Market gardener Patman in Grantham

[Geoff-E]

The motorcycle in this picture (which is a 3 1/2 HP Sunbeam) is the first Sunbeam which I've come across used by a despatch rider. Although it's known that the War Department bought Sunbeams, most of the early despatch riders used Douglas or Triumph motorcycles - so this is a significant piece of new information.

It looks to me as if the registration number may have been painted over and OHMS added over the top.  Is the front tire really as worn as it looks? 

[vintagesunbeam]

I don't think it would have been registered - they would just have painted OHMS on the front number plate.

The rest of the bike is clearly brand new - you can't see the tread on the front tyre, and what looks like a gaping hole on the side wall could have been a fragment of the paper in which the tyre would have been wrapped?

[matildakin]

Nick,

I've sent a larger JPG of the photo to your hotmail id.  Maybe details will be a bit clearer.

My mother-in-law says she has a similar post card of Arthur's brother Roy. It sounds like it was taken at the same location.  She says that Roy's motorbike is different, though, and has ARIEL marked on it as well as OHMS.  She is sending me the post card by mail.

mat 

[Jennie88]

Howdy.

In the course of your research, you haven't come across an A R [possibly Archibald Robert] PATMAN, 2nd Lieut. in the RGA [Royal Garrison Artillery] have you?

I'm trying to do some research on this fellow for someone.

Cheers
Sarndra
http://www.sarndra.com
http://www.invokinglibitina.blogspot.com/

Further research shows Archibald Robert PATMAN born 21 Jan 1892 and died 1977 Barnstaple, Devonshire.

S

Hi,

Just joined, sorry if this is in the wrong place. Archibald Robert Patman was my great grandpa's brother!

Jennie