Help For the Elderly

HELP FOR THE ELDERLY

Anybody who owns an old motorcycle soon discovers that the search for parts is a never ending battle against the forces of evil and inflation. Mostly old bike owners (as opposed to the owners of old bikes?) discover parts sources and plug themselves into a grapevine of secret parts caches. It’s a good way to not only find old parts, but meet new people, spend lots of money and keep from mowing the lawn on weekends.

An alternative we’ve recently heard of is the Accessory Mart in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Accessory Mart publishes a 152 page magazine-size catalog of parts for British and European motorcycles made between 1930 and 1970. Besides the usual mechanical bits that are always available somewhere, AM lists an incredible variety of trim pieces that are impossible to find through normal channels. Gas tanks, tank badges, seats, tool boxes, instruments, wiring harnesses and exhaust systems are just some of the pieces found for AJS, Ariel, Velocette, Matchless, BSA, Triumph, Norton, Sunbeam, BMW, Moto Guzzi, Zundapp, NSU, Panther, Francis-Barnett, Royal Enfield, or even a Victoria Bergmeister.

In between the listings of brake shoes and magnetos are old advertisements of motorcycles and motorcycle parts. Frame numbers of some makes are shown when there’s an extra page in the forms. A nice collection of vintage bikes is included in the front of the catalog. Prices are listed in a separate catalog that is updated more frequently than the annual catalog.

Parts prices appear to be reasonable, especially considering the availability of so many pieces. The catalog sells for $ 10 plus shipping ($2.50 parcel post, $4 by air) while the price list is an additional $2 and is shipped with the catalog. The 20,000plus parts are classified as being reproductions, rebuilt, or new old stock.

Catalogs are available from Accessory Mart, PO. Box 26116, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226.