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Motorcycle Discussions => British Bikes => Topic started by: Sagly on July 08, 2016, 03:25:17 PM

Title: Unknown vintage bikes
Post by: Sagly on July 08, 2016, 03:25:17 PM

Hi Folks!

Can anyone tell me what make/model these two bikes are? The pictures are of my Grandfather and his brother and taken in the early 30's. The pictures aren't particularly.

Title: Re: Unknown vintage bikes
Post by: cardan on July 09, 2016, 02:44:20 AM

I suppose the second one is a Raleigh, from about 1923-4, and something like this one http://www.yesterdays.nl/raleigh-1924-model-399cc-cyl-sv-p-2447.html

The first one required a bit more thought.

Leon

Title: Re: Unknown vintage bikes
Post by: cardan on July 09, 2016, 03:19:34 AM

The first one - a bit newer than the second going by the registration number - is a New Imperial, likely a 1926 Model 1 300 Deluxe Semi Sports. This was similar to the 1925 offering, but used a new New Imperial motor to replace the previous year's JAP.

I couldn't easily find a good photo on the web, but here's an advert with the Model 1 at top left. http://cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/new-imperial-1926/New-Imperial-1926-models-advertisement.htm

The photos are particularly atmospheric, but particularly blurred! However a pair of nice light-weight, sporty bikes from the mid 1920s.

Cheers

Leon

Title: Re: Unknown vintage bikes
Post by: Sagly on July 09, 2016, 08:35:08 AM

Thanks Leon, I wasn't holding out much hope that they could be identified from such poor quality photographs! My grandfather and his brothers were all engineers so had a keen interest in anything mechanical or technical. It's not surprising that they would have chosen sporty models.

Thanks again,

Glyn