help finding info on old bikes

[inky]

Hi, I found this site and forum during an internet search. I have a picture of an old bike, I think about 1900 and would like to find out more about the bike and where I can find information about the owners.

Why am I doing this? Well, this is a family picture and I want to find the member of my past who's riding it

Ian

pic at www.inky.me.uk/motobike_aw913.jpg

[L.A.B.]

The motorcycle appears to be a bit later than 1900, and I would think it to be at least a 1910 model, and the photo could have been taken later than that (as would be suggested by their clothing?)

The bike has a "JAP" (J A Prestwich) V twin engine, but many motorcycle manufacturers of that era used JAP engines, so it doesn't identify the make of motorcycle, but may narrow it down a little?

"AW" was a Shropshire (Shrewsbury) registration mark.

And for anyone that may have difficulty finding that photo, here is the link:  http://inky.me.uk/motobike_aw913.jpg

[inky]

Thanks for the reply. It helps narrow it down a bit.

Regards the registration, if it's who I think it is, they lived in Kent, so either it was bought second hand down there, or it's the other side of the family.......

Anyway, thanks for the info.

Ian

[33d6]

The bike has chain drive to a gear box then belt drive from the gear box to the rear wheel. Unless it is an ex-military bike this system dates from 1919, immediately after WWI to the early 1920's. Belt drive for large bikes like this lasted until 1923-24 or thereabouts and slightly longer for lightweights.
The separate countershaft gear box (mainly 2 speed) was just coming on the scene when WWI started in fact the early model H Triumphs supplied to the Army had hub gears not a gearbox as we know it and the original CS type 3 speed gear box was only fitted to the Model H Triumph well after the war was underway.
Civilian motorcycle production was halted in 1916 and didn't start again til the war was over so unles ex military there was very little chance of a bike like this being built before 1919.
To me, everything about the style of the bike cries out early 1920's and looking though our own old family albums the clothing styles seem to be late 20's, 30's.