They are still out there!

My friend Olav have added another bike to his stable, not a Harley this time.

This 1937 Chief was frequently ridden during the eighties, then it dissapeared (they dont do) from the scene and got forgotten by most.

Long story short, Olav managed to get hold of this sleeping beauty and is now in hard work bringing her back to her former glory, good luck!!

Coincidences and their relations to inventions

There is inventions which history of how they once got unveiled fade away in the darkness of time.

One such invention is the Harley springer trim ball. A pair of those cool accessory balls in combination with the top spring covers is a must for anyone in need to dress up their hog.
When Edvald Bling, chief designer at Superior after market parts back in 1946 found there was due time to add some accessory to the Harley springer his first idea was the spring covers, they prevents the rider from getting any left over grease from the spring rods on his clothes.
Having materialized this invention Edvald rode his personal cicle with those covers secured by the standard acorn nut for a while, when he started feeling there was something missing to complete his design.
When going to bed that evening in his typical late forties double bed with cast iron headboards he became aware of the brass balls in each corner of his bed. As always Edvald wore a caliper, YES the bed balls had exactly the same diameter as his spring covers and would with minor adjustments replace the ugly acorn nut.

No time to waste, having dismantled his bed balls Edvald ran down in his basement where he kept his South Bend lathe, and in a short time had altered them to fit his 9/16" springer fork rods by turning some brass nuts that he soldered to the hollow balls.

And that is, gentlemen, the true story of how the Superior springer accessory balls was invented.

Better get the nickle bath ready for tomorrow!

More on the Spanjola

If there by chance should be anyone having followed this blog for a long time now they will remember there have been several previous posts on the Norwegian multi cylindered Spanjola.


This fantastic piece of ingenious creativity from the hands of Hydro Rjukan employed engineer Christian Larsen, whom in a few years after his employment with Hydro in 1919 would become in charge of mechanical studies for engineers at the local college.
Larsen built this machine during the early parts of the twenties, mostly as explained before by means of parts from other bikes such as Indians, Harley and Excelsior. As he was working at the Hydro Rjukan plant he was able to cast his own engine cases and manufacture other odds and ends for the engine. Rjukan was a small town overpopulated by motorcycles during the early years of Norwegian motoring, proven by photos such as the one presented earlier from a gathering amongst Rjukans sidecar riders or the fact that Hydro Rjukan used Indians to motorize their fire-brigade.



Having recently come across this high resolution scan of the Spanjola and would like to share this with you as well as some progress images from the restoration captured at the Norwegian Indian club`s meet back in 2010.

Note;
In this picture the Dog window in the front of the sidecar boot is clearly seen, this could be opened to give Larsen`s dog a view of the roads ahead as they had to rest in front of the passengers feet.

Some other cool details; the lubrication unit mounted onto the right side of the fuel tank, the handle on the right side of the handlebars to operate the sidecar wheel brake and the nicely shaped cast aluminum oil tank under the seat.

As said before, I wish Bjørn Andre all the best for the impressive job in restoring this motorcycle back to its former glory.

Links for Spanjola information;
http://belinfante-indian-motorcycles.blogspot.no/2010/12/spanjola-four-cylinder-in-norway.html
http://www.spanjola.no/

Pics from Yesterdaze

The first day of a new year.

A new year in which each day that lies ahead of us is as clean paper sheets. Sheets we need fill with what we like and what make us happy, do I need to suggest motorcycles, riding and more related activities.

Nope I guess not.

Enclosed picture show young and proud members of the NMK`s Drammen department. One of the first branches of the Norwegian Motorcycle club.




From left to right; Thomas Bråthen born in 1893, Knut Espedal born in1898, Narve Wiker born in 1890, Peder Espedal born in 1895 and finally Alf Justad born in 1893.
Bikes in the same order; Harley, Henderson two Harleys and another Henderson.
Knut Espedal we know from a previous post covering his spectacular crash in the 1923 ISDT in Sweden.

I have dug quite a bit in the Espedal brothers history and albums, keep an eye up for more stories on them.

Happy New Years eve!

To all our friends, blog followers and whoever else pass by this little single star on the big big Milky Way generally called the WWW;

We wish you all the best for the year to come, take care of your loved ones and do not take life to seriously at all times, allow time for riding your cicle and have fun with your friends.

Sverre & Øyunn

AMcN

Dreaming of summer

It's stormy outside and it's hail in the air.


I am dreaming of summer ahead of me.
What is better than getting the camping gear packed on your bike, convince your love to come along in the sidecar and go camping. To ride the country roads looking for the right spot to raise the tent, a location next to a lake or a stream, ideal for a camp fire.

Arghhh! still 3 months till spring is here.

Mechanical workshop

Another picture swiped in a historical archive, employees at Ørebro mechanical workshop lined up to all be part of the photo.
Quite an impressive horn on the 1917 Harley with sidecar, at right in the picture.

The Harley to the left side is obviously having some issues, lets hope the steering head bearing is not taken apart outside. The bearing is easily misplaced if lost in gravel, I know from experience!