Visit to Whitewebbs Transport Museum October 23

 

Bit of a long title this time, because I do repeated visits to museums and is a reminder for me when I last went. I paid a visit to the Norfolk Motorcycle Museum in September the previous visit was October 2020. Covid has filled the time and much has changed there. Similarly Whitewebbs has moved on. Although I am a supporter of this Museum my health has been such that it was September of 22 was my last visit driving the Burton. This time I was on the Buell. I spent many hours there togged in my bike gear. Boil in a bag is the best description. It was a warm day. 

George and Chris

Over the intervening time the display has undergone a complete rethink assisted by having a new hoist that enables moving the displays between floors. The members of the Motorcycle Volunteers are Chris, George (in picture) and John who, between them have driven the changes and there is more to come. There is a Holden there from 1896. It is a four cylinder with direct crank drive to the rear wheel. The small rear wheel is to reduce the speed achievable. Chris is following up the history behind this motorcycle.

 It is interesting that Hildebrand and Wolfmuller had similar ideas of how to get pistons to make a rotational movement at the same time. Did they ever talk to each other? No idea is born in a vacuum. The mechanism used was the same as on steam engines. Also at that time the ignition systems were primitive even the famous Bosch magneto of later years started life capable only of 200 rpm.

The collection of Rex Judd motorcycles is worth a visit. The Douglas motorcycles of the twenties are of historical note with 1923 being a record year of over 180 records being broken on Douglas motorcycles Rex Judd and Cyril Pullin sharing the honours at Brooklands for the fastest laps at over 105mph with Cyril taking the prize.

 That is fast enough when  you have modern suspension and a strong braced frame but on, what basically was, a bicycle frame with a rigid rear end and at, in places, quite a rough surface was a fete of strength, stamina and sheer determination to hang on to a bucking animal at such speeds. I doff my hat to these guys.

More sedately the collection of British motorcycles has some old favourites like the Ariel Arrow, the Pixie, BSA C12, Enfield Bullet, an Ambassador and a touch of Italy with a Rumi scooter and to finish off in the corner a couple Velocette LEs with Policeman surveying the display. Tucked in there is some Russian hardware a Jupiter 350cc two stroke twin. I once thought about buying one of these but ended up with a Ural instead. A good place to talk about bikes of yesteryear. Open Tuesday and Sundays with allot more to see than bikes.