classic motorcycle forum

I don't immediately recognise the motor, but it may well turn out that there is an Australian connection, which may require some thinking "outside the box". Rather than speculate, perhaps someone who knows the real story would like to recount it?
Leon

At least consider having a go yourself - that's what restoration is about after all. I'm not sure why wheelbuilding has developed the aura of difficulty that it has, because it's not an impossible task by any means and easier than many tasks in a rebuild. Last evening I began to build a pair of wheels for a friend for his 1914 K model BSA (3 speed gearbox, chain-cum-belt transmission, dummy rim brakes laced to both front and back wheels). It looks a little daunting as a pile of spokes (108 in this case), 2 hubs, 2 rims and 2 belt rims, but it's very satisfying as the wheels come together. I built and trued the front wheel in an hour or so, and can't wait to get out to the shed to make the spokes for the brake rim and get that attached.

How to do it? For the novice, you could do worse than use the Tavener/Radco method as described in detail in Radco's "The Vintage Motorcyclist's Workshop" (Foulis 1986). If you don't have a copy of this book, try very hard to get one as it is very useful for all aspects of the restoration, not just wheels. (That said, I just build the wheel "free style" and that works OK too.)

I'm in Australia, so I can't really comment on cost to have it done professionally, but I can guess expensive, and very possibly more than the value of a good, rough and running C15. Whichever way you go, remember it's meant to be fun!

Leon

Sorry, but I can't tell you much about the bike, except that for GBP26 it wasn't too expensive! Did you buy it?
Leon

Other attachment...

Yep - I think you've got it pretty right! The guy in the white dust coat definitely looks on the 'outside' of the group, so let's call him the driver, unless there's a large ship nearby!

Well done RichP! Yes I see now it is a charabanc (the pre-cursor to the touring bus), pointing to the left of photo. I had been a bit thrown by the height of the thing, the absence of visibe wheels, and the size of the door handles which look more suited to a refrigeration unit. I've attached a larger photo to make things easier to see. If you look at the third man from the left, you can see one of the sidelights coming out near his right ear, and the windscreen above his left shoulder. There are some numbers ...218... painted on the chassis at far right. Such a device could easily be c1914. The wall of the house seems to be faux-tudor - dark framework painted on to brick.
Now I don't suppose anyone knows of a building like this in Essex c1914? I guess not! Thanks for all the help.
Leon

A friend found this photo amongst his father's papers (together with some happy snaps from c1930 TT races). The original print is only about 2" x 1 1/2", and somewhat bent and faded. Through the marvels of Photoshop, the bike seems to be an early Humber - around 1910-11, as the later ones had the magneto behind the engine. Or it could be one of those funny marques that look just like Humber - Centaur comes to mind. Given the electric? head light, perhaps the photo is a little later.
To try to put the photo in context, can anyone add anything about the bike, the location, or the origin/date of the registration F4654?
Thanks. Leon

I wouldn't write it off as a bitsa just yet. In the 1920s there were many small manufacturers in the UK, the US and on the continent who adopted the 'fore and aft' rocking fork. And I wouldn't even pretend to know what the motorcycle industry in India was up to in the 1920s! Do you think the bike has been there since new?
The frame has some elements of the 'built like a bridge' Francis Barnet, but is not fully bolted up like that marque.
Where to from here?
Is it a bita? Tell-tale signs are welded up components where you would expect to find lugs, and the odd unresolved stuff up. Have a close look around the back axle region and where the seat post mounts where the frame looks unusual: if these places are done with lugs with tubes brazed into them I think you can bet the bike has left a factory somewhere looking much as it does now.
Where does it come from? Carefully measure the threads on the frame, motor and gearbox. This may help as metric threads might point to europe, BSF/BSCY might point to UK, UNF to the US. (Not always useful as some manufacturers used very strange threads: try to find a metric thread on an early FN sometime - you'll be disappointed!)
Because the bike is in the 'cheap and cheerful' category, I suggest restoring it (or getting it running) as is. It would be fun to ride, and more information will come to light some time!
Leon