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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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?
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 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.
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!
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 ...😕
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.
@@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.
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.
He was a Velocette agent too. My
Viper was from Horsemans.
Regards from the Cotswolds.
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.
Fabulous Film thank you very much!
This may have been a dull and "preachy" screed in its day, or staple viewing in driving schools, but it's utterly charming now.
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.
Brilliant film? you can hear other ads in the background!
@@barbaraannecortina7899 Yes, in my opinion brilliant. As for ads are you sure you didn't have a radio on in the background!
excellent! - all still applicable today
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.
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
I'm old,been riding motorcycles for nearly 50yrs(fossil).
This is a truly outstanding film, with
some great advice.
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!
Used to go and sit on the new Triumphs in Horsemans when I was 11,just started senior school in Brownlow hill,loved them!
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.
Hi Stephen, glad to see you've managed to get the sound back! Think the last post had nearly 60000 hits!
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.
Great stuff, picked out plenty views of Neston parade on the Wirral
7:20 Road ahead leads to west Kirby railway line also open air swimming baths...........All long gone
Fantastic
Still relevant today. Even in my country. USA.
Love the sidecars!
enjoyed that
right audio channel has quiet tv adverts
Never saw about the watch leather trick!
Some if it is filmed in Halkyn, north Wales.
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?
Excellent video if only some drivers would take note
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.
We have different signals over here !!!
I wonder what the riders in the film would say about today's traffic?
Thanks for this.
Super useful
And we're all given wt the LEFT HAND !!
Shame this transfer seems to have the sound from something else mixed in quiet? from 5 minutes on
Weird just tested and playing fine
Maybe more noticeable with headphones on as I have now
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.
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!
Can you please me to explain. Now I seen second old British movie where signal on the road name "HALT" - but for me is German language
In English it means STOP
0:17 'Rode'?
Hi yes, rode is the past tense of the verb ride. Hope this clears it up for you.
@@stephencd1 A bit of a play on words as well : Road safety - (I) rode safely.
amen, thought he meant road,not the microphone maker!
As in 'He rode safely'
@@stephencd1 past imperfect to be precise.. past perfect is "he had ridden"
so this is about motorcyclists then ?
Lungs conditions - God thanks, I quit smoke cigarettes. :-)
LOL, the British are so proper.
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 ...😕
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
Be grateful to watch the film instead of silly criticism
@@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.
All of these people are dead.
Can't watch anymore ! TERRIBLE !
I agree you would of thought home made videos from 1955 would been crystal clear and in colour. Slackers
@@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.
@@hhoward14 " I think you are being ironic here" what me? ironic? never