For the past year I have been working on two Martinsydes; this is the other one…
This is 1921 680cc belonging to an elderly friend, Peter Adorian. He bought it in the early 1950s as a hard-up agricultural student and the old bike took him regularly and reliably from his Sussex home up to Cambridge University. He sold the bike and then re-purchased it many years later. It was then dismantled ready for a restoration that never happened.
In the last few years Peter’s health took a steep dive. He was unable to complete his various projects which included a small Rex Acme two stroke. Judy already knew Peter and introduced me to him to see if I could help finish the Rex.
Above is the day we got that little bike fired up. Peter was delighted, I guess we can all imagine how distressing it would be find our bike activities have been bought to a sudden halt. It was good to be able to put Peter’s mind at rest slightly by tying up loose ends but there remained the question of his Martinsyde. It was literally in a thousand pieces and it would be a big challenge to find all the parts and reassemble the jigsaw. But this is my kind of challenge so we arranged for me to take everything away, sort out what was what, try to get the bike back together and if possible up and running.
One benefit of being a vintage bike manic-obsessive is that I’ve developed quite a good eye for what goes where; and sorting through biscuit tins of old rusty coach bolts I kept pulling out things I recognised; the top steering bearing, the sidecar anchorage plates and slowly the bike came back together…
I rebuilt the magneto, fitted a more modern carb and managed to get the bike started. We took a short film of the event to show Peter who seemed greatly cheered, always hoping that he would get to ride the bike again. But unfortunately this was not to be and Peter passed away soon after. The family asked me to take my racing Martinsyde, whose restoration would never have been completed without Peter’s help, to the funeral service where by prior arrangement I fired it up as the service concluded. I think Peter would have loved being sent off to the farewell bellow of its twin open pipes.
Anyway, Peter’s machine is finally finished and ready to go back to the family. It’s interesting to compare it in the daylight with the sprint Martinsyde, which looks tiny by comparison. Peter was a good friend of Chris Tait who originally built my bike and his memories and photos of its racing days were a great help in the rebuild. Incredible to think that my bike started out as a 1921 model exactly the same as Peter’s.
More incredible yet, the frame number of my bike is 895, Peter’s is 892 so they are pretty much twins that must have stood side by side in the Woking factory ninety-three years ago. I wonder where they’ll be for their next big reunion…
Beautifully told, what a story.
I am Paul Adorian, Peter’s younger brother. ( only 2 years younger) !
Many congratulations. Peter would indeed be thrilled to see the result.
I used to collect old Fire Engines, so I know how much work you had to do. Thank you. Paul
Just read about your restoration projects. I have found an insurance policy of my grandfathers and wondered what a Martinsyde was. His insurance was also for a 1921 model reg KV620, it was valued at £100 and his insurance cost £6-15s. Must have been an expensive purchase at the time!
Hi Janet, thanks for your comment, that’s interesting. The 1921 bikes were £175 new, including sidecar so I guess KV 620 wasn’t very old when your Granddad had it. KV is a Coventry registration number series. All the best Rick
a very interesting story about peter’s motorbike, especially to me as i am into vintage austin seven cars. incidentally peter adorian was my cousin who i have not seen for approx 60 years!
from paul adrian phillimore
Hi Paul,
Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed the story. Although I only knew Peter for a couple of years before his death – my partner Judy knew hi longer -he made a lasting impression of us and we were both very fond of him. Best of luck with the Sevens!
All the best Rick
Hello, oddly enough I was only thinking about Peter the other day, I am saddened to hear he is no longer with us. I took Peter’s Martinsyde to Prague on a trailer so he could ride it back in an event. It was in the day when getting into Prague wasn’t easy and I was stopped at the boarders with the guards wanting to look at the bike. I was a good friend of Chris Tait, I’d visit him every week in particular during his ailing years, I remember with fondness Peter’s eulogy at Chris’ funeral. Both Peter and Chris were the finest of gentlemen and their passion for bikes, in particular, Martinsydes knew no bounds.Peter offer3d me first refusal on Chris’ XD3508 bike but sadly I didn’t have the funds available, how sad was I. For all of you who own one of there magnificent bikes, you are very lucky indeed. All the best