New Feature- Vintage Literature Review

I have written periodically about the classic motorcycle hobby and how to get started in it. Like many, my initial forays were filled with anxiety. I was an absolute novice with minimal mechanical experience. I knew that a great deal of satisfaction would come from the self-sufficiency of maintaining the motorcycle myself. The real question was where to find the technical know-how to be a true motorcyclist in the traditional sense. Certainly, there are plenty of internet sites, blogs, and forums where one can ask questions about how to fix discreet issues. What many of these sites can't do is impart the techniques and methods our forebears used in taking care of their motorcycles. Depending on where you live, you may be fortunate enough to have a mentor. In my case, vintage British motorcycles are rare enough much less someone with the knowledge to work on them. The solution was to develop my own knowledge base through period technical literature. I have for a while collected a combination of period books and articles with the aim at building a technical library and historical library that would allow me to repair my motorcycle and enjoy the context in which it existed.

Part of motivation of this blog is to share my knowledge with others. To that end, I have decided to start a new feature in which I review vintage literature to help guide others in building their own libraries. My desire is that readers will get involved and hopefully share their literature as well. Stay tuned for the first review.

Captured Another!!!!!!

It wasn't easy. They are wily buggers and capturing them requires guile as well as a bit of money. This addition to the menagerie  is a classic bronze piece with eery similarity to the Cock-a-Snoots created by Jeff Decker. It's cast in bronze and was most likely made for fitment on an automobile judging from its base. I am still thinking about proper mounting options.

Persistence.....

For readers of this blog, I wrote a post titled "Playful Derision" on the subject of the "tweenie devil" or cock-a-snoot mascot. Since that article, I have been smitten by the figure searching high and low for the exact example featured in Leach's paintaing of "Brooklands George" featured in the post. They are not easy to find but I finally acquired one.

I have plans for this little fellow. The original will naturally find its suitable place on my Norton Model 7. I also plan on making a mold and casting the mascot either myself  or finding some help. Every motorcyclist deserves one of these!!!!!

North Houston Swap Meet

I went to the North Houston Hot Rod Swap Meet today. The advertisement mentioned motorcycles so I was a bit excited at seeing some old bikes. Well, not much in the realm of old bikes and most of the car stuff was dedicated to late 1970's era blown engines but there were a few interesting items.

1959 Cushman Eagle nicely sorted

1940 Chevy Coupe

Classic Rat Rod with Flat Head and Sportster

Model T stuff

Gear Head Still Life #1

Gear Head Still Life #2

More Motobilia

I went out of town for a couple of days and was happy to see that the mail carrier left a couple of more surprises while Kate and I were gone. I am totally immersed in my Norton Model 7 and I collect anything related to my bike including advertisements and literature. I love the graphic art of the period and I am fortunate enough to have wife that let's me decorate with it a bit. Anyway here is my latest acquisition.

The cool thing about this one is that my office is decorated with a large sized color reproduction of this very ad. It's not a coincidence that I bought it. If there's anybody out there with more of this stuff, let me know I would be very interested even if we just posted your collection as a galler on the site.

One more for the collection

I always love seeing brown mail envelopes in the mailbox. It's a sign that my collection of motobilia is going to expand a bit.This time it was the arrival of a Norton sprocket puller stamped with the marque's name across the front. I'll give it a gentle cleaning and into the tool box. My vintage tools are for using and there are two bottom ends needing some attention. Nice little surprise for the weekend.