Tom Siftons Knuck Bobber in 1936

[Chris Haynes]

I found this photo in the Motorcycle Jackets book. An excellent book by the way. It shows Tom Sifton on his Knuck Bobber with a 1936 California plate clearly visable. The bike has some 1936 faetures on it. Most obvious is the position of the feed line on the oil tank. But is clearly in the 1937 frame. Being as the bike has been repainted it is hard to tell what year it is. A late '36 with the new frame? An early 1937 with a carryover '36 oil tank? A new 1937 sold in late 1936 would have the 1936 plate on it. Does anybody know for sure what year this bike was?

[xsqzme]

nice pic chris.

[Rubone]

The photo also throws a wrench in the works on the old photos discussion of rolled up dungarees being a post-war phenomena. Those look like rolled up dungarees to me! Along with that '36 plate.
Robbie

[Paps]

I don't believe the rolled up jeans means a whole heck of a lot. I still roll em up if the jeans can't be bought to length.

[Rooster]

They don't look rolled up to me; they look like they might've been rolled up, but they're as unrolled as he can get 'em in the photo. At least that's what I see.......

[Rubone]

Look again Tom, the hem is at the top of the fold, not at the bottom of the leg.
Robbie
And the Knuckle is cool with or without pants!

[bmh]

Sure is a shame what Taiwan Tedd has done to that man's good name, A true innovator of speed. All I can say about the jeans is that mom is gonna have a fit trying to wash em

[Rooster]

Look again Tom, the hem is at the top of the fold, not at the bottom of the leg.
Robbie
And the Knuckle is cool with or without pants!

Yes, I agree to both counts, Robbie....!

[Chris Haynes]

Look again Tom, the hem is at the top of the fold, not at the bottom of the leg.
Robbie
And the Knuckle is cool with or without pants!

Tom Sifton without pants? That is a scarry thought.

[D.Mac]

Tom Sifton?

I found this photo in the Motorcycle Jackets book. An excellent book by the way. It shows Tom Sifton on his Knuck Bobber with a 1936 California plate clearly visable.

That motorcycle jacket book has some great pics, but there are at least several obvious mistakes in the text/captions, this is one of 'em. The man in the pic is actually Sam Arena. Sam raced for Tom Sifton, and was a star rider in the '40s (check-out his bio in the MC hall of fame). Sam took over the HD dealership in San Jose from Tom Sifton and was still running it in the '60s when I started riding.
Doug.

[Steve Slocombe]

That looks like a chrome tank too, which is not on the factory options list, until you see that picture in the September 1936 Enthusiast of Miss Florence Burnham 'well known in the speedboat world' on her fully chromed knucklehead, including tanks and fenders. Lucky these bikes don't come in for judging...

[Fiskis]

Back to the bike. The gas tanks looks like chromeplated with black accent & decal. Mayby somebody remembers blasting that off for a restoration. Might put a light on the bike's later fate and possible whereabouts.

[flat-happy]

the license plate alone doesn't necessarily date the picture to 1936. it could have been last licensed in 36 then ridden on the track for years after that but the plate remained.

[exeric]

the license plate alone doesn't necessarily date the picture to 1936. it could have been last licensed in 36 then ridden on the track for years after that but the plate remained.

If you raced that bike on the track, the license plate would be the first thing to go.

[Steve Little]

Hi.
There was a 1937 EL in the judging hall at Davenport this year that had this same style oil tank.
It had the correct pressed top for 37 but had the earlier style rear oil line outlet instead of the better known bottom outlet.
It was a low VIN number, but not what I would call a transition bike "I think the VIN was 37 EL195?"
I have some nice clear pictures but they excede the forum limit and I'm not sure how to resize them for the format but not alter my originals.
Gerry, you once offered to resize some pics for the forum for me.
If I send them to you, can you resize them and post them?
Regards Steve Little