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.

Interesting times ahead...

Here at Belt Drive Betty Media we are going through growing pains in a big way! AND, that's a good thing!

Ali & Gator

I am in the process of hiring at least two data entry clerks to work on a contract basis from their own homes to take some the stress off of Ali's and my shoulders.

Ali, our web mistress does a great job of keeping things working and moving forward at www.beltdrivebetty.com and all of it's sub sites.  She and Gator are on their first vacation in 10 years,  and I am so happy for them that they are finally getting away - they like my husband and I, never had a Honeymoon!

We are at that point where we need more hands to give both Ali and I some balance in our lives. Both of us have a passion for helping people and both of us are workaholics because we truly love what we do, but there comes a point where you have to put yourself first and fill up the emotional gas tank.

I truly hope that Ali & Gator have the most fabulous holiday, lord knows they more than deserve it.

In the meantime, I will be doing the best I can to hold down the fort and assist anyone who needs help on the site, www.beltdrivebetty.com

I will be training a new sales rep next week, weather permitting and I am hoping to attract more people who love sales to help us grow the free tools we provide to the riding community.  It's an exciting time as this network we have created keeps growing.

We have so many plans for a new and improved experience and I can't wait to see them ALL be implemented! I know that we are looking to hire a part time Joomla expert, so if you know anyone who excels in Joomla CMS, send them our way for a chat!

I have been attending seminars on how to become an effective leader and business person thanks to Community Futures - a wonderful organization that helps small business people like myself to grow in ways that we'd never be able to otherwise.

Community Futures of Alberta are also the presenting sponsor of the Canada's MOST Rider Friendly Community contest as they realize the value that rural tourism brings to small business!

I am embarking on my very first webinars geared towards Canadian Event Coordinators!

The webinars are going to help these coordinators by providing the important information on promoting their events and how to deal with a multitude of situations.

If you'd like to participate in our Webinars/Group on Greenrope - please accept our Ebook on Hosting Motorcycle Events as a thank-you - fill in your email to be taken to the form:

Yes, it is a super exciting time of growth with many things on the go around here, stay tuned for information on some of those changes coming soon!

In other news around the world:

According to an article on Gizomodo, the Hells Angels admit to being experts encrypting data in a text message during a rather bizarre trial.  Begin Quote: The Silk Road trial is back on, and we still don't know if Ross Ulbricht is going to go down for the crimes of the Dread Pirate Roberts. Today, the trial focused on DPR's interactions with the Hells Angels, who he allegedly hired to kill a rogue drug vendor. End Quote

Keith Wandell is retiring from Harley-Davidson and his successor is Matt Levatich
Triumph is doing very well in the Indian market having outsold their goal of 500 bikes.
They sold 1,300!

This week's version of the Busted Knuckle Chronicles is out!

Next week is a dark week - we resume again on February 19th.

I hope you all have a wonderful day and if you are not riding out a huge snow storm, if you are blessed to live where you can be riding - please ride like everyone is blind and cannot see you!

For those of you who like me are suffering HUGELY from PMS (Parked Motorcycle Syndrome):
Visit our Beat the PMS Blues Online Show 'n' Shine brought to you by our fabulous sponsors - www.BigBlueInCanada.com and Strip Club Choppers Canada

Join our PMS Support Group on Facebook!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

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

Horror, tragedy and triumph

I had planned to write about the Calgary Motorcycle Show and what a great time I had, that will have to wait for the newspaper now. If you subscribe to the Busted Knuckle Chronicles you will be able to read all about it. If not - you'll have to wait until next week when the paper is made available to all members of our site. (Depending on tomorrow's news feeds I may yet give you a sneak peak of what I got to see and do!)

Today I want to talk about the shooting of Avid Motorcyclist & Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and the Saddletramps in the USA.

Why did young Jared Lee Loughner, (22 years old) target Giffords for assassination? No one really knows - and they may never know. He was obviously troubled and angry, that's all we know right now.

The congresswoman has been the target of vandalism in the past, and although by many accounts she is considered a moderate Democrat, some of her positions on various topics have earned the wrath of some people.

Pima County Sheriff, Clarence Dupnik is exceedingly upset and very vocal about his feelings:
The sheriff blamed the vitriolic political rhetoric that has consumed the country, much of it centered in Arizona. "When you look at unbalanced people, how they respond to the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths about tearing down the government. The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous," he said. "And unfortunately, Arizona, I think, has become the capital. We have become the mecca for prejudice and bigotry."(From the Huffington Post)

It appears that the ads of various politicians including Sarah Palin and Jesse Kelly have become so toxic and promote violence with guns and yet, these politicians do not seem to see the connection between their attack ads featuring the cross hairs of a gun pointing at Giffords Office or asking voters to point an M-16 rifle at her office...and the shooting of Giffords -I am dismayed - as I am sure many Americans are, that a troubled young man was allowed to go undiagnosed because of a failing health and metal health system, was allowed to legally purchase a weapon - but I am far more dismayed at the way these politicians in the USA talk about each other & the horrible attack advertising that is allowed to go on.

 In my humble opinion - far too many of the politicians south of the border are radicals and equally as scary as any terrorist might be - in fact to me they are scarier because they hold positions of power and authority and appear to have no conscience, morals or sense of right and wrong.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of the congresswoman, her constituents who voted for her and most of all to the United States of America - You are a country in crisis, you appear to have lost your moral compass - at least a good number of your politicians appear to have - I am scared for you. You are rapidly loosing the respect of many countries in the world because of the actions of your politicians and tragedies like this one place emphasis on the ills of your political climate the way nothing else can.

My heart also goes out to the rest of the victims and their families in this incident. Why a nine year old girl had to perish for bad politics - well - what can I say - it is horrifying and tragic.

Also in the US - the Saddletramps are making the news again - but this time for a triumph of spirit.

Not long ago, a vehicle killed 4 members of this riding club and now they are, as part of their own healing, reaching out to a family of a toddler named Izaiah - back in October, the toddler and his grandfather were out for a walk when they were hit by a car driven by a teenager driving drunk.
Izaiah is now blind and paralyzed from the waist down. This riding club has lost so much and yet is finding so much by reaching out and giving back - My hats off to you - in my eyes and heart - you are heroes!

I would love for your thoughts and feedback on these contentious and tender issues - please join the discussion on our fan page: Belt Drive Betty  & The Busted Knuckle Chronicles, in our forums on www.beltdrivebetty.com or right here in my blog.

Our Beat the PMS Blues Show 'n' Shine has 116 pictures in it - and while that is a great number - my doctor (mechanic) says that if I am to see a full recovery from the dis-ease called PMS, I will need more medication!!!

If you can help out by entering our Beat the PMS Blues on line Show 'n' Shine - PLEASE - I need some relief!

For the rest of the news of the day - please visit www.beltdrivebetty.com!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
www.beltdrivebetty.com
www.bustedknucklechronicles.com

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