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Identify these bikes! / Re: What bike? Pic dated 1938
« on: August 14, 2009, 02:39:50 AM »
Those are very interesting photos if only that they show the British industry sold their products under different names in different countries.
Mr F E Baker was involved in the motorcycle trade way back before the First World War. He made a well known brand of proprietary engine, the Precision which rivalled J.A.P. in its day but never quite got back to its former position after the war. In 1928 he he came back with the Baker range of Villiers engined bikes. These lasted until the early thirties when his firm was bought by James who used many of his ideas in the manufacture of their bikes.
The Villiers engine used in your grandfathers bike was introduced in 1936, years after James had bought Baker so it is really a James but rebadged as a Baker for some commercial reason now lost in time.
As you say, the capacity could be either 98 or 125 cc. There were certain taxation advantages in some European countries reducing the capacity to 98cc, so this engine was made in both capacities although you can't tell one from t'other from the outside.
They are lovely family photos and as owner of a 1951 James I find them a tiny but fascinating piece of history, showing how the british motorcycle industry operated back in the 1930's.
Thanks for letting us see them.
Mr F E Baker was involved in the motorcycle trade way back before the First World War. He made a well known brand of proprietary engine, the Precision which rivalled J.A.P. in its day but never quite got back to its former position after the war. In 1928 he he came back with the Baker range of Villiers engined bikes. These lasted until the early thirties when his firm was bought by James who used many of his ideas in the manufacture of their bikes.
The Villiers engine used in your grandfathers bike was introduced in 1936, years after James had bought Baker so it is really a James but rebadged as a Baker for some commercial reason now lost in time.
As you say, the capacity could be either 98 or 125 cc. There were certain taxation advantages in some European countries reducing the capacity to 98cc, so this engine was made in both capacities although you can't tell one from t'other from the outside.
They are lovely family photos and as owner of a 1951 James I find them a tiny but fascinating piece of history, showing how the british motorcycle industry operated back in the 1930's.
Thanks for letting us see them.