Features

1949 Scott Unlike some of the other motorcycle manufacturers, the Scott Motor Cycle Company did not supply motorcycles to the armed forces during World War 2. Instead, they became involved in war work of a different nature, some of which came from the Admiralty. Single cylinder models of rugged construction, needing only a minimum of…

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Indian Brave The Indian Motorcycle Company, of Springfield, Massachusetts, a formidable rival to Harley-Davidson, were just as famous for their large capacity vee-twins. The first appeared way back in 1906 and by 1911 they had made a tremendous impact here, when they dominated the 1911 Senior TT, taking the first three places. Not only did…

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Continental Sports had a cobby look It would seem that Frank Willoughby Cotton, the founder of the Cotton Motor Company, shared similar ideas to Alfred Scott when it came to motorcycle frame design. Impressed by his triangulated layout, which avoided the use of anything other than straight tubes, Cotton devised his own design. It differed…

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1934 Velocette 350cc ohv in 250cc cycle parts The overhead camshaft KSS Velocette was the flagship of the Velocette range, expensive to purchase but also costly to make. By the early Thirties it was becoming evident that at least one other model was needed to fill the gap between the KSS and the GTP two-stroke…

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245cc BMW R27 If you are ever offered a 'veteran' BMW you will know it's a fake because BMW wasn't founded until August 1918. Their earlier origins  lay in the manufacture of six-cylinder inline engines for the German airforce, one of which was used by the legendary fighter pilot Baron Manfred von Richthofen. However, after…

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1961 Norman B4 250cc twin sports model The town of Ashford in Kent may seem an unlikely place for a manufacturer of bicycles and motorcycles, especially when the hub of the industry lay in the Birmingham and Coventry areas of the Midlands. However, not every successful business was located there – Yorkshire produced both the…

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Norton Commando Fastback Norton Motors was one of the earliest casualties of the crumbling British motor cycle industry when, in early 1953, they encountered serious financial problems and were acquired by Associated Motor Cycles Ltd. That in itself was bad news for all Norton enthusiasts, but worse was yet to come. Although initially Norton managed…

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New Imperial Classic In 1931 the British motorcycle industry was facing hard times. With the country in the grip of a deep recession, a number of manufacturers had already ceased business; amongst them AJS, who had gone into voluntary liquidation early that year. Something had to be done to restore confidence, and it was on…

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1954 DOT scrambler Model SCH Although DOT was only a relatively small company, based in Hulme, Manchester, it ranked as one of Britain's motorcycle pioneers. Formed in 1903 by Harry Reed, it is alleged the name was coined from the slogan later used in advertisements by the company in the Twenties – 'Devoid Of-Trouble'. However,…

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AJS Stormer Ford once very successful company, AJS seems to have suffered more than its fair share of misfortunes. Founded by Joe Stevens senior and four of his five sons in 1909, A.J. Stevens & Co Ltd, occupied premises in Retreat Street, Wolverhampton. It was here they had made the engine for the Wearwell Stevens…

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