Fascinating video. Coventry was a powerhouse of British industry in the 19th and 20th century. I have a little company manufacturing parts for classic British motorcycles, repairing them and carrying out many one off and short run fabrication jobs. So many of my tools, still in everyday use were made in Coventry, Birmingham and Leicester. I can't help it but I admit feeling sad when I see the way industry has been allowed to collapse but there are some relatively young, self taught engineers like myself trying to keep going in a world that doesn't seem to appreciate these skills. There's lots of like to say but will leave it at that.

@user-yn6ny3op8r

3 жыл бұрын

Hello good evening, my dear, how are you?

@chachenaki_kichenancha

Ай бұрын

I never had a British motorcycle, I had many Japanese bikes and one BMW. But I have a Yorkshire terrier.

@stephenhowe568

25 күн бұрын

You are a great person making parts for old bikes. I have a 1966 Triumph and a love it.

For someone who has 2 of these bikes in parts this is amazing. Can't get any better reference material than this. Life just got a whole lot easier for me.

@orlandorojas439

6 ай бұрын

I would totally enjoy putting those together, lucky you.

I am a 50 year old engine machinist and I welcome you to view the 1st ever X Games live. With tears in my eyes the talent of these individuals are lost to the generations. Can you cast a cylinder bore the cylinder fit the pistons no ring compressor used those were men nowadays it's all automated people of today would be lost if you handed them a box of parts and said build it. Sad day when all these newfangled electronics fail due to pole shifts or something like that this is a Damn fine work of art.

@johnfrancisguevara4973

4 жыл бұрын

Indeed.....but humans doesn't stop to upgrade/innovate things....

@CattanisGarage

4 жыл бұрын

Its true. Everybody just uses their phones instead of getting their hands dirty. Im only 20 and i rather build something cool than be on a phone or computer all day. Its amazing what we have done in the past 100 years, but then we have a double edged sword. The stuff we made is good but then it makes us lazy. And thats what happening to my generation and ive decided i dont want to be apart of it. If you want to build something build it, but otherwise you can waste your life on your phone all day.

@newtontemoke3126

4 жыл бұрын

Dont fear, old man(your my dad's age).There's still plenty of us who build and make, Not just put together.

@MrJonsonville5

3 жыл бұрын

Pole shifts take place over hundreds or thousands of years. It's not like a switch gets flipped and all of a sudden the poles are reversed, it's a long and drawn out process

@kevinchamberlain7928

3 жыл бұрын

Oh, hush now.

How can you 'dislike' this video. It's a piece of rare engineering history. WTF do some people expect???

@mikakorhonen5715

5 жыл бұрын

Trump voters...

@seanryan325

5 жыл бұрын

Some people are just weird?

@stanley1917

5 жыл бұрын

Mika Korhonen p

@amtrakjohn

5 жыл бұрын

@@stanley1917 I can't see why anyone would downcheck the video either. It's a fascinating look into that era.

@UniMindPerson

5 жыл бұрын

Steve Inskip, crash in end.

The gentlemen building the engine, you could tell that he was in the zone. Him, his body and his mind were solely focused on putting that engine together, with no delays and no mistakes. He must have enjoyed doing his work.

That was so early and amazing! The speed was impressive also, they were riding like demons on what appeared to be dirt roads. Obviously setup but I felt sorry for the lady cyclist who got enveloped in dust. Thanks for posting.

I got to work with mechanics who serviced R-2800 aircraft engines. I came to recognize I also loved that engine. 18 cylinders. Big cylinders. Then there were the jet engines of the early Learjets. Way I learned it was that you designed the airplane around the engine, and I see Rolls Royce Merlin was what made the P-51 great. It was still heartbreaking to see what an Me 262 could do to Allied bombers and fighters. Pilots are wise to understand that mechanics are watching them to see if they are making them work harder. I had a mechanic ask me if I rode my motorcycle hard. "It's a motor-cycle." is what I answered.

It’s fascinating to watch video of people performing tasks more than 120 years ago that are the same tasks that I still do today.

It's seriously amazing to watch this old film! Everything about it amazes me, from the assembly process to the road test and watching other people passing by on the road. When they were using the lathe, although we have CNC lathes, for as much time that has passed between then and now not much has changed in that aspect.

