Going Going Gone!
GOING GOING GONE!
Auction Time At Lord Montagu's Pad
TONY HOGG
FOR THE VISITING motorcycle enthusiast, England has a great deal to offer. The TT is, of course, the major attraction, and a Sunday afternoon spent at Brands Hatch is never wasted if you like short events with wheel-to-wheel racing all the way, fought out by riders who know every inch of the course (much like American flat track specialists on their favorite ovals). On the other hand, there are more tranquil pursuits, and a worthwhile one is a visit to the Montagu Motor Museum.
The museum was started in 1953 by Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, who is not the stuffy old English aristocrat one might imagine, but a 40-year-old motoring and motorcycling enthusiast who, among other activities, has sponsored such riders as Jack Brett and Tony Godfrey in the TT and other races. The museum contains one of the biggest, most comprehensive collections of motorcycles and motorcycle memorabilia in the world, and when you finish looking at the bikes, you can visit the car collection. Apart from the museum, some of the rooms of Lord Montagu’s home, Palace House, Beaulieu, are open to the public and worth a visit if only to see how the other half lives.
With these varied attractions, it doesn’t require much of an excuse for a jaded journalist to take the day off from his typewriter in London in order to find out what is new and interesting down at Beaulieu. Fortunately, a good excuse came recently when an announcement was made that a collection, of classic cars, motorcycles, and bicycles were to be auctioned there by Sothebys, the venerable London auction house. It is perhaps an indication of the current status of classic cars, motorcycles and bicycles that Sothebys (established 1744) should stoop to auctioning them off; but the sale realized $205,517.20 and 12Vi per cent of $205,517.20 is not exactly slim pickings for a day’s work.
Highlight of the sale was when a 1910 Rolls-Royce came under the hammer and the auctioneer shouted “Am I offered 3,000 pounds?” ($9,000). He was, and the bidding rose rapidly until a halt was called at a straight ten thousand pounds ($28,000 exactly), which is a lot of “bunce” however you look at it and, according to “Newsweek,” the highest price ever paid for a classic car, although an inspection of Bill Harrah’s books might prove differently. So much for the cars, except to say that 41 volumes of the English magazine “Motorsport,” were knocked down for $1,288. So hang on to your old copies of CYCLE WORLD, fellas.
The sale of some 60 bicycles pointed up the fact that there is nothing new in bicycle design. The first machine was a wooden hobby horse, dated 1820, which fetched $616. This was followed by two Michaux velocipedes of about 1867, known in England as “bone-shakers.” These were notable for an ingenious braking system to the rear wheel, operated by a twistgrip at the right handlebar. And just to prove that there is nothing really new, we noticed an 1879 tricycle with the now fashionable rack-and-pinion steering to the front wheel. However, the prize undoubtedly went to an 1876 James Starley Coventry Lever Tricycle, which was bought for $1,092 ($50 would have bought it new) by the Rover Motor Co., because it was built by one of the firm’s founders. Rover also bought a 1911 Rover motorcycle, and it is gratifying to see a major manufacturer endeavoring to preserve some of its earlier products, although no longer engaged in bicycle or motorcycle manufacture.
The classic car appears to have become the latest status symbol in England with a resulting increase in values, but the same fate has not yet befallen the classic motorcycle. Consequently, some good purchases were made. The 1911 Rover was followed by a perfect 1914 Triumph of 544cc, with belt drive and three-speed hub gear, which fetched $420. A completely original 16H Norton of 1929 fetched a mere $123, and although perhaps not the most exciting machine in the world, it is of some importance, because the 16H was first listed in the Norton catalogue as far back as 1923. It survived right up to 1954 and was standard equipment in the British army during the last World War.
Among the unusual items was a 1912 Wall Autowheel which sold for $67. The Wall was designed as a motorized attachment for a conventional bicycle, and it incorporated some interesting features. It was designed around one cylinder of the four-cylinder F.N. motorcycle. The capacity was 119cc and the intake valve was of the automatic type. The camshaft for the exhaust valve ran at one-fourth engine speed, and an extension of the camshaft itself transmitted the power to the wheel by means of a chain; the total speed reduction was 8:1. The unit was attached to the side of the bicycle by a horizontal pivot, which allowed it to rise and fall according to the road surface and the lean of the bicycle. Its own weight was sufficient to provide adhesion. The Wall Autowheel enjoyed Considerable commercial success, and consequently, was built under license in America in 1915.
Although it is customary these days to be rather rude about the bigger HarleyDavidsons, these machines used to be popular in England, as were the Indian twins, which were very successful at the old Brooklands track. It was therefore not so surprising that the sale should include a 1920 Harley-Davidson and a 1922 Indian, and in each case a sidecar outfit. The Indian combination was well worth the $420 paid for it, but the Harley-Davidson at $574 was perhaps the best buy of the whole sale. An advanced design for its time, it was equipped with a full electric system and the whole machine had recently been restored. The restoration included an olive green paint job, which is the only color for classic Harley-Davidsons, as anyone who has inspected the rows of silent, olive-painted machines at the company’s museum will bear out. An additional touch of authenticity was provided by the badge of the Harley-Davidson Riders of Great Britain (a small but select group).
The Montagu Motor Museum is open daily throughout the year, and being only 80 miles from London, is easily accessible. Auctions are not held there on any regular basis, but if you should have the opportunity of attending one, there is a good chance of picking up a bargain. However it’s a good idea to sit on your hands when they start selling the Rolls-Royces.
