Hello again. We now seem to be on an even keel pandemic wise so I'm sure you are all now feeling a bit more optimistic about the rest of the summer. Meanwhile we've been doing our usual digging to answer readers queries.
I'll start by saying that we have identified the 1903/4 Willenhall Institute football team photo featured in the last magazine thanks to Elena Walton and her brother John. Seems that in 1998 John attended a police conference arranged at Gilberts Club in Field St, Willenhall and immediately recognized the windows. A google check showed that he was correct, but then I'm told he does have a photographic memory which helps.
Another request for help came from year 2 teacher Rachel Treadwell of St Giles School who wanted information for the basis of a study about local hero's. I have given her some names with Dr. Tonks at the top.
We have had a request from Kevin, no surname, but he is trying to get a copy of a newspaper photograph taken at a Willenhall Carnival in the 1960's where he is dressed in a gorilla's costume. Seems he was paired up with some attractive young lady and the photo was titled 'Beauty and the Beast'. I've directed Kevin to the various archive offices that might help but if you can help please let me know. We have little in our archives on the Carnivals so if you have anything about them that you want rid of please pass it on to us.
Now, did any of you attend the Willenhall Classic Transport Show in the park on Sunday last. I had planned to but my own vehicular contribution refusing to start and it spent the rest of the day in detention in the garage. People I have spoken to say what a good event it was so I'm looking forward to another attempt next year.
The history of these old vehicles is often most fascinating and even some of the most mundane will have a story or two to tell. For example: In 1919 the Daily Mirror ran a popular cartoon strip based on the adventures of three orphaned animals namely 'Pip' a dog, 'Squeak' a penguin, and 'Wilfred' a rabbit. This ran right up to 1956 and produced a yearly annual as well as several cinema silent cartoons. By 1927 the followers of Pip, Squeak and Wilfred had formed a club, the Wilfredian League of Gugnums. (WLOG) which attracted many thousands of members who wore a blue enamel badge depicting rabbits ears. After the 1st.WW three medal were awarded to men who had served in the conflict, these being The 1914-15 Star, The British War Medal and the British Victory Medal. and it was not long before this group of three medals were referred to as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.
Between the two world wars we became the worlds largest manufacturer of motor cycles but with the depression and the need to 'keep the wheels turning' coupled with the fact that many cyclists now wanted some means of riding without pedaling and did not want to struggle with heavy motor cycles it was evident that some form of powered bicycle was needed, so enter the 1930's auto-cycle.
Aimed at people such as nurses and midwives that had distances to travel in their work the machine had to be cheap reliable and simple to operate without the need to be versed in mechanical knowledge. The government for its part recognised the need and set a very low road tax fee for these vehicles and set at only 12 shillings (60 pence in todays money) per year for engines under 100c.c. and waiting in the wings was the Villiers company of Wolverhampton who had been quick to respond to the need and so most auto-cycles had 98 c.c. engines.
Third Party Insurance cost only 7 shillings and 6 pence and a provisional licence for 3 months was only 5 shillings and the driving test akin to a cycling proficiency test was rarely failed. Lots of motor cycle manufactures such as James, Sun, Rudge, Norman, Francis Barnett and New Hudson to name but a few produced these simple machines in their many thousands. What made some wag decide to call these auto-cycles Wilfreds cannot be established but it has stuck with them.
Wilfreds continue to be made until the 1950's until the advent of the lighter 50cc moped which were becoming more favourable particularly in France and finally the Honda 50 step-through. The last Wilfred to 'shut up shop' was the New Hudson factory in Birmingham in 1958. This is the one (pictured) that let me down last weekend which reminds me that I need to fix it.
Finally I can now say that the Society will be re-opening on Tuesday 14th September at the Chart Centre, Gomer St, Willenhall. It will be an open meeting, starting at 7.15pm with some of our archives and photo's on display with perhaps a glass of wine and nibbles. Look forward to seeing you there. Now back to the spanners. Regards, Bob, Thursday 8th.July,'21 p.s. There is a large club catering for Wilfred owners who on occasions to be seen running amok along country lanes in a haze of blue smoke. Google Auto-cycle and Cycle Motor Club.