@luismontelongo4148

21 күн бұрын

True

So wonderful that iomtt did NOT add any music. It is so beautiful in its original form.

Beautiful, simple and intimate. More attractive than any Hollywood movie! Honorable and hardworking workers with strong hands and calluses from hard work. No advanced tools and robots but with passion and love. See how lovingly they caress the cold pieces of steel and how skillfully they make everything out of nothing.

Cant like this video enough, absolutely fantastic! Hand built craftsmanship by true craftsmen. There is no wonder these things survived 100 years and still run.

@jacobpoucher

5 жыл бұрын

hahh that garbage was hand build micky mouse operation. i bet those engine didnt last 10,000 miles. or even 5k.

@92xl

4 жыл бұрын

@@jacobpoucher you sir, and I say this as kindly as possible, are a fucking douche bag. Have a good day!

@cristianarango1509

12 күн бұрын

Don't be fooled, those things were and are still frail, hand fitted production is a nightmare quality wise, metal quality was subpar and seal technology was in diapers, the manufacturers knew it very well and that is why those engines were extremely underloaded, producing less than 4hp with massive displacements, even that way they wouldn't last long, a few thousand miles was enough to wear rings, valve tappets bearings and pushrods, but that was considered acceptable back then, people are usually oblivious on how much industrial standards have changed over time and how consumer demands have changed with them.

there are very few foundries left in the UK my Dad was a journeyman in Aberdeen, I remember going to his factory in 1967 and watching him work, those days (and skills) are gone, such a shame

@neiljennings1556

4 жыл бұрын

@Klippy Klop there are a few left, I wish i could go and watch

Brilliant! Tweed jacket, plus-fours, flat cap, huge moustache and a Billiard pipe stuffed with Scruttocks Old Shag tobacco. Now THAT'S motorcycling! :-)

@GettingNervous

5 жыл бұрын

Totally agree. Today they sit on the bike, pushing the starter button and that is the most exciting moment.

Wow, early motorcycle manufacturing. Very rare, super cool video. Totally enjoyed watching.

Crouching down for aerodynamics. Catching air over a small hill. Building an engine that consist of a piston, crankshaft, timing chain, flywheel, etc. This was filmed over 100 years ago.....not much has changed. Great video!!!

What fascinating footage! I loved the testers wearing flat caps backwards and the obligatory pipe in mouth. A gem of history, times long gone.

@hiscifi2986

5 жыл бұрын

I soon learned that it is not wise to smoke cigarettes whilst riding.... The wind burns them up so quickly, that they only last 1/2 mile...

This video is amazing; It's a work of art. Watching the engine build sequence of an assembler with a careful eye and skilled hands. Human minds and hands at work; It's so beautiful to watch and such a well-made product overall too.

@bradleyweiss1089

3 жыл бұрын

Yes. I love work. I can sit and watch it for hours. Machinist 22 years. 63 years old still riding a 250. My brother 70. A Harley.

Dirty bench....No gaskets.....No torque Wrenches.....I Love It

What a wonderful document, the First motorcycling... Only motor, chassis, wheels.... And a lot of dust. They was the pioneers! Thanks. Hallo from Italy. Claudio

What a perfect film! I love that the testers really put those motocycles through their paces. And they even caught air!

I really enjoyed this film and really showed the simplicity of how things used to be before we all went nuts~!!!! Thanks for the show.

@warriordave-vu3dv

5 жыл бұрын

yes agreed its first thing tht I noticed while watching the video

@tinkeringinthailand8147

3 жыл бұрын

Before the world went money mad :)

@h7283

3 жыл бұрын

Rasman?

@manuelfernandez862

3 жыл бұрын

Crazy people simple.

@jasonruch3529

3 жыл бұрын

When people used there hands AND brains and not just there finger tips......

What a fantastic piece of history. Takes me back to my days of dirt road riding and learning to drive for the first time on South Texas back roads lol. How the world has changed and not for the better.

What a treasure to have a few old films like this available.

