Scrapbook

This page is intended to be a repository for items that are not directly relevant to any one particular department of the AMC firm, but which are considered sufficiently interesting to viewers who may have personal recollections of the subjects covered.

All the photos in this collection have been image-mapped (hover cursor over faces to identify) and names given where positive identification exists. If you recognise anyone - even yourself - in the pictures, whose face is un-named, then please contact the website where we will be happy to include any information you can give.

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This photo of Vera Lynn on a WW2 G3L army bike was taken "don't know where, don't know when" (sorry, we couldn't resist that) and, if it wasn't for the cropping, would show the Forces Sweetheart wearing a very stylish example of crash helmets of the day.

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This set of photos was kindly donated to the website by Paul Packman, who worked in the AMC Race Shop around 1951.
Paul's father Albert was at the Plumstead factory between 1927 and 1961 as manager of the Press Tool Design Office.

You can view enlarged, image-mapped versions of the last two photos on the Race Shop page.

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The following set of three photos, showing various transport vehicles used at the Plumstead factory, were submitted by Jos Vanderwoude.

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Normally, each of the following four photos, taken in the late '50s, would have been allocated to its relevant department page but, as they appear to share a common theme, it seemed best to keep them together as a group (with appropriate links provided to them).

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This photo was taken at the 1981 Isle of Man TT races by Ken Sprayson and appeared in his autobiography 'Ken Sprayson - The Frame Man'.
It shows ex-AMC sales manager/director Jock West keeping a tight hand on a rare AJS Porcupine bike.
Whilst at AMC, between 1945-1961, Jock competed at many TT and other International events, riding this unconventional machine, as well as the 7R 'Boy Racer'.

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The following three pictures were taken of framed photographs spotted hanging on the wall of Russell Motors, a Battersea, London classic motorcycle business, by Peter Morris, one of our regular contributors.
They show a fine view of the Burrage Grove side of the factory, a team of test riders in strict formation in Maxey Road and the export packing department.

Peter is hopeful that he will be able to obtain better glare-free versions on a future visit to the dealer that we will be able to substitute for them.

Peter is hopeful that he will be able to re-submit better (glare-free) versions if he is allowed to remove the photos from their frames on a future visit to the dealer.

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Three Norvil racing Commando bikes, posing outside the Burrage Grove race shop and on the main factory roof.
      Photos courtesy of Norman White website

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Personnel Office assistant Val Maddocks (sister of Ron Maddocks, capstans machinist) showing
off a nice pair of US market Commandos, fresh off the Woolwich factory assembly line.

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This picture is of AMC van driver Teddy Meehan and assembly shop worker Eric Pratt (in full stylish racing leathers)
enjoying a break on a country road with unknown girl aboard his Norton.

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   Photo courtesy of Brian Slark

The three monochrome pictures were used for publicity purposes and featured design draughtsman Terry Wetherfield and an office girl (not Dusty Springfield) in various photogenic settings.
The first colour picture is an advert that used Terry's drawing office colleague Ned Hooker along with Joan Anderson (Jock West's secretary) as in-house models, whilst the fellow in the second picture is John McDermott from the AMC Publicity Department.

And here are three more photos of Joan Anderson, the first being another AMC publicity shot and the other two with sidecar racer Colin Seeley, whom she met as a result of his frequent visits to the Plumstead Road Sales Office - and subsequently married.

Photos courtesy 'Colin Seeley: Racer .....and the rest' book.

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The tool room personnel of the '60s organised several car/motorbike rallies in the summer months.
This set of pictures was taken in the car park of Bodium Castle, East Sussex, at the end of the event.

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Not sure of the time, the place or even the reason for this party, but everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.

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In 1963, at the height of the British Beat period, AMC had its own guitar/drums group who called themselves the Ajays.
These two photos show them playing in the works canteen. With that number of instrumentalists, it must have been quite a sound!

      Photos courtesy of Jeff Boult

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This picture of Sales Director Jock West, discussing the features of a Matchless bike with WWII flying ace Douglas Bader, was taken at the 1960 Earls Court Motor Cycle Show

      Photo courtesy of David Lewis

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This photograph shows employees from the gearcutting and milling departments,
plus some office staff, about to set off on a coach outing in the early 1950s.

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This photo of Assembly Shop personnel was taken prior to the Xmas 1951 holiday
and features special guest TRUNKIE (an over-inflated tyre inner tube)

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Another party whose date, location and reason (who needs a reason) is not known, but plenty of smiling faces and full glasses.

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At least, from the decorations in the background, we can tell that this is a Christmas party,
but we still don't know the date or the location that it was held in.
(Quite a few test riders and assembly staff with their wives).

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Here are a couple of photos, taken at different times, showing the tool room personnel wearing their paper hats in preparation for the forthcoming Christmas break.
No expense spared on the balloons!

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Greg Sutton's father Peter and uncles George and Ronald all worked at the Matchless factory from 1956 onwards.
Greg found these two photographs in the loft, taken on a 'Beano' works outing for which funny hats appear to be mandatory,

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