Motorcycling in Canada - A Ride Through Our History - Part 3

Motorcycling in Canada - A Ride Through Our History - Part 3

The dirty thirties were harder in rural Western Canada than anywhere else in the world, but out of the dust bowl of the prairies sprung up one of western Canada's most influential businesses and riders.

Nicholson Brothers Motorcycles was opened in Saskatoon Saskatchewan in 1933 by two brothers, Lawrence and J.B (Bernie) Nicholson.

While their dealership and mail order business was important to the growth of motorcycling in western Canada, J.B. (Bernie) Nicholson himself, is a man who influenced the motorcycle industry in a mighty way.

Photo located:
thevintagent.blogspot.ca

The Nicholson Brothers started out importing the Douglas and Calthorpe motorcycles and by 1935 had evolved their business into a mail order parts house replete with extensive catalogues of parts that were updated yearly and included information on all of the improvements each manufacturer had made to their motorcycle offerings.

Over the years they imported and sold motorcycles and parts for these brands (and others): 
Calthorpe, Douglas,  Raleigh, Rudge,  Scott, Panther, Super Excelsior, A.J.S., Ariel, Matchless, Norton, Royal Enfield, Panther, Sunbeam, Triumph, Villiers and Indian.

At the age of 25, Bernie constructed the first ever repair manual that offered diagrams and information on repairing and maintaining the motorcycles that he had worked on.

He had already been contributing technical articles to Motor Cycling magazine, but was inspired by the compliment paid to him by Graham Walker, the editor of Motor Cycling over the aide he had given writing and reworking an Indian manual.


According to the article written by Greg Williams:
"In a letter from Graham to Bernie dated October 31, 1941, Graham writes, “It is difficult to express in words just how much I appreciate the trouble you have gone to. You possess the happy knack of describing the necessary work in such a concise manner and in such a logical sequence as to make it understandable to even inexperienced fitters, and yet, at the same time, suitable for the first-class mechanic."

In the 1930's and 40's, most motorcycles did not come with repair manuals.

Photo located: occhiolungo.wordpress.com/

Published in 1942, the first edition of "Modern Motorcycle Mechanics and Speed Tuning" sold 4,000 copies. In all Bernie produced 7 manuals. The 7the edition of Modern Motorcycle Mechanics included information on almost every Japanese, British and American motorcycle that had been built to date. He covered the topics of motorcycle design, operation and maintenance and included chapters on specific brands. The 763 page hardcover book sold over 10,000 copies.

Because of the contribution of these repair manuals, motorcycling was able to grow in regions where mechanics/fitters were few and far between.

Many a motorcycle was kept on the road because of "Modern Motorcycle Mechanic" and today, the same is true.  His manuals are the bible for antique and vintage motorcycle repair.

Nicholson Brothers Motorcycles also employed interesting marketing tactics in their parts and sales catalogues. They give one an idea of the growth of motorcycling as seen through the retail window of one motorsport dealer.

Photo located at: www.gregwilliams.ca

In 1939, they had a map of Western Canada on the back of their catalogue and it had listed the places they had sold motorcycles to.

Blue Sky, Grande Prairie, Sexsmith and Rochester Alberta were among the places listed on the map.

The caption on the bottom of the map:

 The popularity of motorcycles is increasing in all parts of Canada and it is interesting to note that the sales of machines in outlying districts where roads are almost non-existent have been growing steadily. As well as the great sporting attractions of motorcycling, the exceptional low cost transportation and the ability to travel to points inaccessible to cars are amongst the advantages a motorcycle offers."

You see, even in its earliest of days, motorcycles, like their predecessor the bicycle, changed lives by giving people a new found sense of freedom and self reliance.

Today, Greg Williams nurtures and cares for the Modern Motorcycle Mechanics publishing.
Greg has also written a book on the history of the man behind the books called "Prairie Dust, Motorcycles and a Typewriter"

Interesting Historical Tidbits:

1910: Sturgess Cycle opens in Hamilton Ontario. They are considered to be Canada's OLDEST motorsports dealer and the OLDEST Honda dealership.

1911: Schulte's easy-start "Free-engine" model with multi-plate clutch in rear hub is available (patented by Schulte in 1908, this is Triumph's first bike with a clutch). This meant riders no longer had to run along side the bike to get it started, & then jump on! They could just ride away from a stationary position.

1911: The Manitoba Motorcycle Club is founded. Today the Canadian Hall of fame says it is the oldest MC Club in Canada and that is reported to be the 4th oldest in the world.

1927: Stanley Glanfield, took a 3.5 hp single cylinder Rudge-Whitworth on an 18,000 mile journey around the world, covering four continents.

