Run.
1920
This chap seems to have uniformed twins and a pond yacht in his sidecar. The bike’s a Royal Enfield.
This Harley combo was in service with the Polish army.
Taken on 31 October, François Clech was pictured on his Motosolo at Gometz-le-Châtel.
This is an Ixion Model B MkII.
This was the first year for the Louis Clement; the marque survived until 1932.
It’s an Alba, built in Germany from 1919-24.
The caption translates as: “”Ernesto Gnesa won the 350 Grand Prix of Nations. The motorbike was a Garelli model ‘3hp’ with ‘two cylinders without valves’, as the advertisement of the time stated. The competitive debut of this bike came with a victory in the 560km Torino Salo in 1920.”
“Motor-Cycle Test—HF Edwards, on his BSA machine, dashing at full speed through a stream.”
1921
The Velo team in the Six Days Trial: George Denley SJ Jones and Eugene Goodman (son of Velocette founder John Goodman).
It’s Saturday, 16 April; Freddie Dixon and his Harley combo have just won the Sutton Bank Hill Climb in the record time of 1min 17.6sec
Aother Harley outfit, this time in France.
Graham Walker, clearly enjoying the sunshine during the weigh-in for the Grand Prix de la Sarthe at Le Mans.
That’s a nifty bit of cornering during a road race somewhere in Italy.
This is Crown Prince Wilhelm of Prussia who was involved in a lot of political intrigue. More to the point he was an enthusiastic motor cyclist.
Now there’s something you don’t see every day.
Another penny farthing, this time in the US of A. Was the cop having a friendly chat or issuing a ticket? I have no idea.
This snapshot was simply captioned “Mont Dore” which, it seems, is a villagein the Massif Central, on the bank of the Dordogne, 50km south-west of Clermont-Ferrand. And very nice it looks too.
As this postcard’s original caption tells us, a rider named de Labarre won the 1,000cc class of the 2,000km Paris-Pyrennes-Paris trial aboard his Harley.
We’re at the start of a two-day reliability trial in Czechoslovakia; F Nusi, K Sedivy and A Sulc are clearly delighted to be riding Beezas, and who can blame them.
This pic was taken in 1921 though the Moto Reve’s clearly earlier, probably dating from about 1910.
Victor Horsman and his Norton—always a formidable combination (ok, solo…sorry, couldn’t resist).
1922
This cartoon appeared in the News of the World.
This is a 497cc Bleriot vertical twin: same configuration as the Triumph TRW but 24 years earlier.
This is a Terrot E-type.
Note the generous mudguards and legshields to keep road filth from the rider’s strides.
The Bitche military camp was set up at the start of the last century; between the wars, when this picture was taken, it was used to train reservists.
These tiddlers are racing at Montargis during the Grand Prix de France…
…running repairs during the same meeting…
…still at Montargis; evidently solos and combos raced at the same time.
As the original caption indicates, a rider named Uisiloi and his Garelli are doing their thing at a Grand Prix meeting in Strasbourg.
Taken during the same meeting, this is a rider named Hollowell; his mount is a 490cc ohv Model 18 Norton, launched the previous year.
Well wrapped up against the winter chill, this enthusiast is riding a Husqvarna-Moto-Reve.
Winner of the 500cc class in the MC de Lyon GP, Jolly and his Meuniere. And one has to hope he got a cup to replace the shrubbery he’s carrying.
The front-wheel-drive Megola’s open frame made it suitable for riders in skirts.
This Beeza combo, ridden by un homme by the name of Leroux, was pictured during the weigh-in at Neuilly-sur-Seine at the start of the Tour de France (the proper one, for motorbikes).
1923
Folke Mannerstedt at Stockhold Velodrome.
Norton Big Four combo at Brooklands.
The Douglas team, messrs Whalley, Dixon, Austice and Bennett, at the Circuit De Tours.
This outfit took part in the French Grand Prix.
RO Lowe and his Norton at Brooklkands during a BMCRC meeting. He won two races.
1924
The bike, of course, is a Cotton; the rider, alas, is anonymous.
This snapshot, taken by a Marseilles photographer, was captioned ‘Course du Camp’.
The rider’s named Hommaire, the bike’s an Orial (a marque linked to MAG’s Lyon plant; it went under in 1926). This snap was taken at the Circuit du Lyon. Nice artwork on le chariot, n’est ce pas?
The bike’s an Italian-made Acora, first made in 1923 and surviving until the outbreak of WW2; most were powered by Villiers.
This silver flask was presented to the winner of the Welsh TT, held on Pendine Sands.
1925
These charioteers seem to have their cornering technique well sorted.
