Old photo

[kensuem]

Can anyone identify the bike in this picture of my Dad,believed to have been taken about 1930.note the carbide lighting.

Had hoped that Kiwi Biker was a site for real motorcycle enthusiasts,and that I would get some sensible replies,not just a load of crap from teenyboppers who wouldnt know a real motorbike if they fell over it.

[cowpoos]

Can anyone identify the bike in this picture of my Dad,believed to have been taken about 1930.note the carbide lighting.
its a honda cbr1000rr fireblade

[GSXRjohn]

I think its a 2006 GSXR750

[cowpoos]

I think its a 2006 GSXR750
your not as funni as I am..... :blah:

[GSXRjohn]

At least they could have used a colour film

[98tls]

pretty sure that bike is a 1928 Indian Prince.

[cowpoos]

pretty sure that bike is a 1928 Indian Prince.
nope.... its a honda cbr1000rr fireblade

[SPman]

If you guys can't give a sensible answer sometimes, why don't you just fuck off and leave the thread alone - that or we'll start deleting shit!

[98tls]

If you guys can't give a sensible answer sometimes, why don't you just fuck off and leave the thread alone - that or we'll start deleting shit! OI....that was a sensible answer and i am pretty sure i am right.:angry:

[SPman]

Oi - you're OK - you could well be .....just attempting to make the point that sometimes people actually want some relevant information, not facetious crap - they have enough opportunity for that on multitudinous other threads....

[98tls]

Oi - you're OK - you could well be .....just attempting to make the point that sometimes people actually want some relevant information, not facetious crap - they have enough opportunity for that on multitudinous other threads.... good call....was getting a bit sick of that crap myself...made worse by the fact that it was the guys dad on the bike,bit of respect was called for i think.as i said good call,nice to see a mod on the ball.Kensuem if you want that photo cleaned up a bit i can email you with it done courtesy of a mate on another forum.

[SPman]

I couldnt even tell what sort of engine it had - let alone the make...good spotting, if you're right.

[ManDownUnder]

I'm afraid I can't help with the bike ID, but reckon any one of the graphic design guys/gals on here might be able to sharpen it up a bit for you (and us).

It'll certainly help ID the bike, and also give you a good copy of what I suspect is a very valuable picture.

Cool pic, wish I could help more.

[cowpoos]

If you guys can't give a sensible answer sometimes, why don't you just fuck off and leave the thread alone - that or we'll start deleting shit!
meh...selective deleting happends all the time...!!!




Ps: got any bannana's?

[digsaw]

Crap, crap,the place is full of it:yes: who needs it:whocares: only one word for it:wait: DELETE :nya:

[sels1]

Showed it to a bloke I work with who has restored a few old bikes. He thought it is British, pre 1926, prolly 1918-1924. Apparently after WW1 there were around 60 companies in UK producing bikes like this so without more detail it could be had to identify. As a guess, he said it could be a DOT.

[Riff Raff]

Did a wee search for a 1928 Indian Prince and there's a few differences...

Looks like it might have Indian written on the tank so perhaps it's not far off. Cool looking bikes.

I love seeing old pics like these so keep em coming.

[WRT]

Can anyone identify the bike in this picture of my Dad,believed to have been taken about 1930.note the carbide lighting.

Cant help with the model of the bike, but that's a cool pic. Ignore the hecklers, they are just trying to cover up the fact they dont know their arsehole from their elbow (not that I do either, but at least I can admit it).

You could try asking Ixion or Motu, they are quite good with ID'ing the older models.

Edit: Just had another thought - you can clearly make out the plate, is there any way you can track a plate that old? Was the photo taken in NZ?

[Paul in NZ]

Certainly has the 'look' of a little Indian but in all honesty it's not a great picture and could be one of many similar bikes. As Sels1 said, there were a LOT of small makers knocking out a lot of bikes using other makers engines / forks etc. It's hard to get an idea of the scale of a bike (example pictures) without a rider sitting on it too.

I have attached a piccie of a 1928 Indian Prince (same as Riff Raffs) and I suspect that you are correct as the fork, mudguard (sorry - fenders) and rear carrier details are all similar as well as the chain guard arrangement. It looks like the acetylene generator has been mounted down by the magneto instead of under the seat but thats no biggies as these were often sold as option accessories and extra to the cost of the bike so it is likely it was added locally and not at the factory.

For some reason there are certain years (probably when wool prices were high) that american bikes / cars are very well represented in NZ. My suggestion would be to track down the Indian owners club etc and ask them?

