Just uploaded to the Gallimaufry, some notes on the career of one of Germany’s most prolific, and most successful, designers of engines and complete motor cycles. At one point he was responsible for half of all German proprietary engines. In three decades of unremitting work he came up with everything from 50cc tiddlers to the mighty Zundapp two-wheel-drive combos used so effectively by the German army in World War two. Sidevalves, ohv, ohc; singles, twins, fours; two-strokes, four-strokes: Küchen did the lot.

Phil Irving, Edward Turner, Granville Bradshaw and a few, a very few, others are household names to motor cycle obsessives of a certain age. I’m ashamed to say that, while I’d heard of Harold Willis I didn’t know much about him, but I do now: inventor of the positive-stop foot gearchange, modern swinging-arm suspension and, would you believe, the dual seat. Oh, and he was runner-up in two Junior TTs and won the Hutchinson Hundred. And survived being torpedoed to fight at Jutland, and—if you’d care to turn to the Gallimaufry you can read all about him.

Just added to the Cartoons page, images of some interesting marque badges including the Henderson/Excelsior-X, upon which hangs a tale. Also uploaded, possibly the worst-taste oil advert to date (no need to wait, here it is).

This timeline is in a constant state of flux but, for now at least, 1927 is about as complete as it’s going to get (apart from a large number of cool adverts which I plan to upload over the next few days). You’ll find a report on the Olympia show with some interesting new models—this was a year of change with saddle tanks bursting out all over, with a growing number of ohv and even ohc roadsters. Before moving on to 1928 I’ll get stuck into at least a small part of the hundreds of excellent images received from my chum Francois; there are also some articles to be added to the A-Z gallimaufry including a major German motor cycle designer I hadn’t heard of till Francois put me on his track. Back in the real world the combo needs some tlc for the rigours of an island winter, the MZ still needs her new kickstart and a ride on the Sporty would be nice. Writing about bikes is fun; playing with them is better, n’est ce pas?

Some progress on 1927: reports and pics of the TT and ISDT are now in place, as well as some shorter yarns and a couple of delightful pieces from Ixion.

As a break from working my way through 1927 I’ve just uploaded a batch of pics from what I think of as the Fanfan archive, that being the nickname of my French buddy who has transformed this timeline (as always, merci mon ami). There are some fine illustrations at the end of the Cartoons page; another half-dozen pics from the Great War in the Melange, including an extraordinary Harley pigeon carrier; and some fine studies of competitors in the 1910, 1911, 1913 and 1914 TTs. When time allows I’ll be setting up another Melange page as there are hundreds of pics awaiting publication. And I really ought to spend more time in the garage.

While browsing a 1927 copy of the Blue ‘Un words and pics for 1927 I came across a smashing poem by a lad who had clearly read some Kipling and No26 in the ‘Motor Cycles of Long Ago’ series: a pic of the first OEC. Here’s the first stanza of the poem, you’ll find it in full at the bottom of the Poetry page, where you’ll find a selection of delightful ditties and charming illustrations. A tarted up version of the OEC pic with another showing the builder on his creation awaits your attention in 1901.
When we’ve ridden out our guarantee, and several thousand more,
And the mileage on the dial is running high,
Then the human engine seizes, or a.piston starts to score,
Or a frame breaks, and we settle down and die,
And the next stage (experts tell us) is a region bright and fair;
But is there room for trusty steeds besides?
When the hero reached Valhalla, did he find his charger there?
Shall we meet the old machines we used to ride?

Obviously it’s not a complete record but all the material I have for 1926 is now on line. As usual you’ll find reports on the TT and ISDT, there’s also a feature on Norton’s North-South-East-West stunt that won the Unapproachable crown their four Maudes Trophy in as many years. 1926 was also marked by a series of remarkable rides, including round Australia and round the world. Records were broken, mountains were climbed and some really nice bikes made their debut. I’m moving on to 1927; see you there.

Murray, who wrote the excellent Murray’s Timelines you’ll see in the main menu, has been rather busy; he’s just finished a six-volume, 1,000-page flip book. You can find the link at the end of his page and, while I eschew hyperbole, it’s bloody brilliant. So don’t waste time reading this, have a look.

Norton wanted to publicise its ohv models. No problem: assemble them from parts chosen by the ACU, charge through the routes of all three MCC’ long-distance classic trials, pop down to Brooklands to pick up 32 world records and finish up with a fourth successive Maudes Trophy. The firm even published a booklet with a blow-by-blow account. It’s a ripping yarn which you’ll find in the 1926 features section.