This came in the post

As previously reported I had bought a points cover in error meaning to get a cover for the Triton  gearbox, cheers to Norm for sorting the exchange out and I ordered the Manx logo cover while I was at it!
Now my only dilemma is which one to use

both lovely items with great detailing

Birthday Weekend

Two great presents

From the Mrs, Schott leather pea coat, so COOL!

From the kids, I get to learn to go sideways!
Already booked in for the 28th!!

                Thank you Sue, Maddy & Jack

'ED TURNER

It's been a little while since I posted one of these

Pete of Eat the Rich fame let me nick this one

This is Dave Farrington's T140 powered chop Sporting a reversed head and what looks like a Cobb Customs side draft kit.

I've got an unpolished intake I picked up cheap some time ago in the Longsue parts box, I do like the look of them!

 you can also find Clay Cobb's store on ebay

A career in British Engineering

I never met Sue's Dad, John Boughton as he had already passed away when I met Sue, after a long illness with Parkinson's.
One of the things we have inherited after Joan, Sue's Mum, passed away was all his certificates.
We were sorting out getting his apprenticeship certificate framed and it struck me that the collection represented one man's career in British Engineering and given his training with the Birmingham Small Arms Co. Ltd. with whom he served 5 years 9 months  of apprenticeship including a couple of months in the motorcycle section, not long I give you but enough to earn his place on this blog!! (apparently it was his brother Fred who was the biker in the family)  So I decided that I would post the certs up as a tribute to the man and the industry he represented.

Sadly like many he fell victim to the decline of British Industry and in the late 80's after many years working for British Steel he was made redundant. 

Returning to education he gained a degree at Durham and worked as a small business consultant in Washington,Tyne & Wear before being diagnosed with Parkinson's and having to take early retirement

John Edward Boughton

1929 - 2001

RIP

Longsue-Stowaway makes its way to me

My friend Ingrid was Stateside recently and I asked if she could bring back something for me.I decided on getting her to bring me back a very neat looking Oil filter from Moore Sensible Products 

as seen on one of Dan Patterson at Angry Monkey Motorcycles recent builds (nice detailing on the bracket as always with Dan's work.)

if you have not done so before check his old build threads over on the JJ he goes by the name Supercrouton

Ingrid's sister lives in Oshkosh in Wisconsin which was fortuitous as Moore Sensible Products  are based in Twin Lakes which is 120 miles away. Next door in US terms and made getting delivery in the small time window available very manageable.  Dan Moore the owner was very helpful. All in all a great product well made.
The filter came from B&C Auto Parts Ebay shop, I bought a pack of three as it was a great deal and way cheaper than buying them here
More goodies for the Longsue build box

This came in the post -part 2

It's been a busy week for the postman!!

My mate Jake The Captain came round to cast his expert eye on the ailing Bonnie, that has been languishing unattended over this long miserable winter we are experiencing. His diagnosis was time for a rebore, so off to everyones favourite website and found these at a very fair price from KBH Motorcycles
I've been quite happy with the L.F.Harris products I've bought in the past.I guess time will tell with these!

Got this seat as the present one needs recovering and  Sue  has never
found it that comfortable. Got it for a good price and all in sound condition , hopefully this will do the job

Another eBay purchase.
This is actually a points cover, I had meant to get a cover for the Norton gearbox for the Triton.
 Luckily Norm took pity on my stupidity and agreed to do a swap.
I thought I would post a picture of it anyway as it was  beautifully made and would grace any unit Triton
go check  Norms shop for a fine selection of point & gearbox covers with a choice of logos.
I love a bit of Bike Bling!!

                        That's it for now,I'll give the postman a rest!!

Longsue-This came in the post

This gorgeous brake plate came from Seven Sins Choppers
CNC'd ally and polished to perfection!
It will eventually find it's way onto Longsue's rear end.

not so nice was this!!
like the rest of us I don't like taxes but accept that they are part of the equation
what really pisses me off is the £13.50 charge for collecting £11.10 of tax!
how can that be right?

not so exciting but necessary some gearbox associated ironmongery

  

A bit of attention required to bring this adjuster back into service
and a couple of new nuts should do it

Skulls-memento mori watches- Update

It appears that the memento mori watch identified as belonging to Mary Queen of scots and the story attached to it that I posted about earlier are incorrect. 'The Seaton Watch' as it is known is actually the one in the illustration below

This etching shows a watch commissioned by Mary Queen of Scots in the 16th century. The case is opened by dropping the under jaw and the watchwords are in the cranium. It is believed Mary gave this watch as a gift to Mary Seaton, one of her maids of honor. The skull is of silver gilt and is engraved with lines of Horace, figures
of Death with his scythe and hourglass, Adam and Eve, and the Crucifixion.

one can see how the confusion might arise similar but different

You can find what appears to be the correct story of the Seaton watch HERE on the Coastconfan blog including a thorough 1850 write up

All goes to show how one must be careful with information from the World Wide Web!

The other watch is none the less a beautiful thing. I just prefer not to continue perpetuating an untruth.Both stories are told you can decide which one you believe or like best.I will just admire both for the craft and beauty of  these objects

Skulls-memento mori watches

Not in anyway bike related but a triumph of silversmithing and skull  related . An object of absolute stunning beauty




Mary Queen of Scots' Watch
c. 16th Century

This Memento-Mori watch presented to Mary Queen of Scots by her attendant Mary Seaton, is from the 16th century. The forehead of the skull is engraved with a figure of death between a palace and a cottage, and a quotation in Latin, "pale death visits with impartial foot the cottages of the poor and castles of the rich". (Horace)

The skull is held upside down and the jaw lifted to read the silver dial. The hour is struck on a bell. Made by Moyant A. Blois (1570-90). The skull is silver gilt and engraved with figures of death with his scythe and hourglass, Adam and Eve and the crucifixion. The lower part of the skull is pierced to emit the sound when it strikes. The works occupy the brain’s position in the skull fitting into a silver bell which fills the entire hollow of the skull. The hours are struck on this bell by a small hammer.

Text Source:http://thiswritelife.wordpress.com/2012/10/26/cabinet-of-curiosities-31/



A couple more examples of Skull Watches, the one on the left from the British Museum(the case dates from 1655-1665, the movement is from 1740-1760 & the dial is 19thC) and the other from the Science Museum (some background on it HERE)