Readers of Real Classic magazine will have seen an excellent eight-page article in the October 2019 issue about the discovery of three ‘barn find’ Douglases. While the term ‘barn find’ is rather over-used these days, particularly on auction sites, these three machines from 1930 appear to be the real thing! The article traces the discovery and return to use of a T6 and two S6 machines and includes an honourable mention for the LDMCC, for spares and advice. If 1930s machines are your cup of tea, its well worth searching out a copy of the magazine.
Did You Know?
The Douglas factory stamped some parts, like this tappet from a 1936 Aero, with the DK symbol shown in the picture. DK stood for Douglas Kingswood. Their stamping ‘policy’ is not entirely clear, as the other three tappets are plain – but next time you’re rooting through a box of bits at an autojumble and come across the DK symbol, at least you cannot say you Don’t Know – it’s definitely Douglas! Did this stamping practice continue post-war? If you now the answer, please add a comment below.
Another Photo Challenge!
These photos were sent in by the great niece of the rider, who asks if anyone can tell her anything about the machines or location. The earlier machine, LG4760, is registered to Cheshire County Council while the later machine RN9017, which looks like an Endeavour, was registered in Preston. This appears to have been taken in a holiday camp and the rider’s light trousers and his wife’s white shoes suggest that it was ‘posed’! Charlie Sim was a talented musician who played trombone with the Billy Cotton Big Band in the early ’50s. If the pictures ring any bells, or you have the machines in your shed, we’d love to hear from you.
Fish & Chips – Weather Permitting!
If the weather is good on the 13th of November, those stalwarts from the Surrey and Hampshire section will be heading to Jack’s Fish & Chips in London Road, Bagshot for the regular Wednesday lunchtime motorcycle meeting. More details from roy.staunton@virgin.net
Can You Help?
A visitor to the site has kindly sent these lovely period photographs, and wonders if anyone can provide more information. The photograph shows his grandmother, Dorothy Lock with her Douglas motorcycle and was taken in Street, Somerset in, he believes, 1924. Her father, Newman Lock, owned the bicycle and motorcycle business shown in the second picture. Can anyone identify YA 3348 and does it still exist? If you recognise the machine or remember Lock & Sons Garage, please let us know.
Roy’s Run Resumé
August should be a safe bet in terms of weather, but the annual Roy’s Run was a mixture of rain and shine. With 35 miles before lunch and a further 25 after, the condition of the roads turned some sections into ‘a true test of man and machine’ as those old 1950s road tests used to say. Still, a good lunch stop followed by afternoon tea and cakes kept our intrepid Douglas riders focused! Thanks go to Roy Staunton for organising the event.
Lunch with the Surrey & Hampshire Section
October’s outing is to the regular Wednesday motorcycle meeting at Jack’s Fish & Chips in Bagshot, on the 9th. More details from roy.staunton@virgin.net
