Grandad’s bike in Ireland

[JonWheeler]

Hello! Does anyone know which Red Hunter model this is?
My grandad had it as a lad before he got nailed down in marriage and he always told me how much he loved that ‘mortherboik’ he spent time as an Irish volunteer in WW2 over in Wales and Dorset, and this picture will have been taken shortly before this adventure (the best time of his life he always said!)
I honestly doubt that the bike still exists but if it did, I’d love to track it down and make an offer on it when it next comes up for sale.

[klaus gerhard]

My guess would be a 1936 NH2.

[Roger Gwynn]

Nice picture. Looks like a 1934 or35 3 speed, note the round gearbox that looks like a Q, lack of side springs on the forks, covers over the valve springs so probably not ridden very far. Model would be LF, NF or VF. ZA prefix is a Dublin number issued between March 1933 and May 1937, so probably early 1934. Not surprisingly there isn't an entry for that reg on the machine register, but without an engine or frame number there is no chance of identifying the bike. Not many will have gone to Eire in 1934 especially with foot change as it was a cheaper model and foot change was 15/- extra.

[JonWheeler]

Wow Roger! That’s impressive stuff! Yes I bet this photo was taken very soon after he got the bike. Grandad was one of the Collier boys of Bunclody. They were an engineering family and had a very successful business selling and repairing bicycles, cars and Massey tractors, which is why he would have been able to afford it. Grandad was famous in the area for being able to listen to an engine better than anyone else to tune it or find a fault I remember being told.
Sad the she can’t be traced but nice to have a bit more detail and corroboration.

[JonWheeler]

Here’s the original bike shop and later business.

[Roger Gwynn]

I see the premises with the tractors outside is still a garage, albeit a modern filling station.

[JonWheeler]

Yes Roger it is. Did you spot a motorcycle outside the old bike shop and filling station? Not the same bike as it has a centre stand and Grandad isn’t guarding it!

[Simon.Gardiner]

Yes Roger it is. Did you spot a motorcycle outside the old bike shop and filling station? Not the same bike as it has a centre stand and Grandad isn’t guarding it!

Looks like a twin-port two-stroke single, maybe a Francis Barnett?

SG

[JonWheeler]

I’ll have to take tour word for that