Rrosenthal

1920 10hp Reading Standard – with electric lights! Ravat 1900 (1898)-1954 France Established business whose enterprises included cycles from Usines de Monthieux, Saint-Etienne. Entered the motorcycle market by fitting pioneer clip-on kits to its sturdy cycles, although exact production start-date is unclear. Progressed to earn a sound reputation for well-made, quality machines in the 100…

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Rex’s tricar was popular between 1903 and 1906 Rex and Rex Acme 1900-33 UK Modern history books tell us Rex began with tricar and car production at Birmingham in 1899 then acquired new premises at Osborne Road, Earlsdon, Coventry in 1900 and first exhibited a motorcycle at the year’s National Show at Crystal Palace, London.…

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1906 ad extols the virtues of the Riley: ‘… the machine for the night or all-weather rider.’ Riley 1901(1899)-1908 UK Aged just 20, William Riley took over the family weaving business in Coventry in 1870, just as the city’s weavers were beginning to reel from the impact of cheaper imports – all sounds very familiar…

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The pre-WWII four cylinder Gilera racer, based on the Rondine Romeo 1969-75 Italy Maker of 50cc Minarelli-engined ultralightweights. Odd examples of the motorcycle and moped like machines find their way out of Italy. Rondine (Dates as detailed) Italy Four concerns are briefly mentioned here as one led to the post WWII world championship winning Gilera…

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Announced for the 1910 season, the first of the new generation of Royal Enfields Royal Enfield 1898- UK Humour of sorts has been aimed at motorcycle marques since time began. Much good natured, some less so. And of the world’s major players, Royal Enfield have been the butt of more jokes than most. Yet as…

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Royal Rubies were available with either advanced chain or belt drive Royal Moto 1923-33 France Maker from Saint-Etienne who built an extensive range of 98cc velomotors to 250cc two-stroke motorcycles, as well as 250-500cc side-valve and ohv four-stroke singles. Royal Nord 1950-c1963 Belgium Range of two-stroke up-to-250cc lightweights, built using a selection of proprietary engines,…

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1937 Motor Glide motorcycle from Salsbury Sadrian 1956-63 Spain Established maker of lightweight three-wheelers who branched out into lightweight motorcycle manufacture, using 125-200cc Hispano-Villiers power.  Salsbury 1935-49 USA Super salesman and entrepreneur E Foster Salsbury conceived his idea for cheap personal transport in 1935. Salsbury folklore claims EFS had one of those flashes of inspiration…

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Alfred Angas Scott checks the condition of Frank Philipp’s Scott Scott 1908-c1972 One of 12 children, Alfred Angas Scott was born at Manningham, Bradford in 1874. The son of a Bradford merchant and Scottish mother, Scott was educated in Scotland, then at a Staffordshire public school. He rapidly developed independence, self-reliance and confidence – attributes…

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1924 Seal three wheeler owned by MJ Holben Seal c1912-23, 1930 UK Motorcycle combination or cyclecar? Built by Seal Motors Ltd, Stretford, Manchester, in essence the Seal comprised a motorcycle combination less seat and handlebars which was controlled from within the sidecar. The motorcycle frame and the chassis of its permanently attached sidecar were assembled…

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Silk assembly shop in 1975. There were 140 engine units built and 138 chassis Silk 1975 (1971)-c1980 UK That most useless of skills, hindsight, tells us the 1970s wasn’t the time to commence motorcycle manufacture, the UK wasn’t the place and a large capacity twin cylinder deflector piston two-stroke would only appeal to a very…

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