HB Motorcycles

[SteveD]

  I am looking for any information concerning HB Motorcycles (Hill Brothers), of Wolverhampton.  Manufactured motorcycles between 1919 and 1923.  also used to manufacture frames for other builders.
The Hill Brothers were Rolland, Tom and Walter( my Grandfather) Hill.
Walter Hill competed in the 1922 IoM TT.
Ideally would like to no if any bikes are still in existence!! There are non on the VMCC registery.

[VintageBike]

Hi,
the only info I have is that they manufactured between 1922 and 1923 and they built simple, well-made machines with 346cc and 498cc side valve and overhead valve Blackburne engines.
Regards
Nigel.

[paul old]

Hallo

I have bought a HB with Blackburn engine.  Motorcycle is in good condition and running.

I want to sent you a picture but i donot know how it works in this forum.

Please sent me an email. 

grt Paul

[rogerwilko]

Well, Walter Hill went on to make some good movies. Southern Comfort was one of them!!

[Rex]

Blimey, you're going back some years there..

Didn't Walter have a wife called Primrose at one time?

[cardan]

Hi Steve,
For anything from Wolverhampton, the Wolverhampton History & Heritage website is a good place to start. They have details on heaps of stuff, including cars and motorcycles made in Wolverhampton. The HB page is:

http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/Museum/Transport/Motorcycles/HB.htm

Try to get a picture of your HB up Paul - I'd love to see it. (if the pic is on your computer, just compose a message, click on "addition options" on bottom left, and browse to select your photo.) I have a Blackburne-engined (8 h.p. twin) bike built in Adelaide, Australia (very far from Wolverhampton!) c1920.

(Edit: Just noticed that the first two posts are old, so maybe I should have directed my response to Paul.)

Cheers
Leon

[SteveD]

Hi, Leon,TT

I've already seen the Wolverhampton Museum info. The info of my Uncle Roland riding in the Isle of Man TT, in 1922, I believe to be incorrect. According to the TT archive records, my Grandfather (Walter) entered in the 1923 JuniorTT, but didn't finish. There was also an entry in the 1923 Lightweight TT, by a H E Heath on a HB, also a DNF.

Please find the photos of the HB, that is owned by Paul Old, on my profile. Paul is prepared to sell the machine, but at a cost inexcess of a valuation, by the VMCC & Bonhams.

Cheers Steve

[SteveD]

Attempted to post photos of Paul's HB

[cardan]

Hi Steve,

The HB is a pretty typical vintage bike - just the thing for a placid chortle around country lanes.

To own one would be nice, given the family connection, but the price to pay for such a privilege is a personal decision. Many owners would part with their bikes for an amount well in excess of their "true value"; that is the priviege of ownerhsip! If you'd like to own the HB and the cost of acquiring it is within your means then by all means do it, as I doubt there will be too many others on offer. Have others survived?

Leon

[SteveD]

Paul Old, Holland stated he had an HB Motorcycle, but had sold it on to someone in Belgium.

I would like to at least keep track of this bike, if the buyer could please make contact.

Hoping
Steve Doyle

[james04k]

I don't think you can find anyone who has this brand cause this is a very old brand. I think it was founded in almost 1915 by two brothers.

[SteveD]

They manufactured frames for their own bikes and others, between 1919 & 1923. There were three brothers, Walter ( my grandfather), Roland & Tom. Walter & Roland rode the 1922 IoM TT, DNF's.

My grandfather had a bee in his bonnet about HRD nicked design ideas off them!

I know it's a very slim chance of finding a bike, but you've got to give it a go!

[cardan]

Hi Steve,

I wonder what ideas HB might have had that would be of interest to HRD (initials of TT winner Howard Davis, and firm with which P. C. Vincent was associated in the 1920s)? HRD innovated in frame design, including sprung rear ends...
HB (and I'm not being critical) was a very conventional design.

Good luck with the search!

Cheers

Leon

[wetdog]

"HRD innovated in frame design, including sprung rear ends" ........... NSU 7 and 9 hp had this pre 1915  and it looks to much like what vincent tryed to say was theres to me
Howard Raymond Davies,  was shot down and captured by the Germans in 1917. Legend has it that it was while a prisoner of war that he conceived the idea of building his own motorcycle (idea for frame maybe?)

[SteveD]

Cardan,

Thank you for the articles, they're two I haven't got.

I was too young to know the details of my Grandfather's greivance, I got the details second hand from my father. Details sadly lost for ever.

Cheers
Steve