No air cleaners! The first guy gets clean air for his engine, the rest get to eat his dust. This is referred to as the "final honing" of the cylinder walls! Great Video! Thanks!

Great to see these films still survive. The days when this country actually made things. Would love to know where the locations were and what they are like now.

This is awesome. Those people had no idea what they were starting. Just a few guys trying to make life easier back then and look what it became. Dirt floors where they were working. And quality still prevailed !! I'm much obliged !! I been riding motorcycles for 40 years and hoping another 40 to come

I love this. It's like doing it yourself on your dad's bench in the shed when you were a kid with your first bike. (Squashing the rings in with your thumbnails). I have built many engines over the years, and the early rebuilds were a bit like this. Happy days!

“Put the case on and hammer to spec”... lol Great video! Very interesting to see manufacturing in its early years.

Brilliant film. I love the riding at the end. Racing each other, airborne over the hump back bridge. The technology has improved over the years but riders still wanted then what we want now - the speed, freedom and exhilaration of riding a motorcycle. Thanks for posting

I used to do that sand casting in 8th grade metal shop. And ended up a machinist for 22 years. Those 2 test guys getting air was great. I think I saw them on X games.

I think we often forget what an effort it was back then to produce a motorcycle from scratch, especially since there was nobody to copy like today. It's amazing to see all those industrial lathes and hand-made tooling, designed and built to strict specifications. We take a lot for granted today, but their genius laid the groundwork for everything we have.

@allanjelen2365

6 жыл бұрын

Roadghost88 well said absolutely they were the pioneers god bless.

I am so glad someone thought to film that. I am also happy someone remembered where it was and preserved it.

@outtersteller

3 жыл бұрын

The company presumably?

Watching old videos is a joy forever.... 21/4/19

Excellent, shows us just how far we have come.

Thanks to you guys for making our lives better

What a brilliant piece of nostalgia.I'd never heard of Rover Motorcycles.Thanks for posting.

@OldsmobileCutlassSupremeConver

5 жыл бұрын

Probably the best Video I've ever seen on KZread. Thank you.

@UguysRnuts

5 жыл бұрын

It's the same Rover company that went on to build automobiles. I rode Rover #1, a three wheeled bicycle with a pair of 48" wheels up front which the rider sat between and a 16 incher behind that did the steering. Guessing this film was made in '03 or '04 based on the similarities to the 1903' Kery I had the pleasure of riding some time ago. The Rover must have been at least 500cc, judging by the rate of knots these ones were making.

@michaeltaylor8835

5 жыл бұрын

Crap like Rover cars

Never underestimate the protective power of a flat cap.

@tonypate9174

7 жыл бұрын

And the power of a FIRE bucket with sand ! You Tube STANLEY WOODS WINS SENIOR TT RACE 1926 -----@3-10 King Dick adjustable spanners/check Empire steel "box" spanners in a canvas roll, Medium weight lump hammer sac of oily rags/tick Endless packets of unfiltered cigarettes/Double tick

@andref8246

5 жыл бұрын

Flat caps,flat tanks and men of steel. One of the testers even completed the look with a lit pipe.

@davesnothereman7250

5 жыл бұрын

Not quite as safe as the Tam O Shanter....but close.

@Allan9966

5 жыл бұрын

Modern day Yorkshire men still appreciate the safety afforded by the flat cap!

@logotrikes

4 жыл бұрын

Still wear mine. No Woodbines or pipe these days....

That's why we have the greatest machines as of this days.. and still we're aiming for greatness.

Pure pleasure waching old true engineering and people working 💕👍 Amazing how they Jump over! Tha last scene 😳😳🤣👍!

Thank you for sharing this piece of history! @8:10 I thought they must have fired up a couple of smoke generators but then realized that was truly the first startup and assembly lube burning off. Looked like 3 kicks for one nearest and 2 kicks for one in back on first startup, amazing!

You can just feel their excitement motorcycles have brought so much joy to people's lives.

Them boys got down back in them days, racing.

Absolutely great... a piece of history!!!

Proper old engineering and not a gasket to be seen.

@williamolson3704

4 жыл бұрын

I was thinking the same thing! Gaskets?

The Lathe really is the Queen of the workshop

Those were the days, my friend. We thought they'd never end.

