classic motorcycle forum

I think the very first ones were tube, and they had aluminium ends joining it all together.

Later ones were pressed - indeed, maybe out of a single sheet folded over and riveted - there's a 'bead' along the outside of the short connector between the two boxes on the later version (Mark IV) which suggests it was a flat part folded over in two after pressing both halves of the boxes in.

Yes, the ends are pressed - three designs as far as I know - plain circle, and long and short offset tabs.

Nick

I'm after one of these for a Mark III engine.

Two pressed-steel halves, forming two cylindrical chambers joined by a short connecting tube.

Attached a couple of pics.

Thanks, Nick

As above, what size is it?

The earlier Triumphs used a metric bearing for the mainshafts: an MC 22, which is 50mm OD, 22mm ID, and 17mm wide.

You can get those from Vintage Bearings, or they're listed on ebay now.

If it's anything more exotic, this lot will make it: http://www.hb-bearings.com/1manufacture/manufacturex.htm minimum order one, it appears.

As in the post above, a common recommendation on the britbike forum when folks are complaining of ignition problems on one cylinder only is to swap over coils, leads and the like (but not the plugs!) between cylinders. If the problem swaps sides, then you know where to look to address it.

No worries, it's always nice to have a look at these old photos.

I think the Sun, on closer inspection (i.e. having had a proper look) might actually have the VTS/Vitesse engine - the barrel and exhaust aren't right for the Villiers engine.

In terms of finding out details related to the number-plates, we're slightly in pot-luck territory here.
In the 1970s, before such records were really prized, and certainly prior to any useful form of bulk media storage, local authorities were ordered to destroy all such records.

Luckily for us, some didn't for whatever reason, and they're what survives today.

Your best bet is the Kithead Trust, which holds some records itself, and gives a list of where others are held.

The info they give for Sheffield is as follows:

SHEFFIELD
Sheffield Archives, 52 Shoreham Street, Sheffield S1 4SP (0114 273 4756)
Registers 1903-05 (W 1 - W 413) and 1931-77 (WJ to DWA 729N)

Unfortunately, it looks as though the later W series no longer survives.

Others might though - the list of holdings for England and Wales is to be found here:

http://www.kitheadtrust.org.uk/england_wales2_11.html

You can match a prefix letter (or letters) to an issuing authority here:

http://www.kitheadtrust.org.uk/new_page_13.html

Nick

Three great photos. W is a Sheffield series registration, which ran from 1904 to 1919.

The first photo is of a Sun Villiers lightweight. 269cc, and new for 1914. It looks to have a two-speed cross-over gearbox, with no clutch.
Sun were Birmingham-based, and were a major components manufacturer for cycle and motorcycles for years, as well as making their own cycles and motorcycles at points.

The other two photos show a Levis Baby - new from 1911, and really the 'industry standard' two-stroke lightweight. 211cc, single-speed belt drive. Great little bikes, the basic design lasted into the 20s. Levis hailed from Stechford, in Birmingham, and went up to WWII, I think, by which time they made four-strokes.

I'd say both bikes are about 1914 - maybe 1913 for the Levis.

Nick

A nice bike.
It wasn't listed at the end of 1913 as a 1914 model for Royal Ruby, but possibly the Villiers engine wasn't generally available at that point.
However, it is listed in the press mid-way through 1914, and gets a short listing in a buyers' guide to two-stroke models.
It was also listed as a 1915 model.

You could try looking into the registration number (a Kent series). Such Kent records as survive are to be found here: Kent History & Library Centre, James Whatman Way, Maidstone, ME14 1LQ (0845 824 7200).

The age of the bike is likely to be determined by the engine number in this instance - more is known about Villiers engines of the time than Royal Ruby motorcycles (and more engines survive for analysis of numbering).

The double silencer box probably fitted originally (it would have come as part of a motor set from Villiers) is a generic component for the Mark I and Mark II engines, so one might be about, or one could be copied.

I'm not sure there are many about still - a handful on the VMCC machine register, and an early 20s four-stroke in the Sammy Miller Museum. I can't recall seeing any at the Pioneer Run, but there could be one or two on the Pioneer Register.

Attached (if it works) a couple of pics from the 1914 press.

Nick