Morgan Three Wheeler Club Library Glass Negatives
During a recent review of the Morgan Three Wheeler Club library collection, a box was found containing seven large-format, 7” x 5” glass negatives depicting early motorcycles.
The list included in the box also indicated that there should have been an additional five negatives as follows:-
Two veteran cars in a rural scene
MAG-engined Grand Prix Morgan three-wheeler in a mountainous landscape cWWI
Ditto, front view
Ditto, Side view
JAP-engined Grand Prix Morgan three-wheeler cWWI with veteran motorcycle on a lakeside road
Unfortunately, these appear to have been lost.
Further research and input via club members has identified more information about the subjects and some associated photos have been located.
A number have been provided by Mike Duff, whose parents wrote a history of the Westmorland Motorcycle Club and I have been told that similar photos are held by the museum in Kendal.
Prints have been obtained from the negatives by the somewhat crude method of placing them on a translucent plastic board in front of a light bulb and taking photographs of them with a digital SLR. The resulting images were then corrected for colour and parallax error and converted into positives.
The photos and information obtained about them are identified in the table below.
Any additional information about the people, machines or venues depicted in these photographs would be gratefully received.
Dave Anscombe
Email: [email protected]
Photo Title | Subject | Motorcycle Types | Information | Source | Registr-ations |
Combo | Motorcycle combination on off-road track with spectators | Unknown | May be on Orton Scar | Mike Duff | |
One Arm | Combination on off-road excursion by munition workers.
Rider has no left arm |
6HP AJS | Harry Whinnerah, Walnah Scar c. 1917
Despite his lack of limb, he took his outfit over all manner of unmetalled passes, Hardknott and Wrynose being two. He is also one of the outfits taking the injured servicemen for the outing past Thirlmere 1916 and is 2nd from the left in the Seathwaite picture. Also shown as “Press” on the announcement for the injured servicemen’s outing. Sadly, we’re not allowed motor vehicles on Walna Scar road any longer See article below from https://motorcycletimeline.com/1916-2/ |
Mike Duff
Roger Harrison Internet search |
B7535 |
Group | Group of solo motorcycles and two combinations | Various | Outside Newfield Inn, Seathwaite (which still exists) at the foot of Stonythwaite Rake.
Taken during an excursion around the area (see article below) Harry Whinnerah is 2nd from left. |
Roger Harrison
(Mike Duff has more photos of that day) |
B1606, FO812 |
Solo | Solo Motorcycle on trial | Unknown | AO2363 | ||
Two Triumphs | Combination on a trial with two solos spectating | Triumph | Two, possibly three early Triumphs | Chance encounter at NMM | |
Mary Riley | Lady rider of combination on steep gradient c1920? | 8HP Enfield | Mary Riley was a well-known early lady rider.
More information about her has been found on the internet and is included below. |
Internet via Dave Anscombe | O9287 |
Wounded Soldiers, Thirlmere 1916 | Group of motorcycle combinations in front of a lake. The sidecar occupants are wearing Army peaked caps. | Various | This photo was taken in front of Thirlmere in the Lake District when the Westmorland Motor Cycle Club (later Westmorland Motor Club) organised an outing for wounded soldiers on 16th July 1916.
Thirlmere has since been extended and deepened and the small island in the lake is apparently no longer visible. See also photos 19, 20 and 21 supplied by Mike Duff. These show that the vehicles used also included a charabanc and at least one or possibly two Morgan Three Wheelers. |
Mike Duff
Roger Harrison |
EC1913, EC904, EC1409 |
19 Wounded soldiers | Announcement of Wounded Soldiers Sidecar Outing, 16th July 1916 | None | According to the report on the outing, (see below), G.W. Braithwaite, who is described as both “whipper-in” and “official repairer” was in a Morgan three wheeler. | Mike Duff | |
20 Wounded soldiers outing, Keswick 1916 | Three combinations and a Morgan | Indian EC914
2nd from left |
Taken outside the Queen’s Hotel.
One-armed Harry Whinnerah on the left hand combination Also visible is an early Morgan Three Wheeler with registration ??4529 |
Mike Duff | EC914, EC1866 |
21 Wounded soldiers outing Dunmail Raise, 1916 | Group of sidecar outfits, two Morgan Three Wheelers and a car/charabanc | Various
Morgan Standard Morgan Grand Prix |
Dunmail Raise (from Grasmere over to Keswick) was still an unmade track in 1916. It had been a special test section for the 1901 1000 miles trial organised by the “Motor Union”. | Mike Duff | EC514, EC1364(?) |
Sadly, none of the registration numbers I have been able to decipher are recognised by the DVLA, so these machines presumably no longer existEarly Photographs
A lot more information is contained in the now updated (25th Feb-23) document below.