Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - mini-me

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 73
1
British Bikes / Re: “Star” motorcycles
« on: August 17, 2021, 09:16:00 AM »
I only shudder when some turns it into a flat tracker or chopper style mess.

I have been an advocate of the "make it 'wrong' to annoy the rivet couter brigade " for many years.

years go I had one such plonker telling me what was "wrong" with my bike and using a marque history book to prove his point, trouble was,it was my bike in the picture.

I have come to the conclusion that vintage bike owners are almost saints as these days we have to tolerate far too many plonkers buggering up our hobby.

2
British Bikes / Re: “Star” motorcycles
« on: August 15, 2021, 02:17:14 PM »
Without taking the pee, was there much heavy industry in Oz 1920/30s ? did they gear up for the war effort?

Seem to me it would be logical to import a shipload of mixed Villiers engines and frame lugs rather than rely on developing home grown stuff.

Oz being such a vast bit of real estate reliability would be top of the list for any transport, and Villiers engines were proven reliable kit.

3
British Bikes / Re: JAP 600cc UCZ rigid frame specials .
« on: August 14, 2021, 10:00:04 AM »
When you don't know what its, always list it as Brough Superior.

I list a lot of Brough parts, mostly old spark plugs, suitable for flat trackers.

What I am working on is self igniting beard grease, or 'product' as they like to say. >:(

4
British Bikes / Re: “Star” motorcycles
« on: August 14, 2021, 09:56:05 AM »
Own name selling still goes on although it baffles me why supermarkets sell it under their own name.

I used to sell a lot of Comma oils back in the 1980s, some people wouldn't touch it saying it was inferior. I once had occasion to go to their depot to collect an order of monogrades. Discussing this with the guy there he simply said 'look over there' ...marked tankers from 'high end' suppliers were unloading into Comma storage tanks. he said they hear a lot of BS about their oil, such as its all reclaimed, he said aircraft oils are all reclaimed oil as it was re-refined to a higher spec than the stuff in vehicles.

It all starts off from a hole in some  sandy shiiiit country.

He also said if you buy enough of the stuff we'll supply it  branded as mini-me's grumpy oil. Theres a thought, guaranteed to shut up squeakers.

afterthought, 1980, ancient history for wearers of man bobs and tattoo, day before yesterday for anyone over 65.

5
British Bikes / Re: “Star” motorcycles
« on: August 13, 2021, 04:46:29 PM »
Quite a few  utility machines bought in /assembled sold under own names here in UK  the 1930s, James Grose did, so did the Co-Op. If I get really really bored I'll see if I can find more.

Its like other consumable commodities, buy enough, stick what name you like on the tank. No one was fooled, just wanted cheap transport.

6
British Bikes / Re: JAP 600cc UCZ rigid frame specials .
« on: August 13, 2021, 12:21:56 PM »
the world of old bikes has become a magnet for posturing tossers who think crap like this is something special.
I expect the owner has a man bun, a silly beard with tattoo on his neck. ....and is still  in the closet.

Which is why I no longer get involved with any of it.

today I am a bit more grumpy.
flat tracker...........huh, not even as if such a thing existed in this country back then.

7
British Bikes / Re: Little Latrobe Street, Melbourne
« on: August 12, 2021, 08:38:10 PM »
They'll be well put out when they find how many pubs have gone, no more jobs for Barry Mckenzie tpyes.

I found his films hilarious at the time, but damn near choked on my drink when I saw Sir Les Patterson at the start of one film, as I had just left a job where my boss was the exact image of him in looks, crassness and ignorance.
If you don't know who Barry Mckenzie was, he was the epitome of ozzie culture. Or as near as they got to culture.

8
British Bikes / Re: Little Latrobe Street, Melbourne
« on: August 12, 2021, 11:04:40 AM »
Is there reverse colonisation going on on this site?

just like Earls court in the 70's on here.

if it is reverse colonisation,tough luck cobbers, Pakistan got here  first ;D ;D

9
British Bikes / Re: 6" headlamp shell but lights are 5 3/4?
« on: August 07, 2021, 09:19:07 AM »
When that thing was current the target market for it was mostly men who just needed cheap work transport, couldn't afford a car, and buses probably not the routes they needed with emphasis on cheap, it was still austerity days, still lots of things on ration, and very little disposable income for the working man, unlike today.

Its a cheapo bike, probably availiable with direct lighting, which could be uprated as and when. Accessory catalogues such as from Halfords, Marble Arch motor supplies, Grose and the like are a mine of information for add on bits from those days.

The bike should be looked at in its place in time not as some two wheeled treasure.

10
British Bikes / Re: 6" headlamp shell but lights are 5 3/4?
« on: August 05, 2021, 11:44:05 AM »
that last lamp is, possibly, a villiers unit, can't be sure.

What i am sure of is that 40 years ago if I got any of them in a load of spares they were scrapped, no one wanted them, much the same as the bikes that used them.

funny old world.

11
British Bikes / Re: 6" headlamp shell but lights are 5 3/4?
« on: August 03, 2021, 02:25:59 PM »
the lucas shell you are holding is for later reflectors, flat glass rims used a differents shell.

over-thinking  a problem only makes it worse.

12
British Bikes / Re: Villiers factory 1940s
« on: July 23, 2021, 09:51:01 AM »
What I remember about the Imp was its mile long throttle cable,such a joy on  a rainy cold day by the roadside.

13
British Bikes / Re: Villiers factory 1940s
« on: July 22, 2021, 12:34:59 PM »
Hillman Imp, yes. mmmmmmmmmm.

14
British Bikes / Re: Villiers factory 1940s
« on: July 21, 2021, 11:06:59 AM »
workers at AMC never  rated Norton productions very highly

15
British Bikes / Re: Villiers factory 1940s
« on: July 20, 2021, 12:09:57 PM »
An interesting  [but derogatory?] view of a factory that turned out millions of reliable small engines used all over the world and not just in two wheelers. [from down under?]

why shouldn't it be of a high standard? Go read about the Norton factory Bracebridge street days and its clapped out machinery and dirt.


Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 73