I don’t often get the chance to stop in Verralls in Handcross, just south of London, but it’s a venerable place with a great selection of older motorcycles, and a great pleasure to visit. Ian Hatton, who took over the business when Brian Verrall died a few years ago, has been a pal since 1987, when he was a lowly mechanic on Brian’s machines (and about 19 years old, while I was a lofty 25). Ian liked my painted-up Velocette jacket, and I purchased an MZ 250 from his father, which I then rode to the Soviet border and back in a great loop around Western and Eastern Europe, a trip of many thousands of miles – all on back roads, with zero mechanical trouble. That’s another story, but we’ve since remained friends, and I’ve long been a fan of the business. Ian has continued Brian’s policy of looking after machines they’ve sold – if there’s a problem, they’ll deal with it, usually for free (unless you run the bike without oil).  Enjoy this brief tour!

It’s always tea time at Verrall’s. Gordon Button holds the tea while Ian Hatton chats up a customer. [Paul d’Orléans]
Stop in sometime, and have a chat with Gordon Button about his Morgan while he serves tea. [Paul d’Orléans]
1939 Coventry Eagle 148cc with pressed-steel frame. [Paul d’Orléans]
Greeves trials machine with aluminum I-Beam front downtube, leading link forks, and Villiers engine. A very early Sunbeam with leading-link front fork sits behind. [Paul d’Orléans]
A BMW R60/2 and Steib S500 sidecar, in original paint. [Paul d’Orléans]
Make mine green! A 1920s BSA sidecar attached to a big BSA v-twin. [Paul d’Orléans]
BSA Bantam motor peeks between General Post Office legshields. [Paul d’Orléans]
An esoteric but coveted machine; 1926 Rex-Acme with Blackburne external flywheel 350cc OHV motor. A perfect example of the appeal of a sporting flat tank motorcycle. [Paul d’Orléans]
The Rex-Acme was a fantastic little hot rod in the day, with a tireless Blackburne super sports engine and exceptional handling. Note the ‘legs of Man’ in the logo. [Paul d’Orléans]
A late 1920s Brough Superior SS80 JAP sidevalve powerplant – finned magnificence. [Paul d’Orléans]
This crusty Barbour waxed cotton Trailmaster jacket literally stands up on its own. Note the straight frame rails of a racing Cotton-Blackburne behind me. [Paul d’Orléans]
Sunbeam Model 6 with 500cc sidevalve engine; a lovely machine to ride. [Paul d’Orléans]
The other side of the Sunbeam Model 6: note the sightglass for the oil feed supply to the big end of the engine. Note the Sunbeam’s lovely enclosed ‘Little Oil Bath’ primary chaincase, which holds its grease well. [Paul d’Orléans]
An ‘oily rag’ original finish 1914 Douglas in rare grey paint. [Paul d’Orléans]
 

 

Paul d’Orléans is the founder of TheVintagent.com. He is an author, photographer, filmmaker, museum curator, event organizer, and public speaker. Check out his Author Page, Instagram, and Facebook.
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