Help with dad
My father is the man on the back of the bike in the photo (right), on the pillion. His name was Albert Harrison. He emigrated from Coventry in the UK to Australia in 1926, arriving in April or May that year. He was born in 1901, so would be about 25 in the photo. He was an engineer and moved out to be with relatives, hoping to make a new life. He had several jobs but mainly worked on the construction of the railways across Australia. My mother sailed out to join him and they lived for some time in Coolangatta, which is where I believe the relatives lived. My father returned to the UK in 1930 to be with his wife and two young children (she had returned by ship earlier that year on her own – with a 2 year old and being pregnant with their second child). I do not know who the man on the front of the bike is. Any information would be greatly appreciated regarding my father, the motorbike, the area, the registration plate area, the other man in the photo etc.. as I am researching our family history and the time spent in Australia is somewhat of a mystery at present. Many thanks... Iris Clark (age 80) United Kingdom. Email: irisclark1935@gmail.com to deliver large drops of oil slowly it struggles to deliver small drops of oil quickly. Also being a fixed rate pump it is not suited to a 2 stroke’s need for substantially more oil at high engine speeds. So most riders use a compromise setting, too much (and smokey) for around town and not enough for flat out riding. Attempts have been made to solve this problem but they all run into the fundamental issue of the metal on metal oil seals, behind the main bearings, that need forced oiling.
The later 3 speed gearbox is actually a Velocette gearbox; Scotts bought the design rights when Velocette moved to a 4 speed box. The chain drive to the clutch comes from the left-hand side of the central flywheel forcing the clutch to be mounted inboard of the output sprocket. The clutch release mechanism is nearly as odd as the later Velocette mechanisms.
To start a Scott you close the choke, flood (I really mean flood) the carburettor, advance and retard set halfway and start kicking. It will eventually burst into life, with a little smoke, thrashing primary and magneto chains and a bobbling slightly erratic tick over. Check the Pilgrim Pump is working and pull in the clutch (a new dry clutch rattle is added to the thrashing chains) slip the clutch and pull away. The gear-change is slow but once you are in third there’s not much need to change. The ride is taut, you just think your way through corners, very little vibration and the later double-sided front brakes do work well if set up properly – a joy to ride.
Production of Scotts moved to Saltaire Shipley (nr Bradford) in 1913 and continued there until 1950. Jeff Clew’s The Scott Motorcycle is the definitive book on the make, written in 1970 when some of the Scott characters could still be interviewed. Stuart Francis New Zealand