Roger,
Thanks for despatching my 52 Ariel four despatch record.
The Ariel was despatched from the UK to the Rich Child company in New Jersey on February 5, 1952
Rich Child worked for Harley Davidson before the war.
Following the war Child founded the Rich Child Cycle Company a distributor of BSA, Sunbeam and apparently Ariel motorcycles.
The 52 Ariel four was owned by two Nebraska farmers.
Unknown if the Nebraska farmer ordered the Ariel from Rich Child in New Jersey, 1300 miles from New Jersey to Nebraska.
Roger,
Did all Ariels despatched to usa go to the Rich Child company in New Jersey ?
There was an Ariel dealer in a small town in Nebraska during the 50's (experts in Nebraska report).
No, I have details of several dealers and I am pretty certain that before Johnson's became big that the bikes were despatched to individual dealers. At some point Johnson's became the importer, at least for the West Coast. Later when BSA set up their own company in the East at Nutley they also imported Ariels and later took over from Johnson's on the West Coast. Here is a list of the ones that I know about, unfortunately i have not recorded dates.
British and American Motors, California, U.S.A.
BSA Inc., 639 Passaic Avenue, Nutley 10, New Jersey, U.S.A.
Jonas B Cglaend & Co., 15 Moore Street, New York, U.S.A.
The Rich Child Co., New Jersey, U.S.A.
Johnson Motors Inc., 267 West Colorado Street, Pasadena 1, California, U.S.A.
Johnson Motors Inc., New York, U.S.A.
Johnson Motors Inc., Houston, Texas, U.S.A.
Johnson Motors Inc., Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.
Johnson Motors Inc., New Orleans, Mississippi, U.S.A.
Otto C Ling & Son Inc., New York, U.S.A.
Emil Metzler, U.S.A.
Pink and Voichick Inc., New York, U.S.A.
Reggie Pink Inc., New York, U.S.A.
Schubert’s Cyclery Store, 815-9 South King Street, Honolulu, USA
British and American Motors, if I remember correctly was a predecessor to Johnson's
Roger Gwynn, Membership Secretary, curator of the Machine Register and the works drawings. Director of Draganfly Motorcycles, Craven Equipment and Supreme Motorcycles mostly retired.
Roger,
Thanks for posting the detailed list.
Ariels are quite rare in usa, never saw one on the road.
Will post photo when I work on getting the bike running.
Thanks for the picture. My 52 Mk1 has the standard and nearly useless short prop stand as well as the
usual front and rear stands. Getting the bike on the rear stand can be something of a challenge:
screw the steering damper down so the forks don't flap about, walk down to the back of the bike
while carefully keeping the bike upright, grip the grab rail and pull back making sure the end of the
left silencer isn't going to take a bite out of my left boot and ankle.
I'm pretty sure your stand didn't come from Selly Oak but it does look quite well made.
I assume the stand in your picture lifts the front wheel off the ground - if it doesn't and you have to lift
the back wheel I can see that taking even more effort than using the rear stand.
Piotr Zelawosky of the Polish branch has a similar one on his bike, dunno where it came from, not factory.
Roger Gwynn, Membership Secretary, curator of the Machine Register and the works drawings. Director of Draganfly Motorcycles, Craven Equipment and Supreme Motorcycles mostly retired.
