Factory fitted luggage in late-vintage years

[BRIAN MARSHALL]

My next project is a 1929 Flying Squirrel Tourer that I have owned for about 20 years. Although listed as a Tourer in the factory ledger, it was really a De-Luxe Model fitted with Webb forks instead of Scott forks, as it has various things listed in the ledger that would normally only be on a De-Luxe Model, such as an Enfield cush-drive rear hub. It was also supplied with a rear carrier and saddle bags. Does anyone know what the bags looked like? Leather? Canvas? Colour? Even better, does anyone have a period photo showing such factory-supplied saddle bags? It was supplied to A.E. Reynolds, Liverpool Depot, on March 15th, 1929, and the registration number is UN 2345.( Prior to my ownership it belonged to the late John Lyall for many years ).
Regards to all,
Brian

[Dripfeed]

Hello Brian I have a 1929 flyer that i asume is a tourer webb forks non cush hub it is not fitted with a carrier but has lugs on the rear stays about inline with the rear mudguard edge . you mention a carrier should be on the delux if your machine has these lugs it would solve why my bike has lugs with nothing to bolt on them .Iam unable to find any photographs of the lugage that you require Igues that someone will. Regards Dripfeed

[BRIAN MARSHALL]

Hi.
I’ve spoken to the Photographic Archivist Andrew Marfell, and he doesn’t think that he has ever seen a period photo of factory fitted saddle bags…..However Paul Rickards phoned me to say that he has a 1929 catalogue that shows them, and that they look as if they are made of leather, are not very big, and look rather like those bags that hold a pair of bowling “woods”. I hope to receive a copy from Paul.
Brian

[BRIAN MARSHALL]

Well….I looked for my 1929 catalogue and found it, and also received a photocopy from Paul Rickards, and it seems as if what they were calling “saddle bags” are not our modern idea of panniers/pannier bags at all, and they are just a pair of leather-fronted tool boxes, as normally seen fitted to the rear chainstays of a vintage Flyer/TT Rep., and only about 4.5″ deep (top to bottom). Certainly nothing big enough for touring luggage anyway. I feel quite disappointed !
Brian
PS Thanks to those people who tried to help with this enquiry, especially Paul Rickards.

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