The Connected Earth Centre at the Amberley Museum houses a collection of Communications artefacts, including vehicles of the period that were used to promote and develop a connection with the outside world.
This was one such vehicle – a 1933 595cc BSA Combination Linesman’s Motorcycle, which would have been used by men and women of the Post Office Engineering Department to support telegraph line installation duties.
The telephone department purchased a total of 2417 motorcycle combinations between 1926 and 1933; the majority were BSAs of 4¼ hp or 6hp, albeit a small numbers of Triumph 4hp or 5½hp machines were also added to the fleet. The sidecar was a useful device for holding the Linesman’s tools of the trade. It was a bespoke construction, and was designed to carry a three-part ladder and tools in the bottom section, and spare parts in the top compartment.
AGT 23 (Post Office Serial No. U06903) was registered in 1933 and was used in London until it was discontinued in service by the General Post Office at an unknown date. The bike was later picked up by British Telecom in 1979 and restored by BT London Motor Transport Depot in Yealding who built a reproduction sidecar from Drawings and photographic records.
The modern age of communication has certainly changed since 1933, but we owe a lot to these hard workers who propped up the network – essential for a looming war, and vital for what we have today.
an article by The Girder Club
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