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Please name this bike

907 - 8/12/12 at 08:16 PM

Hi All.

An old chap that comes in the pub has found this photo of his uncle.
He would love to know the make & model of the bike.
It's possibly mid to late 30's

None of us has the faintest idea...
Then I said that I bet that one of you lot would know.
Pity that the gear knob blots out the tank badge

Over to the experts.
Cheers,
Paul G

What make please

MakeEverything - 8/12/12 at 08:22 PM

I am far from an expert, but i saw an Ariel that looked very similar to this. Theres one like it at the Ace Cafe too.

mookaloid - 8/12/12 at 08:30 PM

My first thought was sunbeam - but there were lots of very similar looking bikes made then - is that a JAP engine?

clairetoo - 8/12/12 at 08:35 PM

Could it be one of these ?

1930 Rudge Jap 250 ?

mark chandler - 8/12/12 at 08:37 PM

I think Blake has it

http://www.roncobb.com/Ariel-LF-1930.html

Not exactly the same but very close
[img]http://www.roncobb.com/Ariel-LF-1930.html[/img]

r1_pete - 8/12/12 at 08:41 PM

Looks like a mid 30s Ariel, possibly a de luxe

T66 - 8/12/12 at 08:47 PM

I would of said an Ariel - they had the pushrod tubes like that

HowardB - 8/12/12 at 08:55 PM

is there a higher definition picture?

907 - 8/12/12 at 09:07 PM

I scanned the pic at 2400dpi & cropped it in PS

Still can't read the tank badge but it looks like 3 letters ???

Arial used to sign write "ARIEL" on the tank.

I think several of you are right about the JAP engine, but lots of bikes had them.

Keep going. we'll get it in the end.

Paul G

Tank Badge

mookaloid - 8/12/12 at 09:24 PM

Actually the forks are very distinctive - those are a symmetrical kite shape whereas most were asymmetrical with a straight front tube

mookaloid - 8/12/12 at 10:05 PM

I think it's an OK supreme of some sort

1929 model with a 1930 tank?

1929 model linky

1930 model linky - the badge has some similarity in this one too

It could be a 'bitsa' bike?

[Edited on 8/12/12 by mookaloid]

907 - 8/12/12 at 10:35 PM

I've just googled the badge mate and you could be on to it.

Like a sun above with clouds below maybe ??

ok

The blur in the middle still looks like 3 letters though.

Paul G

mookaloid - 8/12/12 at 10:40 PM

have a look at the badge on my second link to the 1930 bike - looks pretty close to me although I can't tell exactly what it says

907 - 8/12/12 at 10:53 PM

Mookaloid, I think you've cracked it.

You can sleep tonight knowing you have made an old man happy. (Peter the plumber, retired)

The blokes down the pub scoff at the time I spend on LB.
Chris should re-name it, Encyclopaedia LB.

Cheers
Paul G

mookaloid - 8/12/12 at 10:55 PM

found another

steve m - 8/12/12 at 11:03 PM

Blimey, i must be losing my touch, as ive never even heard of that bike!!!

owelly - 8/12/12 at 11:04 PM

I think I have it sussed. I owned one for many years and travelled all over the UK and Europe on it. It's an Yamaha FZR600R................

907 - 8/12/12 at 11:05 PM

It's OK. I believe you.

You can go to bed now.

I'm off to put the cocoa on.

Cheers mate.
Paul G

mookaloid - 8/12/12 at 11:06 PM

Sorry I like old bikes

splitrivet - 9/12/12 at 12:06 AM

Trouble is with bikes of that vintage they all used the JAP engine and frame design was very similar.
Cheers,
Bob

907 - 9/12/12 at 06:24 AM

One of the blokes in the pub said that according to a book he had there were almost
a thousand makes of British bikes.
Some were just one man in a garage building the odd one or two.

Can you believe that? Scratch building a road going vehicle in your garage?

Cheers,
Paul G

Daddylonglegs - 9/12/12 at 07:29 AM

Now there's an idea......

ruskino80 - 9/12/12 at 08:53 AM

might be worth an ask to where the bike is now. Could be baked bean tins or sat in that dusty shed 20 minutes from your house!

Peteff - 9/12/12 at 10:24 AM

My uncle Joe used to ride an old AJS 350 that looked very similar in the 60s, they all look the same to me nowadays. Big money to be spent on them as well, there's an Ariel Square Four in my friend's shop up at nearly Ł18,000.