What a treasure of a film. Fantastic

Dam those crazy young fools on those fancey fangdangled machines wipping up all that noise and dust .

@bjofuruh

3 жыл бұрын

Where will it end....

@bradleyweiss1089

3 жыл бұрын

bjofuruh Watch beginning and end of Lawrence of Arabia.

Why would anyone thumbs down this Video?.....Very Strange

@jacksutherland846

5 жыл бұрын

You'd be surprised how many ding-a-lings out there despise motorcycles. Hate the biker, not the bike.

Great to watch these old silent films no robots making these and most of all no music

My Grandfather was doing the same thing in Edinburgh at the same time. He had three workshops and a garage. He was also a photographer so I've a good set of photos, somewhere.

They jumped those suckers!!! Wow! Man. The motor was part of the frame and they jumped it. Lol Awesome!

1 person disliked this video, must have been the woman on the bicycle who got dusted at the end

@thedriza297

7 жыл бұрын

lol

@prajwaljadhav9122

7 жыл бұрын

I agree

@1234491

7 жыл бұрын

Travel to Nice

@mickandpathardy8239

7 жыл бұрын

mtroy0620 i

@harrystevens3885

7 жыл бұрын

That wasn't a women it was a Rastafarian...........

Really satisfied to watch the real hard working people and one damn real engine

super rare film thanks a lot

What a blast from the past. Simply loved the video. Thank you for sharing this. I don't think the fella that took a spill in the mud loved it though. Thanks again.

rare video, rare engineering, rare engine.

This is the greatest biker build off episode ever!

Ya gotta love it! No helmets, no pads just guts!

No torque wrenches were hurt or bothered during the making of this motorcycle :-)

@jusb1066

6 жыл бұрын

this is how torque was done, chief engineer put one together, junior comes along and measures how tight it was, writes it down into book for the rest of us. chief didnt use a torque wrench but his experience and feel

@goinghomesomeday1

6 жыл бұрын

Dont't forget no socket sets either.

@offshore4848

5 жыл бұрын

In the wla manual for head bolts, tighten in a cross pattern until tight unless you have a torque wrench then tighten to 65 ftlbs

@goinghomesomeday1

5 жыл бұрын

Even with a torque wrench you still followed a tightening pattern :-)

@AbhishekJainChannel

5 жыл бұрын

check this out...kzread.info/dash/bejne/n2p1vJmYnaSphco.html

truly enjoyed this, thank you

honestly test driving those bikes looks like a lot of fun, I'm thoroughly delighted.

Its 4:17AM there is a naked woman lying next to me... and watching an Edwardian guy bore-out a cylinder barrel is more interesting! It is fair to say... turning 48 is a difficult year for some men!😂😂

@nigelcarren

6 жыл бұрын

No idea... tell me about it? You know there is a little brass tickling screw, that should solve your problem, failing that always check for a spark! 😂

@jacksutherland846

5 жыл бұрын

Anything with tits or tires will be a pain in the ass.☺

@ushoys

5 жыл бұрын

If that naked woman is around your age and looks like most 48 year olds, it's not surprising this vid is more interesting.

Love how the spark plug is in the cylinder during assembly lol

@ronashman8463

3 жыл бұрын

@lust master I noticed that too. Would have been easily broken. Perhaps an equal point was to block the hole so no stray debris could get in. So - might as well use the spark plug.

Rover Imperialmotorcycle in November 1902. Between 1903 and 1924, Rover produced more than 10,000 motorcycles.

Tanks you for this very old pictures of starting motocycles 🚵

Real Pioneer,Real man,Real mechanic.

What a great old film .

What a glorious film. Barely into the twentieth century, and these guys had it all going on. Great stuff.

The best episode of How It's Made I have ever seen, lol. What a great film, a valuable record of the early years of what must be the biggest industry in the world. Thank you for sharing.

@dannybaxterskip

6 жыл бұрын

Danny baxter brilliant had to watch it to the end thats dont happen to often with a lot of vids thanks

Lovely this is a display of the mechanical engineering history, I really enjoyed it.

That is real testing, those guys were fearless.

