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Messages - ihmcallister

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Identify these bikes! / Re: NEED ID's FOR 1920s MACHINES
« on: December 28, 2011, 12:16:42 PM »
Quote from: cardan on December 27, 2011, 12:58:10 AM
Hi John,
Some healthy scepticism! I'm going to stick with Blackburne. In the photo we see is almost precisiely side-on (the bike is off the stand, and is leaning to the left) and slightly from the front. The side-on nature of the motor means we don't get to see the "plan" of the cylinder fins (below) except in subtle variation of the light (which I have no difficulty imagining). The slightly front-on aspect of the photo means we only see a bit of the outside flywheel in the gap between the frame, exhaust etc. (Since we are looking slightly down in the Neracar photo the flywheel looks higher - paralax.) 8 fins, widely-spaced valves, circular timing chest, valve lifter at 2 o'clock... perhaps there is another motor with these attributes?
The one-piece side-valve Blackburne cylinder was described as new in September 1922 when Marchant and Handley went long distance record breaking (7 hours/400 miles) at Brooklands on a 60 x 88 - 248 cc OK-Blackburne. I wonder if "our" bike is a 250 or 350?
Cheers
Leon

I am glad you experts are having such fun with this. I will trawl the archive and see if I can find a better pic!
I know Hilda owned an "Indian" at one stage, so she was quite a biker.
Cheers,
Mac.

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Identify these bikes! / Re: NEED ID's FOR 1920s MACHINES
« on: December 21, 2011, 09:28:12 AM »
Quote from: cardan on December 20, 2011, 06:48:18 AM
Hi Mac,

KD-1513 is a "Built Like a Bridge" Francis Barnett, just the thing for a sporting lady like your grandma. I suspect it is a couple of years later than your target date of 1926; it's probably a Model 5 (Sports) or Model 9 (Super Sports) from 1928. These bikes had the very popular 172cc Villiers motors.
The other bike has me a bit puzzled for the moment - I think I'm stuck on how much the cylinder looks like a miniature version of a side valve Norton! Even though it has a saddle tank and drum brakes it could easily date from 1926, although it's looking bit tatty in the photo. I wonder was the Fanny B about to replace it?

Leon

Hi Leon,

Absolutely excellent, thanks a lot. There is another tiny photo of KD1513 with Hilda and her favourite cousin, who was 9, sitting on it. There is a pencil note on the back saying Sunday 29/7/28, so that would fit nicely. Much appreciated.

Cheers,
Mac.

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Identify these bikes! / Re: NEED ID's FOR 1920s MACHINES
« on: December 21, 2011, 09:23:52 AM »
Quote from: Bomber on December 19, 2011, 05:14:52 PM
I've heard about your grandmother before, has her story been on TV?

Hi Bomber, The story has not been on TV so far as I am aware. If you ever had cause to look at www.wearecunard.com and put in the search McAllister, you will see a brief history which my parents told Cunard when they were on a cruise a few years ago.

Cheers,
Mac.

4
Identify these bikes! / NEED ID's FOR 1920s MACHINES
« on: December 19, 2011, 02:20:03 PM »
Hi Gang,
I am researching the lives of my grandparents and writing a biography. My grandmother was the 1920s English swimming superstar Hilda James. 1920 Olympic silver medallist and holder of very record 100 yards to 1 mile, plus Thames, Seine long distance reords etc. Prevented from attending the 1924 Olympics by her jealous mother (at age 20 and still a minor!) she turned professional and joined Cunard, cruising for 5 years aboard the luxury liner Carinthia.
Hugh McAllister was a notable Marconi wireless engineer and Cunard officer, making the first ship to shore transmissions to New York from all points around the globe during Carinthia's World Cruise 1926-27. They met aboard the ship and married in 1930, Hilda leaving the sea. Hugh went on to be involved in designing the wireless installations on Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, and was one of the engineers "kidnapped" aboard when Queen Elizabeth sailed unexpectedly out of the Clyde to the USA in 1940. He went on to the UK Admiralty, and was involved in early radar. After WW2, he designed guidance systems for UK rocket programmes.
Hilda bought a bike ca. 1926, and I have some photos for i.d. if any of you good people have the knowledge, especially if the dates/years match up! She was considered a bit of a tearaway, her parents were deeply religious puritan types and the bike horrified them. She also received a letter from Lady Astor instructing her to cease and desist at once from tearing around the lanes of rural Cheshire in a manner so unbecoming for her sex!
Thanks a lot,
Mac.


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