Royal Ruby Lightweight 269cc Villiers - 1914

[Smokysox]

Hello,
I'm throwing this out there for discussion as i'm struggling to gain good information on this bike.
I recently purchased the above motorcycle, (Royal Ruby Lightweight 269cc Villiers Engine) dated 1914. I'm looking for any other information on it, e.g. Any possible missing parts from photo's (except rack on rear wheel), how many others are around in working condition, notes on restoring the exhaust & other parts etc, if there is any way to get Heritage Certificates etc. It would also be nice to gain an approx. value for this bike.

Any feedback is appreciated, additional bike details below:

• It was first built in 1914, then registered for road use after leaving the British Army at the end of the Great War in 1918. It was ridden by Sergeant WFA Way of the 2nd East Anglian Field Ambulance in active service during the 1st World War
• Its a 269cc petrol two stroke engine, no gearbox, no brakes, no clutch
• Top speed about 15/20mph, three levers - choke, throttle and decompressor

Many Thanks

[cardan]

Lovely! We have a similar machine out here in Australia. It competed the week-long National Veteran Motorcycle Rally a couple of weeks ago with no problem. The Mark 1 269 Villiers is a pretty good thing provided it is in good order. The good news is that your bike will eventually go faster and stop better than you might imagine just now. It should cruise at 30-ish mph, and when you fit brakes as per original it should stop reasonably well.

You might also be missing a lever to vary the advance/retard of the magneto. Does the maggy fitted have an arm on it to rotate the points assembly? The absence of clutch and gears is no big deal on a bike like this, and it should be easy to start and ride.

When you say it's dated, does the bike have a Pioneer Certificate?

I should be able to dig out some info, but as it's midnight here in Adelaide I'm off to bed!

Cheers

Leon

[P.V. Motorcycles]

A nice bike.
It wasn't listed at the end of 1913 as a 1914 model for Royal Ruby, but possibly the Villiers engine wasn't generally available at that point.
However, it is listed in the press mid-way through 1914, and gets a short listing in a buyers' guide to two-stroke models.
It was also listed as a 1915 model.

You could try looking into the registration number (a Kent series). Such Kent records as survive are to be found here: Kent History & Library Centre, James Whatman Way, Maidstone, ME14 1LQ (0845 824 7200).

The age of the bike is likely to be determined by the engine number in this instance - more is known about Villiers engines of the time than Royal Ruby motorcycles (and more engines survive for analysis of numbering).

The double silencer box probably fitted originally (it would have come as part of a motor set from Villiers) is a generic component for the Mark I and Mark II engines, so one might be about, or one could be copied.

I'm not sure there are many about still - a handful on the VMCC machine register, and an early 20s four-stroke in the Sammy Miller Museum. I can't recall seeing any at the Pioneer Run, but there could be one or two on the Pioneer Register.

Attached (if it works) a couple of pics from the 1914 press.

Nick 

[murdo]

Nice bike, and with a bit of its history too.

[33d6]

Lovely bike and as Cardan says, capable of far more than 15-20mph.

A useful place to start for information is the VMCC library. They have a 1921 Villiers Spare Parts list which goes through the successive Mks I,II & II 269 Villiers engines. There is a lovely little hand drawn illustration of each part. It will help a lot with your engine. Remember, this is very early days of motorcycling and workshop manuals, etc, barely existed so it's all pretty basic.. It was fairly common practice for the motorcycle manufacturer back then to refer owners directly to the manufacturers of each item rather than put out their own owners manual so expect to go back to the VMCC Library for info on the carb, the magneto, the forks, and so on.

The VMCC also has a Royal Ruby marque specialist who should be able to help. Of course he may be keen for you to become a member but that's between you and him.

The VMCC Library also has complete sets of the magazines of the day, The Motor Cycle and Motorcycling. Well worth a day trip and browsing through the relevant years.

The other club of note is the Sunbeam Club, they also are vintage and veteran oriented and also have a helpful library but not to the depth you will find in the VMCC library. Still a very good Club and just as helpful. They also conduct the Pioneer Run for veterans and do dating certificates.

Final thing, the VMCC shop is a prime source for early belt driver specialty items such as brake blocks, belt rims, belts, be tyres, etc.

Sounds like an advert for both Clubs doesn't it. I suppose it is as for maximum enjoyment of your machine you will end up in one or t'other if not both.
Cheers,