Please can you help me identify this motorcycle?

[hairynugget]

Hi everyone

I'm a new boy here and have very little expertise in vintage motorcycles (or any other sort come to that!), so I would really appreciate some help with a project.

I've been asked to restore the old family photo (attached), and I would like to identify the make and model of the machine in the picture, together with any other information that may be available. I'd love to get hold of other pictures or drawings and to know whether there are any preserved examples in existence. Any information at all would be welcome.

Rather than just restore the picture, I'd like to be able to create a collaged image combining the restored photo with other pictures, drawings, manufacturer's logo, and a bit of history to present to my mother-in-law (the owner of the picture who is now in her 80's and still a very keen motorcycle & F1 fan!).

The photo (the rider is apparently my mother-in-law's Uncle Fred) was made into a postcard which was postmarked 'Dec 3 Notting Hill' but sadly no year is decipherable. My best guess (but no more than that) would put the date somewhere around the Great War or early 1920's - certainly the 'bike is in nowhere near new condition in the 'photo, which might support an earlier build date but a later photo date?

The DVLA say that this registration number shows in their records as belonging to a car rather than a motorcycle (but can't tell me any more than that), which suggests that the 'bike was scrapped and the number re-issued at some point?

I did some browsing and thought that it is perhaps a New Comet model - but several details looked different so I wasn't at all sure, and then I saw a number of other machines to which it bears some resemblance - and as I say I have no expertise in these matters. However, I think it is a pretty safe bet that someone on this forum will know exactly what it is...

Any help would be much appreciated.

many thanks

Hairynugget

[R]

Those front forks, with sliding sprung front wheel are very distinctive. And can only be a Rex.  Year is reasonably early, forks didn't go for too many years.

This 1908 looks similar, but a year or 2 later ?
http://classic-motorbikes.net/images/gallery/rex_tourist.jpg
- your photo has no magneto, and the muffler is more prominent.
There were several models available, someone who knows their Rex's should pin it down more precisely.

Rex were quite advanced for the time, their design of a number of features was years ahead of most.  (front suspension, dropped saddle in particular).
Very discerning rider.

Great pic too, obviously very proud of it. !!
Cheers.

[Welsh Wizard]

1907 Rex
http://www.vintagebike.co.uk/pictures/1907-rex/

1909 Rex 
http://www.vintagebike.co.uk/pictures/1909-rex-3-5hp/

the shape of tank is right for 1907, but motorcycle lacks other details that are found in the 1909 one,
hard to say with the old motorcycle manuafacturers as quite often they built to purchasers specs with some of the final details, like pedal assist or no pedal assist

[cardan]

Really nice photo - nice to see a bit of age on a machine! 1906 was the first year of sprung forks and 1907 was the last year of silver frames for Rex, so the date zeros in pretty quickly. I think (not certain) that the 1906 3 1/2 h.p. still had a cradle under the engine, which would leave us with 1907 for a date. Then we'd worry that the handlebars look more 1906 than 1907... I'd say 1907 would be a decent guess. (Just out of interest, the "1909" model in the photo gallery has all the features that were new for 1910 - even though it might have been sold in late 1909 I suspect "1910" might be a better date.)

I like the montage idea. I don't have a 1907 Rex catalogue, which would be the best starting point, but I can offer a facsimile from the Spring 1994 issue of "Old Bike" magazine.

Leon

[cardan]

And the logo, from the back cover of Old Bike, Issue 25, Spring 1998.

[hairynugget]

Hi All

Thank you very much indeed for all your input - I felt sure the information would be out there, but I didn't really expect so much so quickly!

R got me started by identifying the marque (once I knew what I was looking for, the maker's logo on the tank side is easily identifiable - it is just visible on the jpeg I posted but is crystal clear on the higher res scan I made - I just didn't know what I was looking at!) and he (?) was certainly right in saying that more detailed information would be forthcoming!

Piecing together what Welsh Wizard and Cardan say, I think 1907 has it - at least I can say with confidence something like "is thought to be ...."

Looking at the price new in the 1907 photo Welsh Wizard posted compared with asking price on the 1908 I found at http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C202771   (hope I inserted that link correctly!) that's not a bad investment even over a century - wouldn't it be nice to find one in a shed?

I'll approach Vintagebike.co.uk for permission to use their 1907 photo.

Cardan, thank you for all the information and the images - am I OK copyright-wise to use the images you posted in the collage? I originally intended it purely for private use, but as people seem to really like the photo, I would be happy to share it here when it's done (if this is the right place for it - or is there a more appropriate forum for it?).

I think I probably have enough information already to do what I set off to do, which is great - but if there is any more information or material out there, I'd be very interested to explore it further.

Thank you all once again - and happy browsing!

I love the internet!!

Cheers - Ian.

[R]

"I love the internet!!"
Amen.

Was surprised at how much detail quickly came out on your bike.
And was surprised at how relatively little was written on the internet on Rex, one of the older British manufacturers.
Remember, anyone can add to Wiki entries - just write clearly and quote sources.....

Hunting around, you can imagine the history amongst the offerings here.

http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/euro/wikig/Rex_Motor_Manufacturing_Co.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rex-Acme
http://motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/classic_bikes/rex-classic-motorcycles.php
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Rex_motorcycles
etc etc

Have fun,
Cheers.

P.S. Bear in mind that there was at least one other manufacturer of Rex motorcycles, in Europe. Multiple manufacturers can produce confusion, if this is not appreciated...