My Sepia Saturday post last week featured a picture of my mother and Charlie Pitts, a motorcycling friend from the 1930s. Several people asked for pictures of my mother and father in their motorcycling gear along with their motorbike.So here is a picture which must have been taken in the 1930s : and that is my father and mother astride the Royal Enfield on the left. Readers of last weeks' post will recognise Charlie Pitts on the Triumph in the middle and I am unsure who the fourth member of the group, the Panther rider, is.
I am no expert on motorcycles and I am sure there are plenty of people who are, and who will be able to add information about the three motorcycles featured in the photograph. A little Google research suggests that Panther motorcycles are now long gone, their manufacturer, Phelon And Moore, having gone out of business in 1967. Triumph motorcycles are still thriving and, I believe, are still an iconic brand in the motorbike world. I had assumed that Royal Enfield. like Panther, had long gone into liquidation, but I was surprised to discover that Royal Enfield motorbikes are still being manufactured in India. This, seemingly, makes Royal Enfield the oldest motorcycle brand in the world still in production. I rather think that my father would have been pleased about that.
THIS IS AN EARLY SEPIA SATURDAY POST - I'M AWAY THIS WEEKEND. FOR OTHER SEPIA SATURDAY POSTS GO TO THE SEPIA SATURDAY BLOG AND FOLLOW THE LINKS
Easy Rider Yorkshire Style!
ReplyDeleteI actually have a book on British motorbikes to refer to, Alan. Unfortunately, it's already packed away for our move next spring!
ReplyDeleteI have to show this photo to my husband - he will love it (as I do).
Kat
Great picture Alan. I always have a bit of a soft spot for pictures of old cars and motorbikes, when people were there for the ride rather than the speed, and of course the roads were less busy and we were all not so impatient and hurried as we are today. This melancholy mood has been brought on by a trip this afternoon to a local retail park which, despite being a week day, not in the school holidays, and still not yet in December, was heaving to the point of unpleasantness ... particularly the car park.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm sure he would be pleased! It's a fantastic picture!
ReplyDeleteSo no sidecar. Your mom was quite beautiful and gutsy. Easy to imagine the sights and sounds for this. And I love those curved license plates. Fascinating!
ReplyDeleteCool photo of your mom and friends! I had to click on it to see the details better- love the bikes and gear and setting...just a neat pic. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteOh, what fun! How wonderful to imagine one's mother riding a motorbike! Did she and your dad ever tell you about their experiences from that time period in their lives? I love the photograph and the whole idea of your mom riding!
ReplyDeleteborn to be wild!!
ReplyDeleteinteresting how motorcycles were licensed - with the tag on the front fender!
wonderful photo - curious, was your mother always the only woman touring in their friend group?
so they were bikers back in the day before it became the thing, or maybe it was then...more adventuresome than me, I avoid even looking at the 2 wheelers....Looks like they were really enjoying themselves.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great photo. Your mom looks like such a daredevil!
ReplyDeleteFabulous photo, so wonderful to have this glimpse into your parent's life. What adventures they must have had.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting read. I knew that Triumphs were still in production, but fancy the Royal Enfield now being made in India. I'd love a ride on the back of one of those bikes. Good for your mum in what, I imagine, was quite a male dominated world!
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