The diesel motorcycle.....

Pictures from my Archive… a frequent dip into photographs that I want to share with you….

The two photographs are from Fox Photos in London and the captions on the back I've transcribed below....

“Following in the wake of the diesel taxi cab is the diesel motor cycle and the world’s first motorcycle to be powered by a diesel engine was given its first road trial in West Cornwall, England. The creation of this engine has been the work of Mr. Freeman Saunders, whose laboratory at Newlyn (Cornwall) houses the Freeman Saunders Engine Company, pioneers of the diesel motor and taxi. When the machine is fully developed, it is estimated that its fuel consumption will be 130 miles to the gallon, and there will be little difference in outward appearances between the diesel motorcycle and the ordinary petrol driven one. In fact, work on the diesel model has involved adapting an ordinary 500cc engine from a standard model, designing and making new parts and altering others.
One photograph shows Mr. Freeman Saunders, seen on his diesel powered motorcycle, during trials near his Newlyn laboratory. The second photo shows a close up of the diesel conversion.”
Photos by Fox photos London, September 1st 1954.
Left click on images to enlarge.