classic motorcycle forum

Motorcycle Discussions => Identify these bikes! => Topic started by: Arby on March 05, 2017, 02:26:09 AM

Title: I think this is an FN but can anyone confirm?
Post by: Arby on March 05, 2017, 02:26:09 AM

Hi

This is my wife's grandmother sitting astride what I think is an FN? Can anyone confirm and identify if this is correct and if yes approx what year?

Thanks for any help

Arb

Title: Re: I think this is an FN but can anyone confirm?
Post by: cardan on March 05, 2017, 11:15:04 PM

Hi Arb,

No, it's not an FN.

The bike is much older than it looks - possibly as old as 1910 or even earlier! I can spy an early open-magnet magneto and the tram-handle for an NSU 2-speed gear on the mainshaft of the motor.

That said the bike has been thoroughly modernised with Brampton Bi-flex fork, disk wheels, sidecar etc.

Let me guess the photo was taken immediately after WW1? There was massive inflation after the war and for a couple of years bikes were hard to afford. Easier to make your own!

Cheers

Leon

Title: Re: I think this is an FN but can anyone confirm?
Post by: 33d6 on March 05, 2017, 11:45:48 PM

Hi Arb,
That's a Felix the Cat doll on the nose of the chair. The first Felix cartoon came out in late 1919 and they were very popular in the early/mid 20's silent movie era. I can add nothing about the bike but I believe the photo was taken in the early/mid 1920's. I suppose that's easy enough to confirm if your wife knows Grandma's birth date.

It's a fun photo.
Cheers,

Title: Re: I think this is an FN but can anyone confirm?
Post by: mini-me on March 06, 2017, 10:58:15 AM

Its a great photo, who wouldn't jump at a outfit like that?

Anyone got a Felix mascot for my Sunbeam?

Title: Re: I think this is an FN but can anyone confirm?
Post by: sprocket-in-my-socket on March 13, 2017, 06:22:08 PM

The bike is most likely owned by the photographer.
I have seen some other photos with the same bike before.
But I am not clear what make the bike is.

Regards,
Helmut