Inter wheels

Hi Ian,

These wheels are from a racing specification Inter. The rear was fitted from around 1935 until WW2 on rigid frames only. The front I believe was only fitted for 1 season 1935/6 before the conical type was introduced. The condition can only be assessed "in the flesh" so ifthe metal is sound and the spokes have not reduced in thickness, I would feel O.K. to use them unless you intend to jump Ballaugh bridge to excess. With regard to the rear sprocket, try a new chain in the teeth and double check how much it has worn. You can get these re-toothed but the new material won't be so chain friendly as the original iron. This drum/sprocket was only fitted to the racers so a replacement will be very difficult to find. The main concern, if you have it, is the front brake which has magnesium alloy brake shoes and as they are 80 years old now, will need particular inspection. Regards, Richard.

Hi again Ian,

It's difficult to pin-point the exact year of your tanks, but the general specs are; the steering damper anchorage was changed to the frame lug for the 1936 models, first shown at the end of 1935. The anomaly here is that petrol tanks made after this time still had the bolt hole for the earlier type of anchorage. The soldered pie-crust edging was discontinued for Inters when WW2 caused the suspension of theOHC/OHV models, although the first post-war Manx racers used it until 1948. The early Inter petrol tanks used vintage Enots type filler caps for the first couple of years and the filler neck has a cut-out for this to engage. Likewise the George Dance knee-grips, whichI see your tank has. These have 2 bolt fixing, the later flat type only have single bolt fitting.The racing tanks did not have knee-grips and have a slightly larger capacity than the road-going type and the mounting bolt holes are set 1" wider apart. At a guess your tank was made sometime between 1935/39.

The oil tank on the seat is the standard Inter half wrap-round, to provide space for a battery, which remained the same design from 1934 to about 1951 when it became bolt-through fitting. Even in 1934these were all welded construction. Looking at your picture the remains of the painted panel looks pre-war. The oil tank fitted to the bike looks like a post-war proprietary (alloy?) tank, possiblysupplied by someone like Francis Beart.

Not sure about the Bradbury query although there was a motorcycle manufacturer pre-war of the same name, who I believe was a casualty of the industrial depression.

Regards, Richard.

Hi Ian,

Sorry I did not explain very well about the fixing hole measurements. The standard Inter tank centres should be 5.5" front and rear, whereas the racing Inter should be 7.5" on the front mounting and 6.5" on the rear. The racing tank held about half a gallon more.

I have the same situation tracing my 1939 Inter that went to Bryants of Biggleswade. Pre-war parts lists are difficult to come by but there are a few 1948 copies around and a lot of the parts are much the same as the pre-war bikes. For new partstry Stu Rogers 01945 585116 orracingvincent orBennett-cnc Regards, Richard.