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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: Meg jr on Sunday 02 November 08 21:13 GMT (UK)
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Good evening,
The people in this picture are unknown to us. It may help to work out who they are if a date could be confirmed for the picture.
I am hoping that the motor cycle could be a clue as there is not much else to go on I'm afraid.
Could the marks be removed from the picture to make it look a bit better also please.
thank you very much
Meg :) :)
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Wow, that would have impressed me in the late-60s when I had a bike.
Certainly pre-1963 as mine had the reg numbers/letters the other way round.
The bike looks like the sort that had the elongated squared-off petrol tank (no idea of the technical terminology) that ran along the main strut from the front to the back.
The bike could be older/earlier than the riders.
But the lads trousers and hair-dos definitely make me think late 50s "teds".
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This is really bugging me now. Come on, someone must know.
It looks like a single cylinder engine and really compact and neat but a purpose built twin-forks with dampers model, not a converted push-bike.
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Hi Meg
Can't help with date or motorcycle ... here's a clean for you :)
Kate
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Not an "expert" on motorcycles but am wondering if it was a pressed steel framed Coventry Eagle motorcycle.
old rowley
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With the 'Two Lettered' number plate, I would suggest 1930's.
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Well spotted Old Rowley
see the 1920s Coventry Eagle here:
http://www.vintagebike.co.uk/Bike%20Directories/Coventry%20Eagle%20Bikes/pages/Coventry-Eagle-20s.htm
but the photo is later than that and the bike in the picture is showing a tax-disc. Does anyone know when they came in?
and Meg - love the clean-up - I'd probably still find it easier, even after all these years, to repair the bike than the photo - amazing stuff you all do!
Sheila
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The Tax Disc is Born
This is the story of the Tax Disc, and it is here that our hero makes his entrance. The Acts of 1919 and 20, laid down the specifications for the first Tax Discs and exactly how they should be displayed - by using a holder that shall be circular. It was defined as proof of payment of the Road Fund Licence and thus the Tax Disc as we know it today was born.
SEE: http://www.britishtaxdiscs.co.uk/History.htm
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From what I can find out the double letters of RR where the registration letters for the Nottingham(shire) area between 1921 and 1955.
old rowley
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Hello to everyone,
What wonderful detectives you all are.
Kate, thank you for the clean up of the picture. Just great .
Dudley - thank you for your information and the link to the vintage bike site. I think that is the bike in my picture.
Old Rowley - Your information about the bike being a Coventry Eagle and being registered in Nottingham(shire) 1921-55 is very interesting. Thank you.
looking for old - Great information about the registration plate. RR being 1930's and the tax disc information. I would not have thought of that.
It is the person in the front seat who is of interest and could be a relative. The person at the back is completely a mystery. The fact that Nottinghamshire is mentioned is good as the family were based in Staffordshire , so not far away.
I would like to thank everyone for their thoughts on this picture, I certainly have enjoyed reading all the information and I can be 99% certain that the person in the front seat is who the family thought it was.
Again, many thanks to everyone,
regards Meg ;D ;D
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It looks rather like a BSA Bantam to me. but I am no expert on motorbikes
http://www.classicmotorcycles.org.uk/bikemuseum/museum_bsa.htm/
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Hello Dancing Master
thank you for the link to the website you mention. More to consider.
best wishes Meg :)
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I had a BSA Bantam (Lucus Version) in the early 50's and it was nothing like that.
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It looks rather like a BSA Bantam to me. but I am no expert on motorbikes
http://www.classicmotorcycles.org.uk/bikemuseum/museum_bsa.htm/
It was an old Bantam that I learned to ride on in the 60s, probably like the 1953 125cc model shown on your link. The Bantam had a fatter rounded petrol tank. The bike in the original picture almost looks like the tank is built in to the frame and very angular and the frame shape itself is very distinctive .
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Not a Bantam - I learnt to drive on one.
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Here is the Bantam:
http://www.realclassic.co.uk/virtualbantam08021900.html
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Hi there
I'm sorry I missed this one...I had one of these little horrors in the early 1960s ......I kept it in a box!!!!!...little villiers engined two stokes made by Coventry Eagle. Horrid pressed steel frames and ridgid at that, with pressed steel forks. Mine had a 147cc engine. What a laugh having a pillion passenger !!!!! Nottingham registered in 1928 and costing 28 guineas. There were four models with electric lights and the largest engine, 200cc I think.
Not many of these lasted so I guess the photograph was around 1930!!!
Don't get the wrong idea though at this period CV made some fabulous bikes as well.
Regards
Lyndon
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Good evening everyone,
Firstly thank you to all for their comments regarding the motor cycle.
Lyndon, your information is wonderful. Thank you very much. I think the 1930 date for the picture is going to be the one as the person who we think is in the front seat looks the right age.
The information about the motor cycle has been most interesting and informative. I have learnt alot about this picture from all of you.
regards Meg ;D
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Not a BSA bantam, earlier than that girder forks so I would think 1930s.
Renard
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Thank you Renard. The date would seem be spot on for this picture.
Meg :)