I came across an old photo album a while ago which appeared to show my Grandfather with a motorbike. I had no idea he had been into bikes when he was younger, so I asked my Dad about it, who confirmed that both my Grandfather and his younger sister (my father’s aunt) had both been big into motorbikes pre-war. The photos I found all had 1937 written on the back. My grandfather on his bike - I believe it’s a BSA. I think this one belonged to a friend, who is sat in the side car. Their bikes together This one was a really blurred picture but appears to show him ‘showing off’ by jumping over the top of his bike! Quite a feat actually, I don’t think I’d ever have been able to do that. Apparently his younger sister (Dad’s Aunt Marjorie) wasn’t just a pillion or side car passenger - she owned and rode her own bike. I doubt many young women in the 1930’s had their own motorbike! During WW2, Marjorie was a hospital nurse, where sadly, she contracted TB and died in 1942 while still in her 20’s. It’s such a shame she died so young - long before I was born - I would loved to have known her.
Really interesting photos, Neal. I'm pretty sure that the middle two are 1930s BSA Slopers, but the top one looks like a mid-20s Brough Superior. Your grandad had good taste!
Thanks for the possible identification on the bikes. I thought the top one was one of the bikes in the following pictures, but now you mention it I can see it’s different - different exhaust.
And the petrol tank shape, the Castle forks, the magneto drive to the front of the engine, the Nottigham registration (where Broughs were made). No doubt about it.
After a bit of Googling, I can’t decide whether it was an SS80 or SS100, the exhaust configuration would suggest SS100 but it also says that no two bikes were exactly alike as they were built to order. either way, way-to-go grandad SS80 SS100
There may be a Brough owners club that has record of that registration? I doubt it will still have the side car attached if it’s still going now.
Great photos, @Neal H! Thanks for sharing them. And I think I'd like to have known Marjorie, too. Love the photos of your dad on his "earlier" and "later" bikes, too, @Gyp.