After looking at the mass of that crankshaft / flywheel combo; I would think that when you shut the engine off, it wouldn't stop rotating until the next day! Quite an interesting video.

Loved the nostalgic buildings, country roads and the hump back bridge.

The timbered houses at the bridge are in Stoneleigh in Arden, ( now just called Stoneleigh ). The bridge is over the river Sowe on the Coventry road, where it runs alongside the Deer Park.

@vvoodee

3 жыл бұрын

Hey John why don't you grab a bike and a cameraman and recreate it for us? You don't need to take a header in the river at the end - unless you really want to I guess.

Awesome video! Footage from that era is so rare. Such simpler times, but impressive nevertheless.

Real PURE MAGIC......Those boys looked like they were having great fun.

I now know how British motorcycles got their reputation for oil leaks...didn't see any seals or gaskets installed! Great piece of history.

Great film love it, I pass the buildings at 8mins 48 seconds, each night in Stoneleigh Warwickshire Jnc/of Coventry and Birmingham road Warwickshire , the ford at the end of the film is in Kenilworth Warwickshire .

@BPantherPink

5 жыл бұрын

WOW... Nostalgia for you then !!

@thecurtray

5 жыл бұрын

that is really neat for you. would like to see it today.

@geoffreykeane4072

5 жыл бұрын

Easily seen in Streetview, exactly where Steve says! Thanks Steve!

@voodoochild800

5 жыл бұрын

Birmingham Rd goo.gl/maps/osGUfGdingK2

@JimmyMaya

5 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Thank you!!

Awesome footage, I love history stuff like this. Thanks for posting, please post more if you can find them.

Invaluable document ! Probably very few people have an idea of the engineering processes used in the early days of motorcycle. The factory (the foundry) looks like a garden shed ! On the other hand, workers are dressed with a tie ! Thank you for putting this video on line !

A man and his Lathe. The forerunner of the CNC.

Loved the road tests

07:37 Child at work. Love it.

@nicholasrhodes4550

4 жыл бұрын

Kids used to do things, build things...took a pride in it. I know I did and do.

I rebuilt my Norton 850 Commando recently very simular bar the Magnito and one less cylinder. Best vid On KZread!

WOW!!!! I want one!!!!! that was wonderful, watching those craftsmen building these, with their bare hands, truly inspiring

"Get the kid in here to wedge the belt on. His fingers are small, plus I need mine." Ha Ha

@agnel47

3 жыл бұрын

Hahaha

Wow! and the enduro at the end!

What a wonderful video about the history of engineering A true piece of art

What a great old film, especially the Time traveller in his hotrod at 08.58.

Notice some of the men in the foundry were wearing coats and ties. amazing

@bradleyweiss1089

3 жыл бұрын

It was what people wore. And sometimes showed you knew a trade. We have pictures of my grandfather wearing a white shirt tie and Fedora with a overall and he was a teamster. I always wondered why their symbol was two horse heads. Because they drive a team of horses. I asked what did you haul. He said You name it we hauled it. Coal lumber hay move houses heavy equipment much like today. He was so good with a team men would come over to watch as he sat on the porch while his team mowed the bottom with a horse drawn sickle mower with him not on it!! He’d whistle click gee haw whatever if they stopped. And off they’d go. Back up lay down whatever he said they did. We had pictures of us kids sitting on em while they lay there. One where he brought it up to the back of his old Buick and said up It stepped on the bumper. Up. Again other hoof on the trunk. Look at the stars and it put the first hoof up in the air reared it’s head back and look up in the sky.

Fantastic video, fantastic a wonderful time, thank you.

Fantastic film. Congratulations for share.

The skill of these people, unbelievable

Love the way the drive belt is fitted by a kid in an Eton collar. He can't be more than 12 years old.

Jesus I want to go back in time

Потрясающие кадры! Автору спасибо!!!!

Just beautiful piece of film . Clever very clever

Their workshop is messier than mine haha! I wonder if it's the same Rover who later made cars, and lawn mowers. Great little film, thank you for sharing.

@fidelcatsro6948

6 жыл бұрын

i guess they were that same Rover that made cars and got bought up by Ford in the end