Mike Worthington-Williams, The Old Schoolhouse, Cenarth, Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire SA38 9JL worthycomments@btconnect.com
Simon Duerden sends me two photographs [Pic1, Pic.2] from the Dutch VMC magazine (to whom due acknowledgement). The first is of a Williamson flat twin fitted with a gas bag (presumably during the First World War judging by the attire of the pillion passenger). It’s unusual to see this on a motorcycle. The second is a Regent. These used 688cc Coventry Victor flat twin engines and were made only in 1920. The example illustrated, therefore, is a rare survivor.
My mention of Mr Leek from Braintree last month had me mixing up Colne with Calne. Harley rider Doug Barton and Graham Baldwin both pointed this out, but I’d already realised my mistake and written an apology to Mr Leek. Colne is near Braintree (where he lives), and Essex registration records are said to survive at the Record Office at Wharf Road, Chelmsford.
Chris Roberts, a Sunbeam owner since 1972, identified the bike in the hedge in last month’s Unearthed as a 1936 Sunbeam 350cc model. Frame number series for this machine in 1936 commenced 21/541/0/101 and upwards.
Julian Snook thinks the frame number given for photograph 4 in last month’s Feedback is for a 1927 BSA Sloper 4.93hp model.
Arthur Pentney in Holt, Norfolk sends me this photograph [Pic.3] of a bracket which was fitted to the top of the oil tank on a 1943 16H Norton. It’s stamped 1944 and looks quite a professional job (REME?). It was used to accommodate the voltage control unit, which is usually situated on a frame tube adjacent to the toolbox. Arthur has never seen this before and wonders why it was put there?
Reg Glading thinks the streamlined machine in photograph 2 of last month’s Feedback was a Swiss-built Ecomobile designed and built by an airline pilot in the 1980s. Peter Maskell agrees and wonders if the bike was not also known as a Monotracer. He believes there was a brief test of one in Motorcycle Sport some years ago. Richard Tann in Elstree, Hertfordshire also agrees and remembers seeing two of the later Monotracer models at Bad Munster (Germany) in 2013. He also provides more information about the marque.
There were apparently 89 built by Peraves and were a ‘feet forwards’ type. The engine was a BMW K100, as were the forks and transmission. A monocoque chassis was formed of Kevlar. Controls and instruments were by BMW but engine and transmission were rear-mounted. The 'landing gear' used a patented mechanism driven by a modified starter motor to raise and lower the small wheels under the driver’s control. Once raised, the wheels rest in supports at the side, so that if the machine is dropped it comes to rest on the retracted wheels. The whole machine was designed with no aerodynamic compromises and was probably the most streamlined motorcycle ever offered for sale. It was apparently geared for 150mph and was said to be at its smoothest between 100mph and 120mph.
Fitted with seat belts and with sufficient room for luggage in the tail, it had a heating system and a stereo. The gearbox was modified so that the first gear position is reverse, leaving four forward speeds. As well as the 89 Ecomobiles, around 60 Monotracers were built before the company closed in 2015. The following year production started again in the Czech Republic.
Roger Kimbell agrees with all this but adds that the Ecomobile also used the R series BMW engine. Bob Livesey in Preston, Lancashire adds to the story by naming the designer as Arnold Wagner, and confirming that the supporting wheels on the sides only extended when below walking pace. Roger Beale confirms use of the R100 BMW engine following by the K Type turbocharged unit capable of 315kph. He also tells me that following the move to the Czech Republic a few electric examples were built before bankruptcy overtook them.
Barry Fox of the Swansea & District section of the VMCC sends me this photograph [Pic.4] posted by the Dorset Section of a period shot of Capt Sir Tom Moore on a very desirable vintage Scott machine. He is holding two trophies, one of which, the silver veteran car, looks like the Lord Trophy given by the Austin Motor Company to the Veteran Car Club of GB, who awarded it as their Victor Ludorum. If it isn’t, then I give up! And yes, this Sir Tom is the same as the centenarian who has just been knighted for raising many millions for the NHS by completing a hundred circuits of his garden in the lead up to his 100th birthday, and the picture is the same image used on the cover of the May edition of this publication!
Simon Whittaker identifies the petrol tank in photograph 12 last month as from a FB Mondial – probably from a 175 Sprint. Simon is the VMCC Mondial marque specialist and wants to buy it, and I’ve put him in touch with
Colin. Readers don’t always agree, however, and Denny Chappell is convinced that it’s from a Montgomery Ward 250 Benelli, called the Riverside when sold in the USA. He says they were made by Benelli solely for sale by Montgomery Ward in their army surplus stores (just as Pride & Clarke did here). Denny says the flash on the tank is the clue.
Glyn Jones purchased a mystery bike from the USA [Pic.5]. It was said to be a P11/G15 750cc model but closer examination discloses that it’s based on a Matchless frame but with a Dominator engine.
The frame is really different, however, because the tank fixing is based on a quick release design with two centre tube fixing points rather than the normal four lug frame fixing standard on the G15/P11 AMC frame. The frame appears to be an original with no obvious signs of being modified. Checking all available published material, there doesn’t appear to be any record of either Matchless or Norton AMC frames using this type of petrol tank fixing. The engine number is 20/111558/P but the frame number is not in the usual place.
John Green, like Pete Ashley, has a 1910 Humber 200cc and needs help with its restoration. The two are now in touch.
John Newson sends me these photographs of a medal and trophy [Pic.6, Pic.7] given to him as a birthday present some years ago. The inscription on the trophy reads “B & DAC Sporting Trial 19.20.30 A E Andrews” and has silver hallmarks. The medal reads “E Andrews” – presumably the same gentleman. Both were bought in a small antiques shop in Tenterden High Street in Kent. Any information on Mr Andrews, the club and the event would be welcome.
Colin Love sends me this photograph [Pic.8] of himself on his Dominator 99 in 1967. It was his sole means of transport through university with a mildly uprated engine with some Dunstall parts. It never missed a beat and he foolishly sold it to buy a Ford Anglia!
John Wakefield has checked the DVLA database on the Ducati AVD 76B previously mentioned in this column. It seems it is not on the DVLA computer so will need a genuine (unissued) 1964 B suffix number if no old log book exists.