Rise and shine

Polished up my headlamp this week. NO, that's not a euphemism. Took all the chrome off to reveal the  brass in all its glory. Keeping the cap chrome. All the gubbins from the old (glass fibre) original fits perfectly. Braze a couple of brass bolts and the front end is finished.
Oh! forgot about that front tyre.

The primordial ooze

If everything was as slow and simple as electricity flowing throw a 2mm copper wire at the speed of hot putty. ( Here's the equation if you're so inclined ).
V=    1     

     QeR2π

Charge up the battery, new plugs, fingers crossed and BOOM! internal combustion..... we'll see..........

Mine....all mine..........

Again, no work on the bike this week, there'll be a concerted push to road worthiness starting in a weeks time.
Here's a photo of the brass booty collected at the Autojumble last week. Bet every body's jealous now. 

I'll update the blog on my struggle against the system as and when. VICTORY WILL BE MINE!


Just to cheer up the visuals this week, a couple of pilfered photos from other web sources.

Miss this and regret at leisure

STAND H06 HALL T4

Here is a chance to meet the Rag and Bone Man, view his engineering inspired design and buy a piece of heritage.

1984 and cold sweats

This bloody interfering, nosey, stifling, straight laced, pompous nation state in which I have the misfortune live, is starting to piss me off. I'd rather have some droogs pop round my gaff for a glass of miloko than some government lackey in his bowler poking the ferrule of his umbrella into my project. I knew that brown envelope spelled trouble even though I didn't open it for a few weeks. There was a clue printed all over the front - DVLA. They want me to take the bloody bike all the way to Chelmsford in Essex, on a weekday, and charge me £25 for the privilege. All this to "clarify an error in their records". I know what the error is...............................

Fumbling for the spark.....

7th September (last Wednesday). 
Another attempt at firing on both cylinders. Still no luck! Both plugs spark but not when they are both in contact with the block. Think I need some expert advice now. Anybody?
Quite pleased how the shape is developing, pictured here without the brass headlamp or taillight. A very natty idea for the kick stand agreed (not pictured) all thanks to the Alchemist. Showing off some tatty wiring as well.

Beaulieu or bust

Made it to the Beaulieu Autojumble Saturday. After a speedy drive down to the South coast, Paul and I hit the six mile tailback just to get into the car park. Two hours in the queue and we finally got parked up.
Straight to the far field and worked our way through the stalls one by one and systematically by rows. Four cylinder heads, three vintage ratchet car jacks and hand fulls of window winders later the arms finally failed. Time for a big cardboard box taped onto a sack barrow. Then it became serious. Flywheels, spring suspensions a gearbox and all sorts of vintage junk. Two days there and you could build a bastard jalopy the likes of which the world has never seen. Found my brass headlamp and taillight, not sure about the mirror I bought though. Inspiration wherever you looked, interesting and crazy items on every stall. Fields upon fields of them. No wonder people flock there from all over Europe. What a mechanical garden of Eden! 
The vintage bikes for sale were superb and well beyond my means. It didn't stop me from speculating how a second mortgage could be swindled. Didn't get a chance to photograph every jewel of two wheel engineering but here are just a few that took my fancy. There were so, so many more........

The Duke

Let nobody tell you a Honda ain't good enough!

Never mind the Bollocks

No posts last week. Body is telling me to take it easy so no work on the bike this week.
Time to contemplate the limits of this mortal coil. Have come to the conclusion that the only way to make a break for freedom is to lose the shackles of experience, listen to those half your age and re-invent the spirit of your youth.
Chasing the elusive filthy lucre all your life dilutes the soul. I'm not against a monetarist system, hell, I like buying clothes when I can afford them, but I don't want to jump through hoops for a buck.
You don't have to live on the open road to escape, shedding the confines of social norms can add vigor to life.
To hell with this bollocks, here's some pics I've stolen from ZZ chop of some wild souls with fire in their eyes.

Hold the front page

Nearly forgot, The Rag and Bone Man is going to feature in some well respected journals. Not sure if I'm at liberty to be any more specific than that at the moment but will update as soon as possible with links.

“Bureaucracy is the death of all sound work” Albert Einstein

Here's Pauls wheels. so close to burning the tarmac. Idiotic legislation creating miniature hurdles. Why would having a name on the exhaust make a blind bit of difference to road worthiness?
Never mind it will soon be seen and heard by the general public to gaze upon with wonder and awe. Inspired, crazy monkey build.

Good breeding

Residing at the workshop is this very cute little Tomos that's being spruced up.

It's been spending the days and nights under the tarpaulin with my Honda. I'm hoping the offspring will grow up to.......... 

or maybe.......

Wednesday 17/08/11

Back to bike stuff at the Workshop of Wonders this week. A new coil was fitted and now both plugs are sparking. Well almost! Bolted the housings back on the frame, fitted the tank back, NOTHING! Not to worry, I'll try insulating the housings against the frame next week, pretty sure that will do the trick. Then fire her up. Looking forward to hearing a noise. Then off with the silencer for a louder noise.
Bought a chrome rear fender from a motorcycling Aladins cave. GB motorbikes in Cawston, Norfolk. I'll get a picture next time I go. A whole industrial unit filled floor to ceiling with used bike bits. One man and his wife. The inventory all in his head. Pre-computer thinking. Creative in is peculiar way and above all Human.
Haven't been able to get any good overall pictures of the bike at the moment. Its been raining a lot so working under cover. Some grinderman shots of Paul again. Cant resist the drama of it. Brackets and unsightly bolts gone. 
Among the treasures in the workshop Paul found a vintage bike lamp. Out came the sticky tape. That's the look for the rear sorted, or something very similar.
Hell, I'm going to go for a SINGLE seat. Nobody wants to ride pillion with me! I've got some very strange friends indeed.

Signs and Signifiers pt1

More about this at another time. This is just to remind me.

Pam's bike

Not been to the Workshop of Wonders to crack knuckles and twist bolts for a week or so.
So here is my friend Pam's bike. Can't capture the vivid lemon yellow of the powder coating in these photos. It started life as a God awful early '80's Raleigh factory job. It's one saving grace was the 531 tubing.
Still being tweaked, but a fantastic make over and great attention to detail by her mate Dave.
Not sure about the pannier rack, but needs must I suppose.

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever

Gravity's Rainbow

CHAPTER 1
Beyond the Zero
Nature does not know extinction; all it knows is transformation. Everything science has taught me, and continues to teach me, strengthens my belief in the continuity of our spiritual existence after death.
- Wernher von Braun

Into the light

This aeroplane became a constant companion during my walks in Scotland. Wherever I walked it choose me as its guide path. This was the last time I saw it. Not a great photograph but I included this brief note because it holds an intensely happy sentiment for me. It escaped into that great zero in the sky. 

Roamin' in the Gloamin'

Took a plane to Scotland.
Solitary days of walking, staring at water and mountains.
The water is so pure at the edge of the loch, beware, in time you'll hear the sirens song.

Came across some pill boxes washed and turned around by the tides, now facing into the land. I stayed until it had been covered. It nudged memories of a friend I had the good fortune to know, an artist who made the most of his life without compromise.

Promised myself, when I'm back in London, when the stars are in the right alignment, the wind is blowing southerly and the goose is fat, I shall overcome my nerves and act to win my fancy.
Enough of that self indulgence, here's some more. 
Fresh Scottish mussels in white wine, leek and garlic sauce.

Tony Bennett

Listened to a BBC radio 4 interview with Tony Bennett last night. It's his 85th birthday on the 3rd of August. I've always liked his voice but never realised what a charming human he is. Pacifist and equal rights campaigner, self-effacing and what a crooner.