The Knowledge - Velocette Owners Club

I. Miscellaneous
L #29 the Velo OC Thruxton Registrar would be glad for anybody to sent him the numbers of their
Thruxton, whether or not the owner is a VOC member. His name is Ray Thurston.
#910 Is there a list of the 1008 genuine thruxtons worldwide.
#920 Ray Thurston of the Woburn Centre keeps a Thruxton Register.
#1031 I have the VOCNA copy (thanks Dennis Q.) of invoices for Velocettes received by Lou Branch,
the US distributor, from 1950 to 1960. Any member with a machine from this source and time period is
welcome to ask for a copy, scramblers were particularly popular.
L # 169 Background: I have inherited a Velocette from my late Grandfather. It is a 249cc 2stroke,
dating from 1929, reg no EN 4251 (light two-fifty, or Model U, maybe looking at the pictures etc
on the velocette owners club website). Owned by my Grandfather since about 1938, and ridden
extensively around the Lake District between than and when it was last ridden (when it was involved in
an accident) in around 1953. I believe that it is essentially complete, although it obviously needs a full
restoration! The bike is currently in the Lakes, waiting for me to move it to Scotland so I can start the
(what will no doubt be long and protracted!) restoration! Question: I believe that the reg number was
registered with DVLA in the early 80's when they went computerized, so I am interested in becoming
the registered keeper, but we cannot find any documents amongst my Grandad's effects. I have got
the from the PO, but it has a space for chassis number, so anybody got any idea where I might find
this, to save me hours groveling round with an inspection lamp? I'd be interested in getting in contact
with anybody out there who has tackled the restoration, or keeps up, a similar machine, so I can
depress myself with the task ahead.
#355 The Model U I have inherited has now arrived at my house, and I have had a chance to examine
it in detail for the first time. AFAIK it was last used around 1953 when involved in an accident - but
some work has since been done by my Grandad - the tank for one has been taken off and cleaned. I
am trying to understand the controls it should have (getting ahead of myself? - I think so - the engine is
stuck (piston in bore) - I have filled the cylinder with diesel, just waiting for it to do its thing). The bike
has been modified in use (I'll post some photos when the film is developed), and is fitted with a twist
grip - is this original? What is the small thumb lever on the LH handlebar for - should this be
connected to the decompressor on the engine (and what is that for anyway?). The bike is also fitted
with a type FD Maglita - but the lighting function has been disconnected - a groove has been machined
into the flywheel to take a v-belt, and we found a battery support bolted onto the frame, so assume
that at some time it has been fitted with a dynamo. Has anybody got any info on the Maglita? Thanks
in advance.... My plan is to get the bike back up together for 2004 when it will be 75 years old, so this
will no doubt be the first of many pleas for info! Amazingly BOTH tyres hold air, and the rear - which
looks as if it was almost new when it was taken off the road - has obviously been kept in the dark as it
still looks serviceable - the bike will rarely - if ever - be ridden on the road (for one thing I don't have
the necessary full bike licence - yet!).
#358 There was even a super-sports variant, the USS, produced in 1929 only, which was good for
nearer 60mph. Mine was registered in July 1929 according to DVLA (fortunately the appropriate things
were done in the early 80's and I was able to get a new V5 without any trouble). What were the
differences for the USS? As regards the controls, I have seen them with both lever and twistgrip
throttles. Dismantled the twistgrip last night - it is indeed the internal scroll type. Not sure it is original
as it is fitted with a distinctly homemade looking shim on the bar. Reversed clutch and brake levers,
Front brake is set up on the right - is this normal or reversed? magneto lever on the left, Can see no
evidence of a cable entry to the Mag, but then most of it is covered with about 1/4" of oily dirt- which
has fortunately kept the worst of the rust at bay. I don't know that all the two-strokes had
decompressors (the early 20's models didn't), but if yours has one it's for stopping/slowing the
312