As some of you will be aware, following receipt of copies of the 'OBG' Archive discs last year, I've been doing some research (on and off) of the British Pathe Archives in the hope of tracking down the footage filmed at the Greeves factory. OBG filmed the footage being filmed (on his 8mm cini-camera) at the factory as it was being shot.
Well, so far that footage is still to be uncovered, but I have a lot more leads and information now on how to go about searching the Pathe archives (and others), so it may yet still bear fruit. I am also hoping to research the British Film Institute Archive and the East Anglian Film Archive, when I get the time!
In the meantime, I think it's fair to say that I have managed to 'strike gold'!!! Below are some links to 38 short films that I have unearthed so far from the British Pathe Film Archive. Each 'clip' is between 1-2 minutes in length so it won't take long to view them all. Most have rare and historic Greeves content to some degree, whilst a few others are of more 'general' classic motorcyle interest. Most have sound whilst a few are silent, with most in black and white although a few are in colour. Details of each film are provided to the right of the 'viewing window' for each clip.
How about; a snippet of the Greeves stand at the 1965 Motorcycle Show, a tantilising glimpse of the 'Greeves' stand sign at the 1954 Motorcycle Show (but not of the stand itself, sadly..), two films from the Brian Stonebridge Memorial Scramble meetings, Brian Stonebridge winning a scramble in 1959 and receiving his trophy with that wonderful trademark 'huge grin', the 1961 ISDT in Wales (one for you Rob-looks like a modded TDS to me?!), Dave Bickers and Joel Robert 'scrapping it out' at the British Motorcross GP, Bryan Goss and Alan Clough 'giving it the beans', Joel Robert riding a Greeves (and not a CZ!), Dave Bickers riding a Husqvarna (and not a Greeves!) and more Greeves 'in action' than you can shake a stick (or leading link fork leg!) at!!!
There is much here for Greeves enthusiasts to savour and enjoy; what fantastic treasures! I'm so pleased to have discovered them, and there is plenty yet still to uncover, with a bit of luck and further digging! Have a look at the related films on the archive, with some incredible and historic footage on all sorts of interesting subjects, including further motorcycling items of course. It's one of those websites that could devour heaps of time if you're of a mind! Finding these clips certainly did!!!
What's more, to my knowledge relatively few in the UK classic bike scene are aware of this magnificent resource, so it may well be an 'exclusive' for the GRA!
The British Pathe Archive website 'homepage' is; www.britishpathe.com
I would like to express my personal thanks and appreciation to them for preserving this wonderful heritage for future generations to study and enjoy.
I hope you will enjoy then too.
Brian.
In order to view the films, simply click onto each 'link' (in blue text under each film title) and it will take you straight to the relative film clip, opening in a 'new window'. Click onto the 'play' icon in the centre of the 'viewing screen' containing the image and the film will load in a few seconds; please allow a few moments for this to happen. Then, if you wish to view the film in 'full screen' once it starts, click on the small square 'screen' icon in the lower right of the 'viewing screen' of each clip, and close it again after watching. When you have finished watching the clip, simply close the 'link' (click the red 'X' on the current window, top right) taking you back to this page, and then you can select another, and so on.
Here are the films, in no particular order;
The International Motorcycle Show (1969.)
Englishman Wins Motocross; Brian Stonebridge (1959.)
Brian Stonebridge Memorial Trophy Race (1960.)
Scramble For Trophy (1963.)
Britain Wins Championship; 250cc Trophie Des Nations (1962.)
Six Days Trial; Welsh ISDT (1961.)
Racing Film Star (Richard Wyler-1961 Thruxton 500.)
Motocross (1959.)
Moto-Cross Grand Prix (1964.)
Housewife Motorcycle Ace #1; Rene Bennett (1965.)
Housewife Motorcycle Ace #2 Rene Bennett-Out takes/extra footage from previous film. (1965.)
Scramblers National (1963.)
War Of Roses On Two Wheels (1961.)
Motocross Grand Prix (1961.)
Scott Motorcycle Trials (1920.)
Grand National At Ilkley, Yorkshire (1930.)
Motorcyclists Airborne (1959.)
British Motocross Victory (1957.)
Motorcycle Scramble (1952.)
Motor News; Hawkstone International (1959.)
Britain Wins Motocross (1964.)
Wessex Scramble (1963.)
Moto-Cross Grand Prix; Hawkstone Park (1965.)
Rough Riders bump For Cup (1959.)
Motocross Spectacular (1965.)
International Motocross (1958.)
Motocross At Norg, Holland (1959.)
British Experts Trial (1932.)
Boy Motorcyclist (1960.)
Big Win For British Riders; Scott Ellis (1961.)
Britains Cycles On Show (1954.)
Motorcycle School (1958.)
Horizontal Flyer Attacks World Speed Record; plus Wooler 'Beam Engine' Bike On Test (1949.)
Invalid Tricycle Association Rally (1960.)
Scrambling Kids (1962.)
