I've been trying to figure out an appropriate 1000th post and I think I’ve got it. I want it to be a thank you to all of you. I owe all of you a tremendous amount, for your knowledge, patience and sense of humor. Tolerance too! With each other and with me. I’ve been in all sorts of forums before; far and away, Omega Forum and its members are the best. It’s not just that I’ve learned so much, it’s that OF is a daily pleasure for me. In fairness to @SouthernScot , here is a pair of new and vintage shots of me, showing my own ‘deterioration’: The day I got married. I was wearing my -74 Speedmaster, but I checked — it appears in none of the photos from that day. Long cuffs I guess. Thirty plus years later. @Mad Dog : No mullets, please! And, to justify that shirt I’m wearing: Yes, that’s a 1933 Rudge Ulster. Damn, that was a fine machine. Never got it entirely squared away before I moved it on to the next owner. Fast and loud. Ahead of its time, with those large drum brakes and four speed transmission. And here are photos of the seven watches I have bought from OF members, none of which I’d have found but for OF: (If I posted all the parts and bits I’ve bought here, this post would go on for pages!) Franken Italian military; I’ve changed the chrono hand and bezel. 105.003-64 145.022-68 105.003-65 Lend lease Longines awarded by Soviet military to 25 year vet in 1944 105.001-62 16750 A gratuitous shot of the Rudge again. I loved sitting in the garage and just looking at it. Thank you everyone! And thank you OF creators and moderators! Remember the squirrel! Bob
Great collection pal both bikes and watches. You are a man of good taste we need more members like yourself. Well done .
Well said! He’s definitely a true Gent. Congrats on the 1000 posts Bob, here’s looking forward to many more to come. All the best Nathan
I love looking at your photos of that Rudge Ulster! Had to look up specs. https://bikez.com/motorcycles/rudge_ulster_500_1933.php Bet that thing would run!
Four overhead valves, a huge carburetor, straight through Brookland cans (no baffles at all but met the track requirements at Brookland) — it pulled like a tractor and sounded like one. I got it up to about 75 mph on city streets one day, in only third gear (!) and scared the shit out of myself when those big drum brakes could not haul me down fast enough to stop for a red light. There was not a time I didn’t have to push the bike home though. I admit I lost patience, mostly with myself. The previous owner had it restored in the 80’s and 90’s in the UK. These are photos of what it looked like before restoration Old mechanical stuff has always fascinated me.
These Rudges were competitive race bikes in their day. The Ulster comes from their having won the Ulster TT with their four overhead valve singles. Check out this 1933 Rudge running down a 1953 Norton Manx (starting at about 18:00) and winning a recent UK classic motorcycle race in the rain. Leave it to the British to race vintage motorcycles in the rain. Our hero is on number 25. You could start at about 11:30 in. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudge_Ulster