Do you remember in the early 50s, in the Exchange and Mart, when you could buy any old WW2 equipment?. There was a chap who had a shop, and it was stuffed with stuff, I remember the old Squark boxes, Mae West vests, etc.
The very first fishing rod I had, was from this chap, and was in fact an old Tank, radio aerial, just whipped a few rings on it, taped a reel to it, and BINGO I went fishing. One thing I saw and wanted, but never had the money or age to ride one, was a Paratroopers Corgie type motorcycle, the crate it was dropped in, was also a sidecar, when attached.As they say, “If only I knew”.what they would be worth today?.
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: TonyT - 11th November 2012 at 13:35
It still happens, there was a garage owner in Belgium that wouldn’t sell any of his stock, when he died it was auctioned off.
http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/black-side-down-new-nortons-found-in-belgium.aspx
By: Lincoln 7 - 10th November 2012 at 19:34
Andy, The other year, maybe 4 to 5 yrs ago I went to Trinity Marine, to collect some items I had ordered, They have a massive warehouse filled with items such as Sumarine torpedos ships telegraphs, a hoarders paradise.
Whilst there, Roger the owner said he had just purchased an interesting item, he took me to a crate and opened it, and there were the motorcycle, all the assembly instruction and obviously the wheel for the sidecar.
My friend in San Diego, is an avid collector of motorcycles, and I phoned him up, failing to realise it was 03.00 their time, he took in good stead, and told me to pass the phone to Roger, my friend offered him £7.000 sight unseen and would pay for shipping.
Roger stated to my friend he would get back to him but didn’t. I think it was sold to a U,K, buyer for £10.000.
So there are the odd ones around, but at that Price?.
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: Andy in Beds - 10th November 2012 at 17:01
Jim.
The bike you mention was most likely a ‘Welbike’.
Designed to fit in a special parachute container and originally designed for use by SOE operatives, but never used by them.
It was called a Welbike because it was developed at ‘Station IX’ — the “Inter Services Research Bureau” — based at Welwyn, Hertfordshire–so, named after the place.
It was later issued to airborne units of the British Army.
I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say that it was almost bl**dy useless.
Never seen one with a sidecar though.
There was a version which untilised the para-container as a trailer though.
Worth stupid money today. I saw a replica of one recently for £4,500.00
You could buy something half decent for that.
Andy
By: Snapper - 10th November 2012 at 16:35
I’ve read abouth the herman aerial fishing rods before, God only knows where, might even be on here; it was many, many years back.
Can’t remember those ads. can’t remember the ones 20 years after when I was born either ;D
By: Al - 10th November 2012 at 14:33
London Harley-Davidson dealer Fred Warr and his father bought tons of brand new 1942 Harley-Davidson WLA 45″ (750cc) Liberator motorcycles after WW2, still in their shipping crates.
He used to take one out of its crate every so often, even well in to the 1970s, assemble it, and sell it as a new bike. Prices were very reasonable too – when I visited the shop in 1977 there was one for sale for £2000, which was around the same price as Harley’s cheapest basic new model. Used ones fetch £10,000+ these days, and you could probably name your own price for a brand new one!
You can just see it behind the 1975 Electra Glide I’m sitting on – taken in 1977…
By: Banupa - 9th November 2012 at 14:33
Someone I was at school with had a fold up paratroopers bike…
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November 9, 2012 at 12:24 pm