classic motorcycle forum

I know those adverts you describe. Somewhere I have a photo of me on my Matchless taken at the site of the Australian ad. Of course it looks nothing like it did back in the 1950's but it was fun going there and doing it.
 Ask Pooks Motor Books if they have a copy. I have bought magazines as early as 1924 from them and they were all in good condition.
They have a website, www.pooksmotorbooks.co.uk. I'm sure your grandfather would be impressed with a good original magazine.
Cheers,

I think unleaded fuel has been blamed for anything you can think of from the Great Fire of London to climate change.
Given time the outer gel coat on all fibreglass tanks will start to crack and craze. When this gets bad enough it will allow any fuel to penetrate the substrate and eventually the tank will start to leak here and there.
As unleaded fuel is relatively new and many fibreglass tanks were around long before it was introduced I think you would find the leaking tank was in desperate need of recoating long before the unleaded was put in it.
It isn't the unleaded fuel, it's lack of maintenance.
Cheers,

There is one for sale on Australian e-Bay right now.
Cheers, Bob

To be really pedantic the vintage era is up to 31st December 1930. This was first arrived at by the English Vintage Sports Car Club and has been accepted internationally ever since.
There are many who consider their interest "vintage" and call themselves "vintage" but aren't, The Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club springs to mind. Not having a go at excellent Japanese bikes, merely the people who thought of the name. There is now Vintage motocross, again no vintage bikes there.
There is a great interest in old vehicles of all sorts and ages but as above, nothing vintage since 31/12/30. Doesn't matter what your mate or the blokes down the pub say.
Cheers, Bob

Francis Barnett frame and engine numbers are readily available. Provide them and we can give you an exact id with no bother.

Its a 500cc 'Sloper' Ariel from the early 1930's. Hard to find nowadays but one any Ariel fancier would give his eye teeth for.
The Ariel sloper range came and went very quickly and I suspect this was solely because of the dreadful economic conditions of the time. The depths of the Great Depression was not the time to introduce a new range of machines. Like everyone else Ariel had to make and sell only those bikes they were absolutely sure the public would buy. There was no room for error. The new Sqare Four stayed but the sloper range didn't.
Thanks for letting us see such a happy family photo.
Cheers,

Hi again,
Exploring what engines Villiers built and for what purpose can get a little involved as they were very flexible and would cheerfully vary the mix to suit the paying customer. Especially if they were buying in substantial numbers. We know the official line but there could be an amazing amount of minor variations. Different size spark plug, spark plug in different positions, different inlet manifolds, variations in the electrics, different lubrication systems and so on, nevertheless, the basics remain the same.
Anyway, the basic line of 172cc 57.15 bore x 67mm stroke sporting engines is as follows,

1, the Sports engine, fixed head and cast iron piston, available 1924-1932. engine number prefix T or TL (Autolube). Villiers created the first of the 196cc engines, the 1E, by overboring this engine to 67mm. Original 172 Sports are hard to find as many were routinely overbored to take a 196cc piston in later life.
 
2, the Super Sports TT, alloy head, alloy piston, available 1926-1932. Engine number prefix BZ. Sorry, I said earlier it first appeared in the 1924 Ultralightweight TT, it was the next years Ultra lightweight race, 1925 that it first appeared.

3 the Brooklands, larger alloy head plus alloy piston and other assorted internal goodies.  Available 1925-34, engine prefix Y. Sold as a racing engine only and Villiers advised it was not suitable for use on the road. I've never managed to get my hands on one of these, only seen pictures.

Then, years later in 1929 Villiers produced the 196 Super Sports and depending on what you are reading it can be plain Super Sports or Super Sports TT. Don't ask. The 196 version ran from 1929 to 1940 when Hitler stopped play.

As you earlier inferred, one can really mix'n'match the various Villiers parts. Currently I am erecting a petroil lubricated 172 Super Sports TT using a MkXIIC bottom end and a Supers Sports top half. This is for my second Excelsior, a 1929 Chequerboard.
Cheers,

You certainly have an Excelsior and it is largely correct, there only being those minor differences that happen to any bike that has been in use for 80 years.
It would appear to be a Model 4 catalogued only in 1930 and 1931 with the 196 Super Sports engine.
I think you have the frame number wrong as it is unlike any Excelsior frame number I've seen. Basically, it should have an 'A' prefix for 1930 and a 'B' prefix for 1931. I would have another careful look as the difference is important if you want to enter proper vintage events like the Banbury Run.
They are a sweetie of a bike that well reflect Excelsiors sporting prowess at the time. Excelsior was a major player in the lightweight class at the time and it shows in how all their bikes handle.
You can buy copies of the 1931 & 32 catalogues from BMS which will show you exactly what you have.
As you may gather, I have one myself.
Cheers,