The George Reed Scott

[malcwebb]

The VMCC journal this month has a cover shot of what is described as the “George Reed Scott”. As a long time member of the VMCC I can just remember the obituary for this chap which must
have been in the late 1960’s (?).There was a picture of a dapper little chap wearing a flat cap that would serve very well as a landing pad for those model helicopters that they have now!

For some reason what stuck in my memory,apart from the hat, was the registration of his Scott, from memory it was DN 6 (or 9)?

I know that the machine was gifted to the VMCC but it now seems to bear a later number, 498 BDN. Does anybody remember Mr Reed and know what happened to the origininal registration?
I would ask the VMCC, but I probably got my card marked some years ago when they printed a letter from me suggesting that the “Rem Fowler Norton” was a fake, as it was subsequently proved to be.

Malc. Webb

[Dripfeed]

Re fake Norton that you mention are you aware that the constructor was a mister Perce Webb. Ashame about the reg number from the Reid scott I wonder how that came about. Regards D P .

[BRIAN MARSHALL]

Hi.
The reason that George Reed looked so dapper is that he was a master tailor, and made his own togs, including I assume, his ‘cow pat’ flat hat. He bought his Scott new in 1919.
The machine has indeed lost its original number, which was DN-9, complete with a hyphen, and become 498BDN in recent years. Make of that what you will….. I bet that number was worth a bob or two !
It has also ‘lost’ some original fittings, including the Brookes leather-fronted tool boxes, and the elegantly shaped Scott leg shields. Even in George’s ownership it was something of a ‘bitsa’, as it had the much later front drum brake in those days, instead of a poor caliper brake, like a push bike.
Brian

P.S. I’ve just had another look at the front of my VMCC journal, and perhaps I can see leg shields, but I’m not too sure.

[Dripfeed]

Hello Brian i have just looked at v m c c mag again you ar correct the bike is indeed fitted with legshields and a r h exhaust but no tool boxes [ so much for the good old boys ].Regards D F.

[malcwebb]

Nice to see that George Reed is remembered, but the mystery of the registration remains. Having turned out half my bookcase, I finally tracked down a picture of Mr Reed and his Scott, ( not where I thought it was at all) in a little VMCC booklet called “Vintage Motorcycles Illustrated” sold by the VMCC ( at three and sixpence !). It shows the gentlemen himself and his machine with some vintage cars in the background. It is DN-6 alright ( with toolboxes ) although interestingly the booklet identified George as “George Read, who started motorcycling in 1902 and won 6 successive Gold Medals in London-Edinburgh trials”.

Regarding the activities of Mr Perce Webb and his “Rem Fowler Norton” , having done a lot of research on the family history, I can state that I have no connection with that gentleman. Certainly not
since 1807 anyway, and, unlike messrs Grriffith, Allen and Cohen and their bloomin’ Norton, I have all the paperwork to prove it!

Regards

Malc. Webb

[bitsa1927]

Hi all,

This bike lost it’s number a very long time ago…about 1963/64 to be precise. Reverse BDN was started in October 63; we had numbers thieves then as well.

James

[BRIAN MARSHALL]

Hi.
For anyone interested, there are two very nice photos of George Reed and DN-9 on page 121 of “The Vintage Motorcyclists’ Workshop”, a truly superb book by “Radco”, alias Frank Farrington, ISBN 0-85429-472-4, first published in 1986. The details such as the toolboxes, stylish ‘works’ legshields, R/H exhaust with fishtail, etc., are clearly visible.
If you haven’t got this book, and see a copy at a reasonable price, GRAB IT ! One of the very best books I have ever purchased, and I still refer to it quite often after 25 years of owning it.
If you Google “George Reed + master tailor”, you will find a very nice potted biography of this gentleman (1874-1971), plus some photographs of him with and without his beloved Scott.
Brian

[Dripfeed]

I cannot recall Perce ever refering to said machine as the 07 tt bike only as a likenessit gaind its title in the later owners time.Regards d f.

~~~~

[Ted Robinson]

I find this a little confusing, the George Reed I knew was introduced to me at the 1983 AGM at Kenilworth , he was involved in the motor industry and lived in Northampton. He attended Gatherings on his 2 speeder which was known as the George Reed 2speeder. He later moved to Town Thorns Residential home at Esenhall near Coventry and carried on attending gatherings using a Vauxhall HB Viva. Only people involved in the motor industry are alowed to live at Town Thorns,he left the 2speeder I was led to believe In the care of his son . When George died I think in the late nineties I thought the bike was donated to the VMCC. I could be wrong? Ted.

[BRIAN MARSHALL]

Come on Ted !! George REEVES was your Northants man, and George REED the Bradford man. We’ll call it a Senior Moment and say no more……
Brian

[Ted Robinson]

Thanks Brian, I did say I could be wrong, you’ll get old one day, I also said I was confused it seems in more ways than one. I have just come out of hospital after having a titanium left knee fitted hoping to be back to full fitness for the new riding season. Best wishes Ted.

[BRIAN MARSHALL]

Titanium eh ? Why didn’t you just drill and tap your kneecap and fit a grease nipple to it ?
Seriously though, my sister had the same op., and it took her about three months to get all the movement back. She has just returned from a two-week bowling holiday in Spain, and her knee was no problem at all. I hope that your’s does equally well.
Best wishes,
Brian

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