Descrizione
LOT 514
Offered from The Forshaw Speedway Collection, c. 1948 Langton-JAP 500cc Mk IV Speedway Racing Motorcycle
Frame no. B3
THE AUTUMN STAFFORD SALE - THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS SHOW
16 October 2022, 10:00 BST
Stafford, Staffordshire County Showground
£5, 000 - £7, 000
Offered from The Forshaw Speedway Collection
c. 1948 Langton-JAP 500cc Mk IV Speedway Racing Motorcycle
Frame no. B3
• Product of the legendry Eric Langton
• 1 of approximately 12 built
• Found by Richard Forshaw in South Africa
• Possibly ex-Fred van Zyc
Eric Langton with his brother Oliver were involved with motorcycles from an early age, with Eric's first ride of a motorcycle at the age of 12 in 1919. He was enthusiastic about all branches of the sport from racing to trials, winning the Scott Trial over the Yorkshire moors in 1928 - a race against time with at least 15 sections. The previous year he had ridden to 12th place on his Sunbeam in the Senior TT in the Isle of Man. In 1928 Eric had his first sight of dirt track racing at the White City Stadium in Manchester. Both he and Oliver joined a practice day at nearby Belle Vue and were told that anyone who could complete four laps in 1. 1/ 4 seconds would be invited to ride in the following Saturday's event. They both qualified and Eric with his 350cc Sunbeam decided to give it a go. He ended up riding speedway for twenty years. In those days Eric was an apprentice at Greenwood and Baltby - an engineering firm with outlets as diverse as turbines and general machines - working for £1. 50 a week when riding successfully for five nights a week could result in £20. Eric's success over the years included Test Matches with the legendary Jack Parker and qualifying for the World Finals in 1935 and 1937-1939. Probably the highlight of his career was in 1932 winning the Star Championship, fore runner of the World Final, as well as the British Individual Championship in the same year. During the war with his skilled engineering background Eric worked at the Scott factory making petrol pumps for Rolls Royce Merlin engines. Eric retired from speedway in 1947 when he was forty moving to Australia in 1957 where, at the age of 89 in 1996, he was busy with his five vintage and veteran cars and eleven motorcycles. On his retirement from the track in 1947 he started a business making speedway frames. The first, the MK I, was based on a pre-war Excelsior pattern, a brazed lugged frame which proved popular with possibly as many a 50 being made. Then along came the Maxi. Max Grosskreutz returned after the war without any machines but what he wanted was a lightweight all welded luggless frame and he turned to Eric Langton to make it for him. This proved such a success that Eric reckons he made at least a hundred of them. It was this frame that became known as the Maxi.
A Langton Mk III frame - another all welded luggless construction – was produced but not so many were made. Then there was the Mk IV. This is what Richard Forshaw found in South Africa. He wrote to Eric Langton in Australia in 1993 and Eric replied providing detailed information. Well into his 80s his memory was still formidable. The Mk IV was made 1948-1950 and only about twelve of them were constructed. The frame number indicating that it was one of the first. An identifying feature is the gusset welded behind the steering head. This was only on the very first frames because it was soon discovered that cracks could appear in the down tube where the gusset terminated. Without the gusset in all the later frames there were no more problems.
Another early feature is the spring in the front fork. Once again this was used in only the first Mk IV frames, all later forks having springs within each fork leg. The countershaft is also an early pattern, later versions pivoted at the bottom with the top bolt adjustable in a slot. An interesting and unusual feature, the steering damper knob inscribed "Eric Langton". Eric never exported any frames but considered it possible that Ron Stringer, an Odsal, Bradford speedway rider could have taken one of the team bikes with him when he emigrated to Cape Town around 1955/ 6. Eric had supplied the Odsal team with Maxi frames.
Another note in the accompanying file written by Doug Brodie suggests that this Langton was ex-Fred van Zyc but gives no further evidence. In their correspondence Eric mentions that he needed a head gasket for his 1923 Rolls Royce 20hp. Richard had to tell him that this is going to cost £125. Initially shocked by the cost, a little horse trading ensues with Eric receiving his gasket and Richard gaining wonderful Langton memorabilia, a test match jersey, finally identified as Eric's Team Captain jersey from the 1937 English Overseas 3rd Test held at New Cross. There is no record of the condition of this Mk IV Langton as acquired or of any restoration. Accompanied by the correspondence and copied relevant extracts from the press, the mechanical condition is not known and therefore we recommend re-commissioning and/ or restoration to a greater or lesser extent.
Key not required
Footnotes
All lots are sold 'as is/ where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding.
Buyers Premium and Charges
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For Memorabilia and Spares (Lots 1-285) the Buyers Premium is 27. 5% on the first £20, 000 of the hammer price; 26% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £20, 000 up to and including £700, 000; 20% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £700, 000 up to and including £4, 500, 000 and 14. 5% of the hammer price of any amounts in excess of £4, 500, 000.
Motorcycles
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