Bike ID Please

[yantantethera]

Hi

Hoping someone can ID this bike, it's a friends relative...

Bike Reg is CH 1932, which I believe is Derby in the UK

I've got as far as a 1930's Rudge Special, or a Sunbeam Model 9 - but can't quite pin the tail on the donkey as it were...

Thanks folks.

[cardan]

The last time I suggested a bike was a Coventry Eagle I was quite wrong. This time, however, I'm quite sure as I can read "Eagle" on the tank and see the winged CE logo underneath.

1930-ish, and a 350 or 500 OHV. Very sporty, but I can't quite nail down the exact model.

Cheers

Leon

[yantantethera]

I think you're spot on!

Cheers Fella.

...possibly this ones Sister?
https://motoclassics.nl/en/motorcycle/coventry-eagle-g54-the-flying-500

[mini-me]

Yes, Coventry Eagle, the tank paint scheme clinches it.

Is the OP a shepherd?

[yantantethera]

Cheers for the confirmation.

No, not a shepherd...

...But he is a Yorkshireman that counts a lot.  ;-)

[Rex]

I'm crap with 1930s bikes but even I can see "Eagle" on the tank!
I'm guessing it's a photographer's prop?

[yantantethera]

I believe it's a studio shot - yes...

[Rex]

I meant to add, I bet the number plate is made up, and was the photographer's initials and the year it was taken.
A little bit of subtle advertising...

[cardan]

...possibly this ones Sister?
https://motoclassics.nl/en/motorcycle/coventry-eagle-g54-the-flying-500

Yes something like that. Sloping motors were a 1931 thing for many makers (in this case Sturmey Archer). The attached advert from Graces Guide https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Coventry-Eagle_Cycle_and_Motor_Co in June 1930 shows the side-valve version of "our" bike.

Leon

[sprocket-in-my-socket]

seems to be a Coventry-Eagle "Flying 500" Model E55 (1929), but most likely earlier (probably 1927), with JAP double-port engine.
http://www.ge-board.de/hannes/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/museum_eggenburg146_2-1024x507.jpg

Photoprapher is Charles Howell (-> CH), Official Photographer, Pleasure Beach, Blackpool.
It is no official registration plate, but showing the photographer´s initials and year when photo was taken, like Rex already mentioned correctly.

Regards,
Helmut

[cardan]

Re the date, I think (but I'm not absolutely certain) that the white splash on the CC tanks was a 1930-1931-ish thing. Earlier in the 1920s, the tank was black with a scarlet nose.

Leon

[sprocket-in-my-socket]

Hi Leon,
about the date I am also not that certain.
I have taken my assumption based on a 1929 sales catalogue from CE.
The same model from 1930th catalogue (Model F55) was shown with a different gear change lever type and a different exhaust already.

Additionally I have seen some pics of the same bike with several different year date on the plate,
also one with "CH-1929" on.
About the 1927 I am not so sure as well. Just have seen one pic with "CE-1927" on the plate,
but tank colouring seems to be a bit different on that pic.

You can find such pics on ebay from time to time.
Like this:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/LADIES-ON-EARLY-MOTORCYCLE-ORIGINAL-VINTAGE-OLD-PHOTOGRAPH-9x5cm-SS/282235429300?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649


Best regards,
Helmut

[cardan]

Fabulous Helmut - thanks for posting! Looks like the white splash is good for 1929 as well. Of course CE was a pretty small manufacturer, and around 1930 their "bread and butter" was the little pressed-frame two stroke, and their glamour bikes were the big twins, so the singles may have been produced in pretty small numbers with somewhat variable spec. But the CH-1929 photo is pretty good evidence that the bike was around in that year.

I wonder if Charles Howell rode the bike to work at the studio?

Times have changed.

Cheers

Leon

[cardan]

OK. I've dug out the Show Issues of The Motor Cycle which I should have done before putting pen to paper.

1928 colour scheme was black tank with red nose, 1929 had the white splash as per Helmut's CE-1929 image and the Charles Howell bike. The Motor Cycle used the same CE-1929 illustration posted by Helmut. Amazingly "last year's model" is discussed in the Show Report - no embarrassment about selling off unsold bikes from the previous year.

Cheers

Leon

[Rex]

I wonder if Charles Howell rode the bike to work at the studio?
Cheers
Leon

I rather doubt it as it was just a prop, and probably clean as a whistle so punters didn't get grease on their clothing. It's in front of a backdrop too, so unless he repositioned it perfectly every day...
There's another similar pic with two girls which is used in ads in the back of the glossies now, and as I recall that's a Raleigh.