Ariel factory guarantee

[david.anderson]

The guarantee below was the factory guarantee that was given to the original purchaser of my first Ariel which is listed as an NH. I purchased the bike in 1972 as a VH.
The bike was imported to Australia in 1957 by Sydney Ariel importer and agent Eric Moore and was purchased by an employee Frank Shepherd. Frank immediately rebuilt the bike with a HS head, cylinder, and piston, larger monoblock carb, forged flywheels,54 version of the HS mk1 cam and HS followers, HS clutch, as well as fitting the cyclone/HS mudguards. The bike, after being used by Frank on both road and track, went through several hands before I purchased it. I was subsequently approached by Frank who recognised what was previously his bike that I had parked outside motorcycle dealer Ryans of Parramatta in 1973. I have had occasional contact with Frank ever since.

Just a further note is that the frame no on the guarantee is correct for my bike but the engine no was changed to that of an Ariel Leader. Frank advised me that a damaged Leader was brought in to Eric Moores for repair but was written off. Frank had the registration of the leader changed to his name and then stamped the Leader engine no on the crankcases because 250cc registration was much cheaper than 500cc registration. Our registration authorities only recorded engine numbers then so there was no problems with the frame. The bike was of course still registered as a (2.5hp) 250cc when I purchased it in 1972. I subsequently changed the registration to 500cc and had to get a letter from a dealer that the same frame and components were used on 250 and 500cc models before the registration authority would authorise the change.

Only a few years ago I received an email from the Australian Ariel Register that someone had contacted them as they had found the original guarantee for my bike and wondered if the bike was still around. I was subsequently put in contact with that person, who was a friend of Frank Shepherd and had been given a lot of Franks memorabilia. The guarantee was then forwarded to me.
The query I have is that the guarantee lists the purchaser as Mr Arthur Hall from Tullyhommon, Enniskillen, from Jeffers and Sons Enniskillen. However Frank assures me that the bike was brand new when purchased by him directly from his employer. And Frank was obviously given the guarantee on his purchase of the bike. I would have expected to see Eric Moore, the Australian importer as the purchaser.
Can anyone advise if Mr Arthur Hall was an export agent for Ariel who exported Ariel to Australia from Ireland or export arranged from Ireland, or could the purchaser listed be a mistake on the guarantee.
thanks
David

Ariel guarantee.pdf

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[paul.jameson]

I have sent you a PM.