This museum was inspired in a discussion at David Blasco's blog about how Royal Enfield does not have a museum like Harley Davidson has. If I were a rich man, I would build such a museum immediately. Alas, I'm not. So I decided to go the poor person's route: build a virtual museum. Here's what I propose to do: the "museum" will be a collection of blog posts covering the years 1898-1929, one post per year. In each post I will try to cobble together as much information, pictures, etc, I can find about Royal Enfield and its motorcycles and other motorized vehicles for that year. This post you are reading is "the museum entrance" in the sense that you can access through it all the various years ("exhibitions") through the links below. The links will become active every time a new post corresponding to a new year is created. I will also update the posts with new incoming material and of course with proper credits to contributors. Why 1898-1929? Because those are very poorly documented years. From 1930 on, Gordon May's book "By miles the best" does an excellent job of documenting all motorcycles produced and as we argued before, the books at Royal Enfield Books cover most of the historical material that is available for the later years. See also the excellent Sheldon's European Motorcyle Universe. These are the "museum exhibits":
| 1898 | 1906 | 1914 | 1922 |
| 1899 | 1907 | 1915 | 1923 |
| 1900 | 1908 | 1916 | 1924 |
| 1901 | 1909 | 1917 | 1925 |
| 1902 | 1910 | 1918 | 1926 |
| 1903 | 1911 | 1919 | 1927 |
| 1904 | 1912 | 1920 | 1928 |
| 1905 | 1913 | 1921 | 1929 |
US wing of the museum. 
India wing of the museum. Note: many of the pictures in the exhibits I have collected over the years from the internet and in many cases I don't know their origin. If you see an attribution problem, please contact me.
Jorge, this is an amazing undertaking. Thank you for doing it. It is going to be quite a challenge. I can't wait to see what you come up with.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words, David!
ReplyDeleteHi Guys,
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic site! My late husband was the grandson of the Albert Eadie. My youngest son and I have a huge interest in everything to do with the Royal Enfield and BSA etc.
I wish I had the money to build a museum for the Royal Enfield. Unfortunately, like you, I don't have the money. (Still trying to find out where that went!) Never say never though. Keep up the good work and thanks.
Thanks, Debora! If you have stories about Eadie you wish to share, just write to me!
ReplyDeleteDebora,
ReplyDeleteInteresting family connection, are you in the Reditch area. The Redditch Local History Society would like to hear from you if you have and stories/artefacts to share. See www.Redditchhistory.org.uk
Thanks
Derek
I am from chennai ,now in Uk , I grew on an enfield and still have one 1982 back at home in india. I will visit redditch with your blog as my guide. Looks like it is gonna be a complete journey for me - Enfield Uk to india ,Me - India to Uk.
ReplyDeleteGood luck in Redditch, Andrew. Perhaps you can engage in some detective work? We still don't know where in Church Green East street was the dealership Royal Enfield had in town. I asked a couple of old timers when I was there but they didn't know. See this.
ReplyDeleteGreat work..!! Appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteWow! Great site. Congratulations on such a dedicated piece of work and Kudos for your effort. As an Enfield fan, I could not have asked for more than this! I will be regularly visiting your museum for more.
ReplyDeleteFantastic work Jorge,
ReplyDeleteAs an avid Royal Enfield fan and a proud owner of the latest Classic model, I would regularly visit your site and keep checking the updates. God be with you !
Raj, India
Hi Jorge,
ReplyDeleteGreat work,awesome to see the glorious history of ROYAL ENFIELD. Keep up the good work, its awesome..
ps..dont forget to add this awesome line at the very top of ur blog
"Made like a gun, goes like a bullet"
Thanks Saloj! I followed your advice!
ReplyDeleteurgente. disculpen necesito comprar las tapas de cilindros de royal enfield 750cc. año 1967 modelo super constellation o interceptor mi mail es joseluiscardoni@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteHi jorge,
ReplyDeleteis there anyway that u can write to the manufacturers of the royal enfield to keep the gear on the right hand side and not to tamper with the old sound...I have ridden the new bullet and it dosent give me the kick of riddin a ROYAL ENFIELD it feels like a normarl 2 wheeler..where as the one that i have (2001 model) takes me high every time I ride it.
Hi Saloj,
ReplyDeleteI don't have any contacts nor influence with the Royal Enfield company, so I cannot help. I think the gear and sound issue are dictated by new laws in India and elsewhere.
Regards
Jorge
Royal Enfield was established in 1851 as Givry Needle Works. Is it legally possible for Royal Enfield ,India to add 'Since 1851'in its emblem/logo.It will make Royal Enfield even nostalgia evoking and glamourus.
ReplyDeleteI have the original sales ledgers from a british motorcycle shop that was open in the UK from 1920's to 1980's. they list all new royal enfields sold from 1920' to 1960's as well as all the second hand machines that where purchased and then sold on for profit.these machines date from the early 20's to late 30's. It's a very interesting read and a great source of information as my interest is in vintage machines. i may be able to trace the original british registration if you let me know a model/frame or engine number?
ReplyDeleteHi Jorge,
ReplyDeleteKudos to you. Appreciate the effort you have put on this undertaking.
I began my adventure to know more about Royal Enfields and was wondering a chronological account of the manufactured model and i felt like being in heaven as i struck this virtual tour.
Thanks a Ton.
You are welcome Akki!
ReplyDeleteFAntastic! as a rider of Royal Enfield from my teens to even today at age 62 You Jorge Pullin are doing a wonderful job in keeping alive the nostalgia...wonderful
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ajit!
ReplyDeleteI have a 1929 model 505 and will send photos for your museum if you can tell me how to get them to you? Paul W Bristol
ReplyDeletePaul, you can email them to me. My email address is pullin_at_lsu.edu
ReplyDeletehi,
ReplyDeletei am manan, i am architectural student, and i have chosen thesis program on royal enfield museum at chennai new plant.
so can you share with me what are the famous facts and programs which can be the part of the museum.
Hi Manan,
ReplyDeleteIf there is anything I can help you with, you can reach me at pullin_at_lsu.edu
Regards
Jorge
my email address is manan15jhaveri@gamil.com
ReplyDeletewhat are the activities that you consider for the museum
Dear Jorge Pullin RE India Should sure support you monetary wise as I have found your site much more interesting and the narration just great and better than the RE site.
ReplyDeleteDear Pullin, please devise a App for Android phone for this magnificent site
ReplyDeleteDear Pullin, please devise a App for Android phone for this magnificent site
ReplyDeleteIn a book 'Motorcycle' by John Gibbs, on page no.289,it is claimed that in 1983 Enfield India Ltd tried to acquire 'Triumph' brand from official reciever for £55000.However, it lost bid to Joseph Bloor. It raises many questions. Was it acknowledgement ny Enfield that it doesn't own Royal Enfield brand.What would happened if it succeeded in getting the Triumph brand. Would it have discontinued the RE bike and start producing Triumph bikes.Or it could have started badge engineering the RE bike as Triumph. Or it may continued with both the marques.please shed some light on it.
ReplyDeleteEnfield India did not own the Royal Enfield brand in the UK in 1983, see this post.
ReplyDeleteAs another Enfield Fan, I started my racing career on a 1959 Super Meteor and rode a Constellation for the works in the 500 Mile Race. Later I owned a Series 11 and it was all that an RE should have been - great.
ReplyDelete