Archive for ‘30’s’

January 24, 2024

Two & Four

Green Garb’ Gal

Nice later 30’s v-twin with ‘37 Ford Coupe. Complementary colors worn by the rider including a headscarf that ties the locks of this redhead.

March 15, 2023

Confounding Contraptions

Heath Robinson

Whenever overly complicated and seemingly unnecessarily contrived machines are required then there in no one better call than from the drawing desk of cartoonist William Heath Robinson. His whimsical inventions were improbable, rickety machine barely kept going by incessant tinkering.

March 7, 2023

What a memory!

Mahout with Motorcycle

Nellie says just strap ‘er on and I’ll get you through the jungle to your destination. An Indian with an Indian being carried by an Indian elephant. Adventure awaits!

January 22, 2023

The Shape of Things to Come

Fritz Lang inspired vehicle.

Gotta love the early 20th Century imagination of where things will go as an inspired future beckoned. Art Deco form with streamlining lines. We were promised the future: we’ll, here we are? Where are our flying cars, excess relaxation time, less stress. I think we took a wrong turn somewhere!

December 3, 2022

Hounds life

Frau und Hund

German Triumph-Werke Nürnberg TWN 350cc aus den frühen dreißiger jahren. Die junge dame sieht uneschroken aus in ihrer reitkleidung. Der hund ist gleichgültig.

October 16, 2022

Green Span

This bridge is one of four rare Scherzer rolling lift bascule bridges in Joliet that cross the Des Plaines river. Once a thriving transporation hub, this crossing built in 1933 would lift to allow the barge traffic from the nearby Sanitary and Ship Canal through. Carrying both industrial products and raw materials it was arterial in Chicagos economic success up until the 70’s.

March 24, 2022

Harvey Mushman

Cool Dude

Steve McQueen’s birthday.

January 3, 2022

Sloped

New Model

– “We’ll take two! My husband also wants one!”

December 14, 2021

Anti-Hero

Love is…

The great Al Bowlly 1932

Love is the sweetest thing What else on earth could ever bring Such happiness to ev’rything As Love’s old story.

Love is the greatest thing The oldest yet, the latest thing I only hope that fate may bring Love’s story to you.

October 19, 2021

Anamosa IA

National Motorcycle Museum

– on our road trip through Iowa we stopped in at this impressive collection of motorcycles. Here is a selection of engines spanning 7 decades. More to follow this week!

October 20, 2020

Essex

“Call me Ishmael”

On this day 200 years ago the whaling ship Essex was attacked and sunk by a sperm whale in the middle of the South Pacific. This maritime story gave Herman Melville the idea for his classic novel Moby Dick. This 1928 Brought Superior SS100, also named Moby Dick recently sold for over £500,000. The name was given after Motor Cycling magazine tested it in 1931 and declared it “the fastest privately-owned machine in the world”.

July 6, 2020

Ride on boyo!

Smiling Hound

– Welsh singer actor Lee Evans promoting a thirties vibe in sheepskin lined belted leather coat, tall engineer boots, and over the shoulder napsack. The Vincent Comet is a suitable motorcycle prop for the magazine shoot. The vintage backdrop adds a perfect foil.

June 22, 2020

Time

Amazon deal

Picked up this great reference book of Triumph motorcycles from the last eighty odd years. All models and variations discussed in depth from the legendary Meriden examples to the current Hinckley offerings. Lots of photos and masses of written information.

The Complete Book of Classic and Modern Triumph Motorcycles 1937-Today https://www.amazon.com/dp/0760366012/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_EIw8EbMGGRAH3

April 30, 2020

Africa or Bust…

Dr Livingston I presume?

A pair of intrepid adventurers with their Triumph combination somewhere in Alkebulan (Mother of Mankind) during a 1932 trip across the continent. It’s Frank Flood and Jim C. Wilson who rode from the Nigerian cost to The Red Sea. The original dual sport travelers. Short sleeves and pith helmets.

March 13, 2020

On Ilkley Moor

Interwar Years – Three women having a picnic during a road test of a Triumph Scorpion, 1931