‘04 Ariel

[adrie.degraaff]

Is it this one? Photo from Pioneer run in about 2009.

I think it is becouse it has the tank of an Ariel engine (batterydoor on leftside), a picture on the otherside will see a Minerva oilpump made outside the oiltank.
I will PM the details.

[adrie.degraaff]

About 25 years ago I came across a messed-about frame for one of these rear-cam Ariels (or Fleets), but even then I used self control.

Nice to see the 1904 Fleet Jerry. Longuemare carby, all-rod controls (no Bowden wires), rigid fork - all the hallmarks of the earliest model. Any ideas when the interesting pivoting combined stand-carrier was first used at Ariel? I've not seen it in any period illustration, but a number of the survivors have it.

The Fleet in the 2009 Pioneer Run photo looks to have a Minerva motor?

That could be the frame of Merv Kroll wich went to England and now in my place to be lined and tanked.

All 1904 Ariel books have the stand as Ariel patent.

Ariel and Fleet nr 2 has Minerva engines.

[adrie.degraaff]

Here the 1904 Ariel 2-3/4 HP in auction and the 1904 Ariel 3.5 HP in France this is the only full 500cc rearcam motorcycle, beside this is a watercooled 500cc engine of a Ariel tricar or Ariel-Leon-Bollee in England.

[leon.mitchell]

Two lovely bikes! I'd find room for either of them.

Interesting that both have the rotating barrel Brown and Barlow carburettor that was patented early in 1906, and that the French bike has the Components fork that would usually be seen on the lightweight bikes. The VMMC Register lists some engine numbers for these cam-at-rear "A-series" motors, and the number on the 500 is not notably higher than others, even though it has all the elements of a c1907-8 model. Likely all were built around 1904-05, even if they were eventually sold a couple of years later?

Cheers

Leon

[adrie.degraaff]

These carbs have a dubbel wall preheating, exhaust gasses are going through the carb wall, the exhaust pipe has a special casting for it and mentioned in the 1904 salesbook printed in 1903, both Ariels being from august 1904.

The forks are the heavy tricycle type, the lightweight has open legtops with rubber seals to fill the hole and weigh half what a tricycle forks do.

The top one came with a bill of sale of 1904 and the own written log of the first owner mentioned the buy of the spring forks later.

The 1905-1909 handlebars are longer by the year and have beafier luggs, the March 1909 Ariel of Charles Godfrey is one of the latest made and he admitted to me he altered it to 1904.

There are 4 rearcam servivers of 1904, 2 of 1908 and 2 of 1909 i have seen the differendses.

I am happy that your thinking with me so i learn every day, i would love to see your collection and planning to come your way.