West Coast Road Trip 2 -The Jameson Collection

www.london-motorcycle-museum.org

A Road Trip

(West Coast 2)

The Jameson Collection

Out of San Francisco on Route One going south to Monterey. A pleasant drive with views of the sea most of the way. I can understand why you would want to bike this. Gita drives us in the hire car, a Hyundai Tucson SUV. It is a bit of a tank but she gets on well with it. I have a destination to get to in Pacific Grove. After checking into our hotel it is off to find the Old Timer Museum which we find easily using Tom. There is no-one there when we arrive but a note on the door inviting us to an address in the next street. This is the local newspaper office. We are in the middle of the office of “The Cedar Street Times” . We are introduced to the team members Neil and Marge Ann Jameson along with Webster Slate. At the back of the office is the Jameson’s Classic Motorcycle Museum. We spend a couple of hours talking bikes and history. I could not think of a better way to spend our time. The collection has some very interesting machines to view.

Neil standing by one of his Triumphs. In his collection there are some very interesting bits. I start with this washing machine motor. Most would this it would be electric however, in the past many places do not have an electricity supply even today so a petrol driven option may well take your fancy.

There is a good selection of scooters all having been restored to running order along with various mopeds and bicycles. Then there is this early Harley single to add more interest and a late thirties 45.

There are some interesting Triumphs too with this electric start Bonneville that was one of the last twenty to come off the production line before Meriden closed.

There is a speed record holder in the Honda CB160 Bonneville Streamliner from 1965 and a little 1913 Peugeot almost hidden behind a Harley but my favourite was the late thirties Rudge. Unusual to see anywhere.

Last but not least is one of my favourite 250s and that is the BMW R30, a bit heavy but built like a tank with and almost unburstable engine. It is an eclectic collection of motorcycles that reflects the machines that were used in different times.

As usual I left some fliers and got, in exchange, a copy of the Cedar Street Times and a couple of copies of the City Bike Mag. All of which I have enjoyed reading along with the different styles of publication.