I doubt many survived! Not sure but I seem to remember they were never as highly prized as the V Twins - possibly had 'issues'...

[eliot-ness]

First impression was 1927/28 James 350. lack of front brake is a puzzle though.
Number plate. If it's NZ, was issued 1926/27. If it was registered in the UK it's a Kent plate about the same time. A bit more research might turn something up. Maybe you could check registration history NZ and UK

[Paul in NZ]

First impression was 1927/28 James 350. lack of front brake is a puzzle though.
Number plate. If it's NZ, was issued 1926/27. If it was registered in the UK it's a Kent plate about the same time. A bit more research might turn something up. Maybe you could check registration history NZ and UK

Possibly that was an 'extra' as well?

[sAsLEX]

First impression was 1927/28 James 350. lack of front brake is a puzzle though.
Number plate. If it's NZ, was issued 1926/27. If it was registered in the UK it's a Kent plate about the same time. A bit more research might turn something up. Maybe you could check registration history NZ and UK

Go to the post shop and pay the $2.50 to get the info on the plate lol would something that old be in the system?

[Motu]

Pretty hard to pick,but I don't think it's the Indian - the primary chaincase is too short,also it hasn't got the long bars,they are more like the racers drop bars.I think it's too small to be an American bike,unless it's a racer like a Pea Shooter,I guess it'd be easy to retro some gas lighting,the lack of front brake seems more American or racer too.Despite that,I think it's English....

[Ixion]

Tain't the Indian, doesn't have the left hand kick statrt, that would show clearly in the photo.

I just gotta find the missing toggle off my anorak and I'll be right on it.

[Riff Raff]

Found this website which has listings and some pics of a number of old motorcycle brands http://www.autogallery.org.ru/mota.htm

[Macktheknife]

It looks like an early Triumph roadster, around 1911/12. Quality of pic not good for ID but think it is British or German. The bars look a bit similar to the Excelsior out of GDR but cant be sure, the Triumph didnt have the same chain guard and the tank writing doesnt look quite right.
Best I can do sorry

[T.W.R]

Agree with Ixion it isn't an Indian, no kick lever on the leftside, plus it has handlebar end levers as well.

The primary drive case looks JAP style :yes:

possibly a Raleigh, Calthorpe, or maybe an Ardie.

[Paul in NZ]

It's an odd one all right

It's not a 1918 triumph as they were still a true 'flat tanker' then and usually still had belt drive from memory.

[Ixion]

Unless its a bitzer the eyar must be close to 1920. It's chain drive, and appears not to have the flat top tube above the tank. But no front brake.

[thehollowmen]

That numberplate might be the way to go to track it down.. just find out the rego data.

on another note, I've played with the image a bit, and the text on the petrol tank is making me wonder. .. The koru-type pattern is the wrong way up for the indian "I'

The kickstand is up the same way it would be on the 1928 Indian Prince. There is a bulge in the primary drive casing in the same place. EDIT: forget that, that's a sproket!
Note perspective may be skewed a little by the camera lens, so that's why the bike may appear shortened...but the other end of the primary drive casing is wrong.

But then again, the headlight, the horn and the "coke bottle" below the tank are different.

[thehollowmen]

1913 Indian Single Cylinder with straight bars?

The exhast on the right hand side is in the right place, and the round bit where the half-crescent kick start is supposed to be ... well that explains his foot position. he's got it on the peddles.

EDIT : Checked out the norton flat tanker from the 1920s? The square lip on the bottom of the frount mudgaurd is right, as is the text, the angle of the chain and.. well.. I'm putting my money on that. And if you dodge the photo right, you see the frount sproket on the primary drive is exposed.

[eliot-ness]

An update on the registration plate. Almost certainly NZ rego 1926/27
NZ used a hyphen between letters and numbers that year. The only bikes I can find without front brakes are speedway bikes. Maybe he fitted lights and guards to ride to grass track or beach race meetings

[Ixion]

But in those days in NZ you got a new rego number each year. So that would indicate that the photo was taken 1926-7, but the bike could have been several years old then. Norton were running chain drive and no front brake for some models in 1920 and maybe 1921. And the magneto on the Norton singles was in the right place (course, so were lots of others)

The script could be the curley N of Norton.

[Riff Raff]

Found this pic of a 1927 DOT 350cc racer. the frame looks remarkably similar.

[thehollowmen]

Found this pic of a 1927 DOT 350cc racer. the frame looks remarkably similar.

