Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

veganfiddler · Joined: 13 Mar 2009 Posts: 3

We have a family photo that is a complete mystery to us and I was hoping that your expertise here may help.
My great uncle Herbert is standing behind a 3-wheeler car full of bright young things. He was born in 1890, and he looks to be 40 or 50 here so that is a clue to the year. The car has a distinctive bonnet badge and an 'M' or 'W' on the wheel.
Does anyone have an idea what the car is and what the year might be?
Thanks.

Oh, the photo doesnt seem to be showing. I thought I had followed the instructions correctly. The photo is here if it doesnt appear as it should do:

http://gallery19080.fotopic.net/p56880721.html

[img]http://gallery19080.fotopic.net/p56880721.html[/img]

Keith D · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:29 pm Post subject:

I would think that it's a Morgan 3 wheeler.

Keith

Kelsham · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 5:58 pm Post subject: mystery car

Yes a Morgan threewheeler late 1920s early 1930s. Looks like the sports model. regards Kels

veganfiddler · Joined: 13 Mar 2009 Posts: 3

Thanks for the reply.
We thought that it might be a Morgan. Did they have 'M's on the wheel. None of the pictures that I have seen so far do. Is there any site with a comprehensive list of Morgans?

Comrade-Paul · Joined: 04 Mar 2009 Posts: 79 Location: NORWICH

Thats a wonderful picture just oozing of period charm.
Cool

_________________

Picture taken in 1960??

Mog · Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 663 Location: Sydney

Yes, it is a two speed Morgan 3-wheeler. It is an Aero model about 1925. From the rocker box covers it looks like an water cooled Anzani engine OHV. Yes, they did have an "M" on the hub caps. I have a book called, The Three Wheeler, it was written by Brian Watts in 1970 and put out by The Morgan Three Wheeler Club.It has info. on all Morgan Three Wheelers. If you go to www.mtwc.co.uk/ they will be happy to give you more info.

veganfiddler · Joined: 13 Mar 2009 Posts: 3

Well done Mog. Really pleased to have it identified. And your year sounds about right. It doesnt look in bad condition does it, so I presume it would have been in the late 1920s which makes sense. Are those dents in the side or is it supposed to be like that?
Herbert at the back would be 40 in 1930. He looks older than that, but everybody seemed to look older in those days...
Thank you.
I'll pass on the information to the family.

Mog · Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 663 Location: Sydney

The hand brake inside, works on the front two wheels. The gear change is inside the car, on the right. There are two chains on the back wheel, with different sized sprockets. This gives low and high gears , they are changed by use of the clutch on the engine and then moving dog clutches on the cross shaft. The foot brake works a band brake on the back wheel. The handle that you can see outside the car works another band brake on the other side of the rear wheel. This was a parking brake, when these band brakes get wet they do not work ! The lever below the drivers right hand was a valve lifter. They were started by cranking at the rear. I do not think the dent behind the outside brake lever should be there. This parking brake was left off later models.
The Super Sports 2 speeder had the gear change on the outside as standard and no parking brake. They used a drum brake on the rear, which still let the water in....

PAUL BEAUMONT · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 1281 Location: Barnsley S. Yorks

No idea where you are Veganfiddler, but if you are interested in vintage Morgans this place www.morganmuseum.org.uk is worth a visit. I stumbled on it by chance a few years back and spent half a day there!!
Paul

want-one · Joined: 17 Mar 2009 Posts: 16

nice old photo that Very Happy