Hi Ted,
The bike you saw at Mallory is a 1930 TT Replica, now in my possession, just outside Oslo in Norway. I bought it from Ian Parsons in 2007. It belonged originally to John Henry “Harry” Reynolds of Halesowen, who had bought it directly from the factory in 1930. It was supplied with interesting factory “options” allegedly made by Harry Langman. Harry Reynolds almost immediately started modifying it further to suit his preferences. Among other items, a Webb front fork was installed as well as a larger capacity radiator, larger fuel and oil tanks and the left hand side footchange mounted from the magneto platform. According to documents received from Ian Parsons, Harry Reynolds was a very clever, ingenious and inventive engineer. He designed and built the footchange himself and supplied it to several others. He also knew the Goodman’s and Harold Willis of Velocette and maintained that Velocette copied it. The Velocette design is not identical but does bear some similarities with Harry’s footchange. Harry Reynolds owned and used the bike from 1930 to 1977. It is reputed to have been raced at Brooklands and Donington pre-war. In 1967, Harry Reynolds was in charge of the Midlands Electricity Board experimental workshops, finally retiring in 1973 after 50 years of service.
There is still a lot of snow in the Oslo area, and since my (heated) shed is really filled up with bikes, I cannot bring the bike out for detail photography and/or measuring yet. I should be able to do so sometime in April if it will be of any help.
The “Harry Reynolds Special” will not be restored back to factory specifications, but has been repaired and serviced, and shall be kept, out of respect for its history, in its historically correct condition almost as prepared by Harry Reynolds.
I have not yet found out how to put photographs on the Forum, but may send you photos by e-mail when the time comes.
Kind regards, 😀
Carl
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