I did think about trying other designs before going with the Sociable three wheeler and this was one of them. It's a Cyclauto and yes it's French.
John ,your project reminds me of Pavel's(Czech Republic).He built this motorcycle from PHOTOGRAPHs .No sample,no prints.
I have been searching for hubs for my jappic recreation Should have remembered earlier about talon engineering http://www.talon-eng.co.uk/talon-speedway-wheels.asp They also do sidecar hubs at about £50 each
Adrian,I have been reading John Bolster's "Special". I just got to the section on the "JAPIC". I like these things about the book: #1) John has written it so clearly,even without a picture you can figure out the layout in your head. #2) The pictures are very good.My only thought is that it is sad that there aren't images to go along with each car described. #3) We get to learn who the original builders are and some of the former iterations of some of the survivng specials.
Pavel's Trojan motorcycle...I'm just going to post the whole lot of pictures.So,if you see something previously posted,enjoy it again! BanjeauX Bob
Hi bob The bolster piece is based on a bit from light car and cycle car announcing the debut of the jappic at brooklands I have copies of the originals with pictures on my flikr account http://www.flickr.com/photos/55288722@N00/sets/72157630009634023/ On here is all the info I found during a days research at the vscc library Feel free to copy stuff and repost it
Wow Budfab, that is pretty damn cool. I was also thinking of building a retro motorcycle/ bike and that's a great looking motor. I used to work in Sunnyvale too bad we never met. If I saw your Velorex going down the road I would surely have followed. Is that an original frame? certainly looks it. That cut down cylinder head is really taking on the early period look for a JAP-like V8. The reason I was thinking of a big bore cylinder is because the JAP engine is 5 liters. I'd like to get some measurements to draw up some ideas. Now I'm in a big bicycle town with many fabricators and was even thinking of making one electric. I know, that is blasphemy here on the HAMB but a very retro style electric. Never seen it done. Anyway, great contributions from everyone and this is getting pretty exciting. Keep up with the contributions!
Hi erik b sorry to do this to you, I was exhibiting my bikes at the bespoke show in Uk , custom bicycles www.awardbikes.co.uk. And met this guy who builds vintage style, bboardtrack electric bicycles http://www.petersbike.co.uk/
Adrian- Thanks for that. Pretty cool but not exactly what I had in mind. I want to go more gizmo/electric with the design. I'm involved with an electric car company and the most boring part is the drivetrain. What I love about old gas engines is that "gizmoness" quality of it so I want an electric powertrain that is much more entertaining to look at. Not some appliance. A little more "artistic license". But those are very cool looking bikes and thanks for posting that. There is also Derringer bikes in LA that does a 50 cc motor in a Schwinn repro frame. But not nearly as well done as those.
I've got a stack of 1930's Popular Mechanics Magazines that I hope to sell, lots of odd things featured in them like this, in 1934. Bob
In the totally feed my ego department, does anyone have a photo or graphics of a GN plate like this that is taken perpendicular / square with the plate? I'd like to duplicate one (purely personal reasons) for use on my next build. Or for that matter, images of any other GN graphics, heralds, unique trim items, etc.. Thanx, Gary
That totally handbuilt motorcycle would have to be the most beautiful piece of engineering I have ever seen. If it was mine I'd be too scared to ride it, - what if I fell off and scraped the paint or bent something! So Gary I'm not the only one who hunts down photos of makers plates, badges and the like I'm pretty sure I don't have a photo of a GN plate anywhere though. Raleigh Seven. One of my favourite three wheelers of all time.
1925 S.A.R.A. on offer through http://www.PreWarCar.com By the looks of the radiator shell and body buck,the guy is into making Alfa Romeo 6&8C replica bodies.
I've had a couple of bad days with having to stay in bed, but I used the time to go over all the hoarded car information I've got in folders as well as the many cyclecar images on my hard drive. After thinking about it I've decided that it would be fun to build F.J. Camm's cyclecar as published in the 1936 issues of 'Practical Mechanics'. First of all it's a genuine cyclecar design from the 1930's, secondly it's intended to be cheap and simple to build and thirdly I just plain like it. There are some elements of the design I will be improving on though and instead of using spacers cut from plain steel tubing on some parts of the suspension I fully intend to dust off my Myford lathe and make a proper job of them. The idea of building a car with a wooden chassis is something I've wanted to do for a long time so it looks like I'm going to get my wish. I did mention doing something with my rickshaw (am I allowed to mention rickshaws in a cyclecar thread?), but I've decided that's a silly idea and I'll just repair and restore it and sell it off once it's done. The money will go towards bulding the cyclecar
Sancta Rosa...you can talk about anything you want to.Just give us a few words when you leave next time. bob
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