HELP!! My Dad's old bike....

[MadDogMcQ]

This photo is of my Dad who sadly died aged 27. I would love to know the make and model of this bike he's sat on. Any ideas?? Photo dates from early 1950's but I'm guessing the bike is quite a bit older. Some people have suggested it is a Vincent or a Rudge Whitworth.

I thought the gear-lever(?) might have helped identify it.


Regards,

Tom.
http://www.mcqart.com/550four

[30_sprinter]

Looks like 1930 Ariel model f or g 500 single twin port head.Tank and gearlever are right for 30 also kick start lever for 3 speed Burman gearbox Hope this helps.

[MadDogMcQ]

Thanx Sprinter. I met someone at Glasson Dock who thought it was a Rudge Ulster.  It would be great if someone could come along and absolutlely and positively say it's a......

[Blue]

it could be a 6/1 650cc triumph, the val page design ...  there werent a lot of production bikes (that im aware of) with twin exhaust AND hand change that late in the peace (tank and lights suggest early 30s)
it probably isnt the Page twin, but leave no stone unturned, so to speak.  the ariel that sprinter referred to sounds more likely

[MadDogMcQ]

BUMP!

[MadDogMcQ]

And another BUMP  

[catgate]

I had a Rudge Ulster and I can say for certain it is not one of those, although the front mudguard and twin exhaust pipes do look very Rudge. I do not think any Ulsters had hand change.
I had a Rudge 500 Special in the late 40s that was an early 30s model and that certainly had hand change and a similar shaped tank.
But who knows?

[MadDogMcQ]

Well, this photo has been on here for almost 2 years, been viewed nearly 1100 times and still no one can positively identify it. I guess I'll never know for sure   :-/

Thanks to those who tried  

[MadDogMcQ]

Went into Doug Hacking Motorcycles last week and I spoke to Doug about the photo. Amazingly, he had two Rudge Ulsters in the showroom and sure enough the bike in the photo was identical apart from the hand gear change which was from earlier models according to Doug.

Sadly Doug Hacking just died on Thursday! My sympathies to his family andd friends.

[m3bobby]

I'm afraid it can't be an Ulster, The last Rudge Ulster to have foot change was the 1931 model and the hand change on this tank is a lot different to the Rudge hand change system.

The other give away is the front fork spring had a chrome plated shroud around it and this photo shows a plain spring. The spring on the Rudges had to be in the shroud as they were so narrow, and lacked rigidity that they would bend sideways and not compress under load.

Another thing to notice is the kick start pedal is fixed in the open position, Ulsters had folding kick starts.

Also, at this angle you should be able to see the Smiths speedo and 8 day clock/revulator and the steering damper on a Rudge.

Sorry to disapoint.

[MadDogMcQ]

Grrrrrr!    Bliddy hell!

Of the 2 Rudges at the showroom, one did indeed have a steel shroud, but the other didn't. Doug Hacking tried to explain the differenced being due to the fact that in those days, people swapped bits around from one bike to another all the time because money was so tight. That sounded feasible to me, but.....

Ah well, back to the drawing board!  Will someone PLEASE identify this bliddy thing!

[Justin_Faithfull]

Hand change James motorcycles of the early / mid 1930's had a hand change gear lever that was similar.

[MadDogMcQ]

I just can't believe how difficult this one is proving to be. Looks like I'll never know.    Trouble is, I can see bits of everything in it from an AJW, BSA, Triumph to a Rudge.

One day someone will recognise it - I'm sure.
 
                                                            

[RichP]

Tom, just a thought but is the old scan absolutely the most detailed that you can get out of the original photo?

It's a difficult angle and it will be the small details  that provide the clues.

Have you thought about trying for publication in the VMCC Journal or Old Bike Mart ?

[MadDogMcQ]

Yes Rich, that's the best I can get out of the photo. The original is only 2 inches tall. The angle makes things soooo difficult too.