1927
This is a rider named Franconi, cornering his Motosacoche on his way to setting best time on the Course de Cote du Mont Agel.
1928
1936
1938
Hugo Roik and his Husqvarna 500 twin are pictured at the start of the annual Grossglockner hillclimb in Austria.
These chaps are holding trophies won in the Paris-Nice trial.
All I know about this pic is that it depicts “hand-made motor cycle masks” and was taken in 1938.
…back to undated images. As always, they serve as a reminder that motor cycling, that magnificent obsession, dates back a long, long way. Enjoy.
The rider wears the uniform of a corporal in the Austro-Hungarian army. His bikle’s a 491cc Laurin & Klement Type CC.
This magnificent machine is a Mars.
Mr Wilson has clearly won a trophy on his Rudge Multi, but the event is lost to history.
This motor cycling gymkhana was staged in Berlin and I have no idea what’s going on.
My schoolboy French tells me that this motor cycling priest climbed a 908m peak called Mont Belluet on his Auto Fauteil scooter.
These skaters are towing the combo line on Big Bear Lake, California.
This family’s enjoying a spree with their Terrot.
After their success in the Great War…
…Triumphs were…
…ubiquitous…
…and many of them were exported.
The French-made Rovin wasn’t in the Triumph’s league, but they produced some cool ads. C’est un singe rouge sur une moto!
This snap, evidently from the start of a competition, is simply marked ‘Amiens’.
The bike’s a Gillet.
No, not a hearse, this is a St John Ambulance combo. It must have been an interesting experience for casualties.
We’re in Italy for this one.
The bikes look early 1920s; the place is St Thomas’s Square in Newport, Isle of Wight—and as you can see, bikes still gather there.
I have no idea why this pic was taken in front of that wonderful backdrop.
This was taken in Aix en Othe
This was taken in Alsace; that boxy wickerwork sidecar looks like chairs used by the French lads in the Great War.
The bike’s an Ardie made (according to Muzza’s excellent virtual Tragatsch) in Germany from 1919-1958.
Judging by the clothing this pioneer run dates from the 1940s or 50s. The press agency caption reads: “An amusing procession of old motor cycles took place from Aerodrome Hotel Croydon to-day. The picture shows Miss Norah Everitt refilling her ‘JAMES’ solo built 1913.”
The ‘CA’ prefix indicates these bikes were registered in Denbighshire…
…while ‘EX’ links this one to Great Yarmout.
This snap was taken in Chimay, Belgium, home of the renowned Trappiste brewery. Hence the smiles.
Chinese cops with their bikes; marque unknown.
“ENGLAND’S LATEST SPORT. Dirt Track Racing, the new famous Motor-Cycle sport, has now become very popular all over Great Britain, where Tracks are now opening up all over the country and each meeting is attended by huge crowds. This new sport is a serious rival to Greyhound Racing, which took London by storm last Season. This popular sport originated from Australia and well known Australian riders are now taking part in the London events. Our picture shows Mr A Angell, passing E Thomas in the handicap race for Motor Cycles with Sidecars at the Greenford Park Dirt Track meeting.”
Note the smashing painted backdrop.
The Dresh was made in la belle France from 1929-39.
These Duggies were pictured in France, where the marque had earned a sound reputation during the war.
Two more Douglases doing their thing in France.
“Don’t eat the yellow snow!”
This is a trial run by the Fordingbridge Motor Cycle & Light Car Club.
A French bike shop; a French tiddler. Not to be confused with tickler.
A French…whatever this is. Looks good though.
Well covered by their dusters, is this couple riding in the American flatlands?
Two chaps pose for a holiday snap on a beach. Father and son?
Three chaps in caps out on a spree in the sunshine…
Four chaps in caps aboard Bezas…ex-army? Posties?
I believe this snap was taken in Italy; date, location and marque unknown.
“Successful manoeuvres have been carried out by the new French Army Motor Cycle Corps, which have recently been raised. The cyclist are equipped for many branches of military warfare. Our picture shows a motor cycle anti-aircraft machine gun in action during the manoeuvres.”
This set of four pics originated at a German road race.
Racer Enrico Lorenzetti rides one of the first Guzzi 500s outside a Milan show—the placard reads: “The first Moto Guzzi in circulation since 1921”. In 1952 Lorenzetti won the 250cc World Championship for Moto Guzzi.
New York State highway patrolmen, clearly happier in cowboy hats than skidlids.
My GS850 combo and the Sportster are looked after by an exceptional motor cycle engineer named Rick. This snapshot, on Rick’s workshop wall, depicts his his granddad Roy, clearly relishing the performance of a Goldie. Rick, fortunately, rides more sedately*. * This is a lie.
Motorcycle Timeline 