More on Four Speeders

 

-SG- Earlier this year we had a short posting about the few four speed 'cross over' box machines which have survived from the twenties. As I mentioned, by the time 1929 came along the number being sold was quite small. BUT a recent chat with Robert - who has a 1926 Model 24 - prompted me to have a more in depth look at the figures and I was very surprised at the result. The first machine actually listed is a Model 24 (although the Works called it a four speed 588 in the records) in mid 1925 and this was shortly followed by a few four speed Big Fours. But come 1926 and the numbers grew surprisingly such that by the end of 1928 there appears to have been model totals as follows (e and oe!):

 

Model 14 ... 177

Model 24 ... 399

Model 34 ... 114 

Model 44 ... 43

And for what it's worth, the Four Speeders made up about 3.5 % of total machine output in the period of their production. 

And a final point ... it is apparently possible to replace the four speed gearbox with the usual type CS three speed version.  The frame lug is the same although the rear wheel has to be turned round to get normal chain alignment etc.

Pike's bike again.

-JdK- Last October we published an article about a Norton advertised as the 1926 Maudes Trophy winner ridden by Phil Pike. Tracing it's history revealed that the machine is a replica and the only 'Pike part' of the machine may be part of the frame. Which is fine, as it certainly is a nice machine but we think any prospective buyer should be aware about this part of the machine's history too.

The bike remained unsold at Bonhams and is now advertised on eBay. A carefully worded description is used and as with the Bonhams catalogue the suggestion remains that this machine is the genuine article. I contacted the vendor to ask for his opinion which is provided below.

"I have read the article and there are many items which could be disputed; however I cannot be bothered to argue. As far as I am concerned the bike is sound and good, how many restored bikes are original? Given the age and condition they are found in I expect it to be 10% original at best!! Certainly restored bikes usually have new wheels, rims, tank, forks, mudguards, toolboxes etc, etc., if this was not the case there would not be a thriving parts industry and there would be no need for Autojumbles! I have been as honest as I know in selling the bike, the article published does not know all of the facts and makes assumptions, if you have concerns then do not bid. Best regards, Dale"

Stanley at the Scott Trial in 1926

According to the original caption to the photo above this is Stanley in a scramble at Harrogate in 1926. It may not be a scramble however as scrambles in the twenties did not involve much water - but more likely the Scott Trial in which he competed for the first time in 1926 on his free issue Model 18. Because of the big splash one cannot see much of the bike but here's a shot taken at the Scott Trial provided by the later Peter Roydhouse (below). Note the 8 inch front brake and the Birmingham registration number. He apparently had various mishaps in the event and finished the course without a silencer. Peter was fairly sure he had identified this particular bike from the records.

The lower photo shows probably a Model 44 - again a Birmingham registration number OP747 and perhaps a works owned bike. Like the Pike machine recently featured, it seems to have an 8 inch front brake too.

Bonhams Sale 19290 - Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show, Stafford, 16 Oct 2011

In the Bonhams catalogue

CO9608

-SG- A well restored 1926 four speed 588 OHV outfit accompanied by much verbal bally-hoo in the Bonhams catalogue linking it to Phil Pike and the special outfit he rode in the 1926 ISDT and, shortly after, to win the Maudes Trophy for  Nortons. The facts of the matter are not quite so definite as Bonhams' script writer suggests. The only original 'Pike' part of the machine appears to be the frame - or part of it - as Barry Tyreman had to remedy the unfortunate fact that when the frame was acquired, the head lug and front down tube were missing. That he managed to build a bike of this standard atall from such poor remains is a matter for which he should be congratulated. It appears that all of the rest of the bike came from accumulated parts or parts acquired for the project. The one major item Barry was unable to source was a set of the correct four spring Druid forks so he modified a later pair of two spring Druids to suit the tall headstock of the frame. The tanks also were made for the project - hence the standard small oil tank fitted during the early stages of assembly (pic below) and the large oil tank with frame mounting lugs on the finished product. The present crankcases started life in a Model 18 despatched in May 1927.

Apart from  failing to mention that so little of the bike is actually original, Bonhams' blurb wrongly describes the bike as a Model 19 and wrongly describes the Big Four as being 588cc 79 x 120. Who writes their stuff for them, for goodness sake?  If a model number can be ascribed to the machine atall, it is more akin to the Model 44 although Barry tells me the frame differs slightly as the Pike bike has rather less ground clearance. And just to add to the blurred picture, the Science Museum letter is also slightly incorrect - though we can't blame Bonhams for that!  The actual entry in the despatch books reads as follows:

Engine number 30818: Frame number 21180: Magneto number 95544: 588 OHV: B and B carb.:  26 x 3.25 W.O Tyres: 4 Speed: HWT Shock Abs. Druid forks (ie Druid forks with heavyweight shock absorbers): Tank number 514. Extras: 8" Front Brake and Steering damper. Despatched 25/6/26  to Pike P  (ie Pike Plymouth).

Note brazing, new headlug and front downtube

Just after completion

The photos directly above, courtesy Barry, show the bike during assembly and just after it was completed.


Bonhams' comments:

"We’ll forward to the vendor for his info.

Technically the description is correct - the frame was the one used - albeit it has had a major rebuild incorporating non-original parts (which is what we advised prospective purchasers over the weekend).

As with any machine it is always sold strictly as viewed and you did exactly what every prospective purchaser should do and research a lot it in advance of the sale.

But one or two points (and I must defend our descriptions). They are written on the basis of what the vendor advises and provides. We always endeavour to research a motorcycle ourselves but time is, as always, a factor. But where new information does come to light in advance of a sale we will place a saleroom notice or ‘addendum’ on the machine.

You will also note ‘Model 19’ in the title is in inverted commas and that it is described as a Model 19-based outfit (further on we state its specification is approximating to that of a Model 19). I think Norton by Mick Woollett records the Big Four as being 588cc 79 x 120 - and this may have been where that info came from - but I’ll double check!


Kind regards,

Ben
Department Director
Collectors' Motorcycles
Bonhams, 101 New Bond Street, London, W1S 1SR"