If it smells of oil or Petrol ...its in the shed.



Wednesday 26 December 2012

The Humber Public House, Stoke Coventry.

I must pass this Old Pub at least twice a week and thought it was high time I used it as a thread for some Humber Posts. I used to drink in this Pub years ago when I worked at the nearby Peugeot works and that was only in the lunch time on special occasions ..Birthdays, Redundancy's that sort of thing. And before   French car maker Peugeot occupied the factory on the Humber Road it was the American Car maker Chrysler, before that Roots Group /  Hillman Motors and before that of course Humber.  And although the Factories have now been demolished and replaced with new homes  I am pleased to say the Pub still looks to be a popular and well cared for Watering Hole.

The Humber Works Stoke 1911, Coventry.

This Photo is taken at the Humber works Stoke in Coventry, and is thought to be the production shop of the 350cc Twin.The Gentleman on the extreme left of the picture is Sam Wright who is shown astride his Humber machine in the lower picture. Love the 'pose' of the two chaps in the centre ...possibly standing on their work benches?

Humber Racing Motor Cycle

This wonder full image shows Sam Wright who is thought to be testing a 350cc V Twin at Coventry's Butts Cycle track, later in June 1911 he went to Brooklands where he competed in the Junior One-Hour TT Race on the very same machine.

Humber Aircraft

In 1908 the Humber Company announced that it was to start building Aircraft of the Bleriot XI type fitted with a 25 HP 3 - Cylinder semi radial Humber Engine.  It is believed that Le Blon and Lovelace monoplanes together with Sommer Biplanes were also produced. This  Image dated 22nd June 1912 shows a Humber Biplane with a 50 HP 4- cylinder water cooled engine. Two months Later all of the Humber stock of Aircraft  and  engines plus parts were to be auctioned off.

Humber Aircraft


Many Thanks to DB for the loan of the  publication Godiva's Heritage: Coventry's Industry by Albert Smith and David Fry. Simanda Press 1997.

Saturday 8 December 2012

Hurrah Triumphs are rolling again!

When I was a young chap and totally addicted  to  Motor Cycles  mainly of the British Variety ( whats new!) Life was very simple indeed, One black leather jacket, two pairs of jeans and a well worn pair of Lewis Leathers Boots. I didn't own a Credit card or even a proper wallet, my weekly wages ( no monthly salaries then ) stuffed into my back pocket. And most of the time money burned a hole in my pocket and had to be spent at any of the local old bike shops. This was just before the Classic bike thing had started and so a lot of these old businesses still stocked parts for old Brit bikes mainly in the dark recesses of a store room.
One of these shops I used to frequent was Trophy Autos of Coventry, I had got quite friendly  with the young man who ran the shop, and after a bit of coaxing let me have this battered old poster Exclaiming " Triumphs are rolling again "   I have often wondered if its rare because I have never come across another one. Of course now I am sensibly grown up and responsible I  still  find myself addicted to old Motor Cycles, oily parts and long hours in the Shed.... I just have three pairs of jeans.

The Poster showing Triumph Tridents ( Export versions )

My old Triumph poster, I've never seen another one like it. Possibly announcing the start of production of Triumph motor Cycles after the workers occupation of the Meriden site? http://www.sump-publishing.co.uk/t150%20trident.htm

Up the Junction at Trophy Autos