1928 Douglas motorcycle

[saiko]

A friend has one of these in storage, and has asked me to see if anyone is able to assess what needs doing to the bike, to get it into shape. Any ideas guys?. Cheers.

[LB]

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.Maybe your mate could contact the Classic Racing Register to find someone who's a Douglas specialist?

NZ Classic Motorcycle Racing Register
PO Box 192
Takanini AKL
Phone: (09) 422 5714
Contact: Norm & Lynda Maddock

That would certainly be a good start (unless someone else on KB knows of a Douglas specialist of course).
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[Paul in NZ]

LB's suggestion is a good one...

Plus your friend needs to decide what they want to do with it? Ride it? Where??? Static display, sell it?

Join the VCC would be a good start. They are a 'nice' bike with a loyal following and worth a few $$ but as is often the case with really old bikes, it costs a lot of time or $$ to get them into a decent state!

One for the real enthusiasts.

[LB]

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I'd also say be careful who you let fiddle with it - this bike is probably very rare indeed.
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[WRT]

If they are planning to restore it, any chance of progress reports being posted on KB? Would be really cool to see the results . . .

[Paul in NZ]

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I'd also say be careful who you let fiddle with it - this bike is probably very rare indeed.
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Sort of depends.

Douglas is one of the funny brands. Fanatical following (ie a lot of pipe smoking train spotters) and they were a very good speedway bike in their time so a lot of them got racerised (knarly old black leather boys) and restoring them involves a lot of manufacturing of stuff...

I used to know a few Dougie fans but have not been in touch for ages.

Cheers

[pete376403]

Has anyone seen an old Douglas at Motat? My dad and I inherited one from a great uncle, and dad in turn sent it to Motat on "permanent loan". Don't recall what year but it was a rather early model, external flywheel, chain drive to a two speed box with hand gear change, belt final drive, acetylene lighting. Was restored and rideable (I have some pics of my youngest son sitting on it about 25 - 26 years ago).

Whenever I've been to Motat I've looked for it but never seen it there - I'd be interested to know if it's now part of someones private collection.

[Motu]

There is certainly a Douglas at MOTAT,it looks like an older restoration,all there but not pristine.A friend of mine has the Excelsior there under permanent loan too.

[Brian d marge]

The tinware will be the thing ( unfortuantly I had a whole stack of stuff about douglasses ...but had a big clearout a few weeks ago ) ,,,,, join the club in England ,,,very helpful,,, the Engine parts are all available ,,,but ( IF ) I have remembered right the tinware will be a B%$&' to find , if its all together it will be a straight forward resto .

You might need an old bloke ...who drinks to much , rolls his own and can work wonders with sheet metal!!!

I will have another look for the info ..It was a classic bike article ,,,

Stephen

[Big Dave]

Try Dave Cole Engineering maybe.

[Kiwi]

Hi
try the Vintage Car Club Branch Auckland - Phone 5795625 or Martin Spicer from the Club 025454593

Kiwi

[LB]

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Or maybe Ken McIntosh might be able to give you a lead?
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[pete376403]

There is certainly a Douglas at MOTAT,it looks like an older restoration,all there but not pristine.A friend of mine has the Excelsior there under permanent loan too.

Hmmm, that sounds like it. Old Uncle Jack was a tightarse whose restoration skills were of the 'take it off, clean it, put it back on" level, regardless of how worn the thing was to start with.

I'll have to try and get back to check it, what part of the display is it in?

[Motu]

Hmmm, that sounds like it. Old Uncle Jack was a tightarse whose restoration skills were of the 'take it off, clean it, put it back on" level, regardless of how worn the thing was to start with.

I'll have to try and get back to check it, what part of the display is it in?

It's in the lower automotive hall,it was full of good stuff when they first opened it,now it's a cavern full of ghosts.They have a display set up of an old Essex in a workshop,with all the paraphenalia you would expect to see,old oil cans head gaskets,an old ''SU'',heh heh,bet they do that so us old farts get a hissy fit.There is a selection of old bikes too,a JAP speedway bike,C11,the stupid Suzuki rotary,a bike ''like Hellen used to ride''....and the Douglas.

Sad to see some of the old stuff in disrepair - the old cutaway A40 chassis that used to sit in the ATI automotive classrooms hallway,an old Daimler bus motor and Wilson gearbox cutawy too,all suffering the attacks of kids who couldn't give a stuff about this silly old crap.Sigh.....

[saiko]

Ah great, I've got lots to go on, thanks very much. I'll be sure to get into contact with the Classic Register guys and VMCC. Thanks!