Photo located: thevintagent.blogspot.ca

1928: Graham Oates becomes the first person to traverse the breadth of Canada on a gas propelled rubber tired vehicle. The trip took him 21 days. Sponsored by Ariel Motors and Castrol Oil, Graham rode from Nova Scotia to Vancouver on a new 497cc ‘Two Port’ single-cylinder Ariel motorcycle attached to a Canadian-built sidecar – constructed by Sturgess of Hamilton, Ont.

1931-36: The Communist Party of Canada was virtually outlawed when nine of its leaders were arrested and convicted under the Criminal Code for being members of an "unlawful association"and was banned when war was declared in 1939.

 

1946:  Ducati produces its first bike, the 50cc Cucciolo.

I hope you enjoyed this instalment of "Motorcycling in Canada - a ride through our history"

Next we'll meander into Manitoba to see what was happening there....

I hope you will join us in our quest to find Canada's MOST Rider Friendly Community!
Get your nomination for your favourite community ready! Visit www.riderfriendlycontest.ca to find out more!

If you are blessed enough to be riding today, please remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Research for this Article:

Greg Williams

The Vintagent

Occhiolungo

Ian Chadwick
Canadian Encyclopedia
Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame

Disclaimer:
All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. The Belt Drive Betty Blog makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site & will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.

PMS has got a hold on me...

I have been working an average of 17 hours a day since mid December and to be frank I am crabby and over tired and still far from being caught up from the time it took to heal up after my motorcycle crash.

Since the middle of December, we here in Grande Prairie Alberta have accumulated a ton of snow, have seen extreme high winds, freezing rain and tee shirt weather all with 24 hours of each other.

The Farmer's Almanac says that we will get more snow in March than we have had all winter, wow, another 5-6 feet of the white crap in March.  It's already been the worst winter for snowfall in over 20 years up here!

Mother Nature's bipolar ways have me in a PMS funk like never before.

Yes, PMS has got a hold on me like never before and I am turning to you, my community, for your help.

You see I have this Dr. named Feelgood and he says I need to see a lot of bikes for the next 90 days or so, or he fears the worst for me.  He gave me this prescription:

You are the pharmacy, the riding community...Please enter your motorcycles in our FREE - 7th Annual, Beat the PMS Blues Online Show "n" Shine.

Courtesy of CKX Helmets, Heat Demon, Kimpex, SHD Enterprises, Bagot Leather and Native Arts Tattoo we have some wonderful prizes up for grabs - with FREE Shipping this year!

It is my hopes that you guys love me enough to want to help me get through this dreary, soul sucking winter so I can ride in - May or June (I think that's how long it will take for the snow and ice to leave the North this year!)

Thank you to those who have already entered. It's going to be fun to see who wins what...for the rest of you, you have 1 week left to get your entries in!

There is a lot of manufacturer news today.

Indian has entered the market in India, there is also a first ride review of the new Chieftan
Triumph has opened a new dealership in India and plans on 9 more.
Ducati is also in the news with a Panigale 899 ride review and feature on the factory for the 1199 Panigale.

The Hells Angels are also in the news today.
In Quebec there is now a second officer being investigated for leaking information to the Hells Angels, and also from Quebec comes the headline that the Hells Angels have won a major supreme court ruling.

Remember all you Canadian riding club event coordinators - our Canadian Motorcycle Events calendars are waiting to promote your events! Get your motorcycle event added and remember that if you honour us as a sponsor with a link on your site and our logo or banner, we give you free advertising in our weekly newspaper The Busted Knuckle Chronicles, so add our banner or a link as a sponsor and then send us your poster!!!! bdbetty @ gmail.com

I got an email from Sturgis Canada promoting giveaways at the Vancouver Motorcycle Show this weekend. I guess their email marketing team hasn't purged me from the Sturgis Canada(North) mailing list even though the owners, Ray and Joan are suing me.  I want to thank Jean Cameron and the gals from the Cumberland Motorcycle Round Up and my good friend Bill Braham for running the Vancouver booth for me.

I do not think I could have concentrated on the show and my job if I would have had to be in close proximity to the people suing me.

I am still accepting donations to the defense fund as I need to raise $15K or so.  It irks my pride having to ask for help, but I have no choice, our community newspaper needs your support.

If donating isn't your thing, I'd be grateful if you renewed your subscription (We are still on the honour system for about another month until Ali gets our one component configured), or buy a patch, a tee shirt, a coffee mug or become an advertiser and help us keep spreading the news.

Have a fantastic Thursday, for those who subscribe, I hope you are enjoying our third instalment of Ride Ireland in the Busted Knuckle Chronicles and all of the slideshows and videos that are now a part of the paper!

PMS has got a hold on me and I need your motorcycle photos to help me deal with it!  

Get your photo entered today in our Beat the PMS Blues Online Show 'n' Shine - there is only one week left!!!!!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider