These lads were collectively known as The Grease. To be elevated to the giddy heights of the name Greasers, they will have had to obtain, learn to ride and maintain and be seen everywhere on high powered motorcycles, which means they couldn't have gathered under the clock tower as there wouldn't have been space. But as a demonstration of terminology in those days it will suffice.
Greasers could also be known as Ton Up Boys, especially if they rode any of the then very few 'bikes that would actually do the magic Ton.
One 'bike that would, every time, no sweat, was the Vincent Black Shadow, the Lamborghini, in the 50s, of the motorbike world. Poster boy of the world of leather jackets, big boots and white scarfs.
And it is one of these that I am engaged in making a brass master pattern for in the big 1/6th scale.
Getting the pictures you really need, rather than a proliferation of those you could do without is a complete pain as these things are so very valuable now that people are loath to admit ownership, lest their premises are raided by theft gangs with Hyabs and smart trucks.
Eventually I found one in bits amongst no less than 8 others in Norwich and photographed and measured to my heart's content, til I had enough to start drawing one up.
Work began and we now have a lot of little bits and pieces that will one day make up into a little replica 6 times smaller than the real one.
Left hand crankcase and primary chain case nd clutch cover.
All the wee bits and bobs so far, including painted seat and tank in Ureol, front and rear forks, upper frame member/oil tank, susension, etc.
Headstock...complex!
Upper frame member/oil tank with headstock in place. Everything hangs from this simple assembly.
I am now concerned with making the right hand side of the engine, which is very much more complex in shape that than the left side. I am making these crankcases in Ureol and they are being cast in silicon moulds come production time.
More as it happens
AH, a Shadow. Had one around "54
ReplyDeleteBunch of problems like flywheels shifting, Big ends with crowded rollers, clutch getting oil in innerds. And if you took the timing cover off without the bike laying on its left side, you were suddenly presented with a couple handfuls of bits, only a few of which were obvious were they went. I was lucky, and only had a few problems, but at the time, rebuilt a couple that did. As to speed, more reputation than fact- in a couple years Brit 500cc singles (BSA, Velocette-had those also) would crack the magic hundred.
But in my opinion, there has never been or is, a bike that just extruded the aura of evil power, and perfect proportions. A Brough SS100 and the last of the Manx Nortons try hard at this, but never quite make it.
So, am I sorry that I sold mine off? Hell yes. If I still had it I could probably get 12-1500 times what I got at the time. Isn't hindsight depressing?
Herb Kephart