From The Archive

1204cc Indian Chief IFA 1945/49-60 Germany Shaft drive as fitted by IFA, is common on German motorcycles. The town of Zschopau in Saxony was the centre for advanced two-stroke development during the inter-war years. Young Danish born engineer Jorgen Stafte Rasmussen established his company in Zschopau during 1919, adopting the initials DKW for the motorcycles…

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Harley-Davidson WLC, produced for the military Hagglund 1973-78 Sweden Limited production of pressed steel monocoque framed 345cc two-stroke Rotax engined military motorcycle with automatic transmission, the XM 74 was developed solely for the Swedish military by AB Hagglund and Soner, Ornsklosvick. Drive problems brought the project to a premature halt. Despite its problems, examples are…

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Early Thirties Garelli lightweight two stroke Gadabout 1946-51 UK See Swallow, scooters built by famous sidecar maker. Gaia 1922-32 Italy Turin maker of lightweights with Moser, Rubinelli and Ladetto and Blatto engines. Rare. Galbusera 1934-55 Italy Production began with a range of ohv singles using Italian Miller engines (Rudge units built under licence). Galbusera sensationally…

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Federation motorcycles were marketed through the Co-op Fafnir 1900-14(26) Germany Production at the Aachen factory was initially established to build Werner-designed engines under licence, which were marketed as proprietary units. Fafnir soon developed further motorcycle engines up to a 1000cc V-twin and became Germany’s leading producer. From c1903, Fafnir made superb motorcycles too. Surviving Fafnir…

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Enfield (now Royal Enfield) Bullet Eagle 1910-15 USA Quality made Spake-engined singles and V-twins. Now rare and expensive. EBE c1920-30 Sweden Proprietary engine manufacturer who made cycle clip-ons and then complete machines with 172-598cc engines. A number of 172cc ohv models with three-speed Sturmey Archer gearboxes survive in Northern Europe. EBS c1924-30 Germany Berlin manufacturer…

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1924 JAP-engined sidevalve Diamond Dalesman 1969-74 UK US financed production of well made lightweight off-road competition machines, using notably Puch and Sachs engines. Darmont-Morgan 1920-39 France Blackburne and JAP V-twin engined replicas of the British Morgan three wheeler built by French Morgan agent M Darmont – a former Morgan racing driver. Highly prized today. Dayton…

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1908 Bat 7hp V twin BAC 1951-53 UK After the Bond Minibyke design and production was taken over by Ellis of Leeds, the Bond Aircraft and Engineering Company built two conventional but very small motorcycles called the Lilliput. The 125cc version powered by a JAP two-stroke engine was in production for a year while the…

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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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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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Artie Ratcliffe on a Matchless competition bike Matchless 1901-67 and 1987 UK Cycle maker Harry H Collier established himself at Herbert Road, Plumstead, London, and was later joined by sons Harry and Charlie to form H Collier and Sons. They began experimenting with motorcycles in 1899, first with the engine mounted over the front wheel,…

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