Most motorcycles do.

The exhaust and magneto aren't in the right place.

[T.W.R]

But in those days in NZ you got a new rego number each year. So that would indicate that the photo was taken 1926-7, but the bike could have been several years old then. Norton were running chain drive and no front brake for some models in 1920 and maybe 1921. And the magneto on the Norton singles was in the right place (course, so were lots of others)

The script could be the curley N of Norton.

The fuel tank is too deep & cylindrical for a Norton of that era & almost all of the Nortons then had a silver tank with the 2step pinstripe. the 1921 Norton had exhaust exiting on the left & a fully enclosed chain guard too.

I'm leaning towards a early 20s Calthorpe with a 350 JAP engine

[hazard02]

Here's my very amateur attempt at using photoshop to fix the photo up a bit.
Probably doesnt make it any easier to ID the bike though..
36679

[jazbug5]

I think that's pretty good, actually: fiendishly hard to fix up, this one!

I had a quick go as well to see if I could get anywhere...

[crashe]

I have looked throu my "Classic British Bikes" book..

Damned hard to figure it out as the dude's leg is covering up the main part of the bike.

Been looking at the hand levers and also the headlight to give me the main clue. Also that thing on the bike frame is another clue to look at...

But cant find a thing that matches all those 3 clues up...

[kensuem]

Firstly,thanks to all those who supported me,and thanks for all the ideas.I have also been browsing through all the classic bike pics I could find,but have ended up being more confused than ever.I think I have found the answer and then find that other points dont match up..I should have said in the first place thatthe photo was in Kent in the UK.{dad died in 1958 and I came to NZ in 1970}.I sent the photo to Classic Bike mag and to a vintage bike site in the UK,but no one can identify it.
Took my Suzuki 250gn for its 1000klm service in Paeroa on Friday,and came home through the Old Tauranga Road,what a great road,with all those bends I could have been back in the lanes of Kent,on my Constellatoin or the Shooting Star I used to own.{although I ride a Suzuki now,I still think real bikes have the gear change on the right side!}

[98tls]

i myself spent a bit of time on the net trying to identify it but no luck...even posted it up on another website but no luck...bit of a mystery eh.:yes:

[Motu]

So it was Bwitish,I got that bit right anyway.

[eliot-ness]

Well, at least you know where it was registered so you are half way there. Can't figure out the hyphen though. Anyway on to the next stage. The bike was registered 1924 or after in Maidstone Kent. UK. Records still exist so you should be able to check for a small fee.
The address is West Kent Archives Office.
County Hall
Maidstone. Kent.
This information was taken from the BSA Owners Club Site on the web
Keep on trying. Good luck

[pritch]

I have looked at this several times, and the picture isn't that clear, but from what you can see of the tank badge it looks to me as if it could be the A and J of an AJS badge.

[kensuem]

Have just found a picture of a Norton 16h which seems to match on many points.Picture was on a Uk site, vintagebike.co.uk.Although taken from the other side,the headlamp ,forks etc appear the same.Also the lack of a front brake.I have long thought the logo on the tank was the N of Norton.
Other pics of 1928 16h,s show a front brake,could it have been optional?

[eliot-ness]

Have just found a picture of a Norton 16h which seems to match on many points.Picture was on a Uk site, vintagebike.co.uk.Although taken from the other side,the headlamp ,forks etc appear the same.Also the lack of a front brake.I have long thought the logo on the tank was the N of Norton.
Other pics of 1928 16h,s show a front brake,could it have been optional?

That particular Norton has caliper front brakes. Forks are different too. Try the Maidstone address mentioned in a previous post. Easily done if you still have relatives over there. The mystery could be cleared up in a week or so

[kensuem]

Should have had my glasses on,I didnt spot the calliper brake.
I have been told that the West Kent archives office has been moved,so have emailed Kent County Council for help.Will let you know if I get a reply.

[kensuem]

Thanks Eliot-Ness for your helpful idea.Have just had an email from the Kent County Council.The bike is a Raleigh,first reg. 3/9/25,to E.h.Cory in Folkstone Kent.They have no other info. but at least I now know what it is.

[Ixion]

Ah. None of us got that.

And here's a good piccy, easy when y'know what it is!:yes:

[T.W.R]

Ah. None of us got that.

And here's a good piccy, easy when y'know what it is!:yes:


:nya: Check post #27 :blip:

[kensuem]

:nya: Check post #27 :blip:
How about that!!!