matchlesspat Posted 28 March , 2016 Share Posted 28 March , 2016 Hi, My first post! I am looking for info and pictures about the 1914 Matchless motorcycle fitted with a sidecar mounted Vickers Mk1 MG, so far I have found pictures of two different versions, one a side view showing a rear seat and a forward seat for rearward firing, the other pictures is a front left view showing the MG mounted on a Mk4 tripod that is clamped to the sidecar, I understand the machine was mentioned in "the motorcycle" 31st December 1914, does anyone have a scan of the magazine or any other info / pictures? I am restoring a 1914 Matchless 8B and have quite a lot of a Vickers Mk1, seems like a plan? I hope I have posted this in the right forum. Regards, Pat Gill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 28 March , 2016 Share Posted 28 March , 2016 If you have a couple of hours to spare you might find a pic here It is a very long thread! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 28 March , 2016 Share Posted 28 March , 2016 WWI came & went without Matchless getting any military contracts to build motorcycles for the War Department Perhaps the one for Russia is unique? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin kenf48 Posted 28 March , 2016 Admin Share Posted 28 March , 2016 WWI came & went without Matchless getting any military contracts to build motorcycles for the War Department[/size] Perhaps the one for Russia is unique?[/size] And sold for £46k wonder if there's a couple more still in crates in Murmansk! https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/22685/lot/317/ Btw Pat Google is your friend http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3129593/Vintage-World-War-One-motorbike-complete-machine-gun-sale.html For archive copies of motor cycle magazine online see links posted by Maureene at post 23 of this thread http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=209312&hl=%2Bmotor+%2Bcycle+%2Bmagazine There is a description of the 7 h.p. Matchless sidecar in the November 19th edition, but the only MGs I could see were a maxim attached to a Harley and a Vickers to an Enfield. There is an article on December 3rd showing the formation of the MMGS who used the Scott armoured motorcycle. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMB1943 Posted 28 March , 2016 Share Posted 28 March , 2016 I have seen many photos of motorcycle/side-car/Vickers for sale on EBay, using WWI British Militaria as the search term. Regards, JMB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 28 March , 2016 Share Posted 28 March , 2016 I have seen many photos of motorcycle/side-car/Vickers for sale on EBay, using WWI British Militaria as the search term. Regards, JMB I think the OP wants pics of a Matchless combo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matchlesspat Posted 28 March , 2016 Author Share Posted 28 March , 2016 Thanks for the links, found this https://archive.org/stream/motorcycle132lond_/motorcycle132lond#page/n1061/mode/2up interesting but the same picture I already have a high resolution scan from, I also came across a different version of the machine but don't have the link handy, I suspect they were prototypes manufactured to try to get a contract, the Matchless factory was in Plumstead, right opposite the Woolwich arsenal, Several 1915-16 machines were made for the Russian contract but not delivered, there were all sold off after the war and converted for normal use, There is a large stash of brand new crated WW2 Harley Davidson WLA machines in St Petersburg, they are in a secret police warehouse and not for sale. I have seen one assembled and running, Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matchlesspat Posted 28 March , 2016 Author Share Posted 28 March , 2016 same bike but different sidecar and MG mount, http://www.jampot.dk/Matchless-Historie.pdf .............................. Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilH Posted 28 March , 2016 Share Posted 28 March , 2016 Pretty sure that there's one at the National Motorcycle Museum. Might be worth a trip to see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin kenf48 Posted 29 March , 2016 Admin Share Posted 29 March , 2016 Further browsing reveals two more pics on p.732 https://archive.org/stream/motorcycle132lond_/motorcycle132lond#page/n1075/mode/2up Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seadog Posted 29 March , 2016 Share Posted 29 March , 2016 Bovington August 4th 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin kenf48 Posted 30 March , 2016 Admin Share Posted 30 March , 2016 Interesting to compare the back view in your photographs with those in 'the Motorcycle' looks like the 'third seat' has gone and the 'shield' Appears more streamlined. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matchlesspat Posted 11 April , 2016 Author Share Posted 11 April , 2016 The machine pictured at Bovington, where I understand it now resides is a 1916 /17 model built for the Russians but never delivered, very similar machine but slightly different front forks, interchangeable wheels and a SV JAP engine rather than the IOE MAG engine of the 1914 model, The national motorcycle museum has a Clyno V twin with Vickers, again similar but different, I think Clyno and Scott supplied most of the 1st war MG bikes, Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 11 April , 2016 Share Posted 11 April , 2016 Can you post the relevant parts and pics on the ongoing thread where it will be more prominent? http://1914-1918.inv...c=173218&page=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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