Excellent film I was born 1955 and as a child remember all the different motorcycles, Still own a 1951 Bantam D1 , 1952 James Comet Deluxe, with spare engine ,1956 Newhudson × 2 Etc
Absolutely brilliant film. I passed my bike test in 1976 and bought a Norton Commando Mk 3 Interstate from Horsmans in Renshaw Street in 1977. Wish I still had it, be worth a few bob now! Still riding though, got a couple of BM's.
Why can I hear children's telly in the background? I shouldn't be able to HEAR that...it's ruining a perfectly good video...unless of course Eddy Q fucked up the audio track
@@davids8449 It's NOT fucking 'silly criticism' (she types, rocking her head mockingly), I could actually fucking HEAR it in the background while I was watching! If you listen carefully, you can hear it but only using headphones. Plus, this ISN'T the complete film because the one I've just made a copy of has got the start and finish from the same film but on a Renown films dvd. The start of the film is slightly longer than the one you see here...12 seconds longer to be precise (where the top of Victor Horsman's Morris Z van cuts to the motorcyclist riding towards Lime Street - the version on BFI player is SLIGHTLY longer). As for the ending, at 27:29 there is a thank you to those who assisted in making the film. It's cut off a bit at the start but it's a lot fucking better than THIS bargain-basement offering.
46 years for me (and I started late). I have a Yamaha FJR1300 now that I love. Just put some tiny BRIGHT LED's on the front (on the sides of the fender so they articulate with the steering). Happy Trails to You!
Loved it. Most of the advice is still relevant, and the insistence on positive behaviour on the road is heartwarming - nowadays people seem shy to tell others Don't Be A Dick. And of course as a historic document, both about motorcycles and the way of life in 1955 Northern England & Wales, is great. Those were some cool machines, and the people riding them (with that sort of non-equipment!) must have been real characters.
25:35 / “This kind of fist shaking is the sign of a bad driver, one who has not yet learned tolerance”. Could be applied to most of the “x versus y” idiotic road rage videos on Facebook!
Brilliant! Thanks for posting this, all valid still today, the dread of the wet cobbles or woodblock paving, cyclists with no rear lights. 😨 Ride safe, cheers John.
Brilliant on many levels - shows historical practicality / safety of bikes & this was 'way better' than any Government advice of the day. Still remains largely currently applicable. Has some unintentionally funny bits too (the stunt crashes - very Mr Cholmondley Warner) & oh, the empty roads & streets. Appreciate this upload Stephencd1 - shared with my Dad (85) who rode through this time & STILL rides to this very day.
I lived in the Wirral in the 50’s and 60’s and recognised many places such as Parkgate and Heswall. I rode a Zundapp scooter in the early 60’s graduating to a used BSA Super Rocket later, bought from Horsmans . A great film and all of it applicable today.
Zündapp Bella? I've still got my "daily driver" of much if the '80s in Berlin--a 198cc R201 scooter. It's a formidable vehicle that got me over the Alps four times for vacations in Italy.
Hello Bilgemaster Bill, Yes, it was a Bella R204, bought from Austin’s in Rock Ferry Wirral. Very reliable and used extensively all over Scotland and North Wales. A great machine.
Well some things never change.. car overtaking bike whoz passing a parked car.. cyclist four abreast... bike passing bike on a city curve street... these where not part of staged pieces of film ...😕
I think this was background noise when the video was recorded; from the distortions, it's likely been filmed from a VHS playing on a screen, with the sound piped in through a cable connected to only one side of a stereo system. The recording equipment probably picked up something else being played in the room at the time.
I was two when this film was made. It's amazing to see how different things were. How often do you see a sidecar nowadays or such clear roads? Been riding for nearly fifty years myself and so much has changed. One thing that confuses me is the slowing down signal, I remember it in the Sixties Highway code I first read but didn't we already have brake lights? I would have thought taking your hands of the bars or even the steering wheel would have been more dangerous?
Not every vehicle had brake lights especially if it was pre war.Regarding signals I know a dispatch rider who rode for years with one arm and had no problems.Handle bar controls were customised.
The slowing down signal could be seen better from a distance...especially in a queue of Cars. I was 5 yrs. old when this Film was made...I still have occasion to use those Signals.Lol.
I've just bought one of these 2nd hand for a really good price and am looking forward to riding it! This will be my 4th Chinese bike and reviews i've read online have been pretty good for this particular one - others i've had have been ok but common a fault seems to be frail exhaust bolts (have had to replace at least one on every one I've owned!) Other than that they've been better than I expected. Have learnt a lot re maintainence anyway as you have to keep on top of it.
@@stevieclapham-dickenson6906 I think you are being ironic here. This film was made by Ted Lambert. The M.D. of Victor Horsman's at the time, whom I knew, and worked for. I know he took it all very seriously, and made quite a few films. Many of the people in this film would have been his employees. For the time it would have been a training film, and we would not have expected much more. Bill Quin mentioned in this film had been a mechanic and air gunner in the R.F.C. in the first war, and was blown up and injured during an air raid on Liverpool in the second war. The original film would have been "pin sharp" and made on 16mm Bollex equipment, I think. Best regards.
Very enjoyable film. Someone who used to work for Horsemans used to produce a "back in the day" type column for one of the monthlies. Motorcycle Sport And Leisure??? With regards to safety two things that I notice: I'm guessing the filming was done from a car with a motorcycle headlamp nacelle mounted on the bonnet. Otherwise the lingering near or sitting on the tram lines would be a recipe for disaster. I know 1950's tyre grip was not up to modern standards but the straightening out of bends. Going closer to the line on RHS bends and the motorcycle and sidecar going closer to the curb on a LHS bend is the opposite of good practice. I'm going to have to watch this again to see if they could see through the bend therefore offering them that option. Anyone any other ideas?
good stuff!!! wish we could have heard the bikes.... why silence them? especially lovely sounding triples? instead we have to listen to .... well i'd better not say, but the sound of the bikes would have been 1 million times better.