Sidecar Boat (1960.)
Wall of Death Girl (1949.)
Wall of Death Girl (1963.)
News Flashes; French MX GP (1958.)
Well, so far that footage is still to be uncovered, but I have a lot more leads and information now on how to go about searching the Pathe archives (and others), so it may yet still bear fruit. I am also hoping to research the British Film Institute Archive and the East Anglian Film Archive, when I get the time!
In the meantime, I think it's fair to say that I have managed to 'strike gold'!!! Below are some links to 38 short films that I have unearthed so far from the British Pathe Film Archive. Each 'clip' is between 1-2 minutes in length so it won't take long to view them all. Most have rare and historic Greeves content to some degree, whilst a few others are of more 'general' classic motorcyle interest. Most have sound whilst a few are silent, with most in black and white although a few are in colour. Details of each film are provided to the right of the 'viewing window' for each clip.
How about; a snippet of the Greeves stand at the 1965 Motorcycle Show, a tantilising glimpse of the 'Greeves' stand sign at the 1954 Motorcycle Show (but not of the stand itself, sadly..), two films from the Brian Stonebridge Memorial Scramble meetings, Brian Stonebridge winning a scramble in 1959 and receiving his trophy with that wonderful trademark 'huge grin', the 1961 ISDT in Wales (one for you Rob-looks like a modded TDS to me?!), Dave Bickers and Joel Robert 'scrapping it out' at the British Motorcross GP, Bryan Goss and Alan Clough 'giving it the beans', Joel Robert riding a Greeves (and not a CZ!), Dave Bickers riding a Husqvarna (and not a Greeves!) and more Greeves 'in action' than you can shake a stick (or leading link fork leg!) at!!!
There is much here for Greeves enthusiasts to savour and enjoy; what fantastic treasures! I'm so pleased to have discovered them, and there is plenty yet still to uncover, with a bit of luck and further digging! Have a look at the related films on the archive, with some incredible and historic footage on all sorts of interesting subjects, including further motorcycling items of course. It's one of those websites that could devour heaps of time if you're of a mind! Finding these clips certainly did!!!
What's more, to my knowledge relatively few in the UK classic bike scene are aware of this magnificent resource, so it may well be an 'exclusive' for the GRA!
The British Pathe Archive website 'homepage' is; www.britishpathe.com
I would like to express my personal thanks and appreciation to them for preserving this wonderful heritage for future generations to study and enjoy.
I hope you will enjoy then too.
Brian.
In order to view the films, simply click onto each 'link' (in blue text under each film title) and it will take you straight to the relative film clip, opening in a 'new window'. Click onto the 'play' icon in the centre of the 'viewing screen' containing the image and the film will load in a few seconds; please allow a few moments for this to happen. Then, if you wish to view the film in 'full screen' once it starts, click on the small square 'screen' icon in the lower right of the 'viewing screen' of each clip, and close it again after watching. When you have finished watching the clip, simply close the 'link' (click the red 'X' on the current window, top right) taking you back to this page, and then you can select another, and so on.
Here are the films, in no particular order;
The International Motorcycle Show (1969.)
Englishman Wins Motocross; Brian Stonebridge (1959.)
Brian Stonebridge Memorial Trophy Race (1960.)
Scramble For Trophy (1963.)
Britain Wins Championship; 250cc Trophie Des Nations (1962.)
Six Days Trial; Welsh ISDT (1961.)
Racing Film Star (Richard Wyler-1961 Thruxton 500.)
Motocross (1959.)
Moto-Cross Grand Prix (1964.)
Housewife Motorcycle Ace #1; Rene Bennett (1965.)
Housewife Motorcycle Ace #2 Rene Bennett-Out takes/extra footage from previous film. (1965.)
Scramblers National (1963.)
War Of Roses On Two Wheels (1961.)
Motocross Grand Prix (1961.)
Scott Motorcycle Trials (1920.)
Grand National At Ilkley, Yorkshire (1930.)
Motorcyclists Airborne (1959.)
British Motocross Victory (1957.)
Motorcycle Scramble (1952.)
Motor News; Hawkstone International (1959.)
Britain Wins Motocross (1964.)
Wessex Scramble (1963.)
Moto-Cross Grand Prix; Hawkstone Park (1965.)
Rough Riders bump For Cup (1959.)
Motocross Spectacular (1965.)
International Motocross (1958.)
Motocross At Norg, Holland (1959.)
British Experts Trial (1932.)
Boy Motorcyclist (1960.)
Big Win For British Riders; Scott Ellis (1961.)
Britains Cycles On Show (1954.)
Motorcycle School (1958.)
Horizontal Flyer Attacks World Speed Record; plus Wooler 'Beam Engine' Bike On Test (1949.)
Invalid Tricycle Association Rally (1960.)
Scrambling Kids (1962.)
Sidecar Boat (1960.)
Wall of Death Girl (1949.)
Wall of Death Girl (1963.)
News Flashes; French MX GP (1958.)
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