Anyone here old enough to help settle an argument? I insist that in about 1965 or so there was a brief craze for visors that were made in the form of a see-through propeller. They clipped to the front of a jet-style helmet and spun round with the wind as the rider was moving forward, so flinging off rain droplets and giving the rider clear forward vision. They didn't last long, as they didn't really work, but I distinctly remember seeing them (scooter riders, mainly) in Leeds where I was brought up. Younger friends think I'm winding them up when I have described them, and now I doubt my own memory, but I'm certain I've seen them. Anyone back me up, or support my committal to the Hospital for the Terminally Imaginative? -- Rich ============================== 2001 Disco II ES auto 1971 S2a 88" petrol 2005 XT660R Take out the obvious to email me.
They did exist. I've never used one: they were before my time, though I did see a photo of one in a book on karting about a decade ago.
Plus ce change plus le meme chose: http://www.nickygrist.com/index.asp?function=DISPLAYPRODUCT&productid=142 -- +-------------------------------------------------------------+ | Pete Fisher at Home: | | Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z | | Gilera GFR Moto Morini 2C/375 | +-------------------------------------------------------------+
Friend of mine has a bike shop. On the wall of the aforementioned, he has an advert for the very visor you mention. I think it was made by Bob Heath. Hang on, I'll Google a bit... http://www.forums.lcgb.co.uk/phpBB2...iew=next&sid=7d955a376284176082f56af06e2d0b90 Watch the word wrap thing, but that should point to a reproduction of the actual visor advert. And I was wrong about it being made by Bob Heath. Ged
Sadly I am old enough to remember seeing them, although I thought it was a bit later than 65. Most of all I recall taking the piss out of them cos real riders wore either goggles, or no eye protection then. Cor we were brave, (fucking stupid really) but yuffs and young adults are immortal aren't they? Brian
Brilliant - many thanks for that link. I'll have to go 50/50 with my mates, as I was convinced it was an actual propeller shape, rather than a round visor with vanes on. Still, I'm glad I wasn't making the whole thing up. -- Rich ============================== 2001 Disco II ES auto 1971 S2a 88" petrol 2005 XT660R Take out the obvious to email me.
I've not seen them on helmet visors ('65 was a bit before I got innerested in bikes) but the concept of a spinning (perspex, glass) disk to afford visibility in wet weather is certainly used elsewhere, e.g. on the supply ship Nella Dan in the Southern Ocean, Feb and Dec 1980. -- Ivan Reid, School of Engineering & Design, _____________ CMS Collaboration, Brunel University. Ivan.Reid@[brunel.ac.uk|cern.ch] Room 40-1-B12, CERN GSX600F, RG250WD "You Porsche. Me pass!" DoD #484 JKLO#003, 005 WP7# 3000 LC Unit #2368 (tinlc) UKMC#00009 BOTAFOT#16 UKRMMA#7 (Hon) KotPT -- "for stupidity above and beyond the call of duty".
They're still avaialbale, but if you wear one, don't turn your head or the visor takes flight. They were a solid disc with little "grabby" bits so the air could spin them though, not really anything like a propellor, but you won your argument anyway. -- Beav VN 750 Zed 1000 OMF# 19
Only the scooter riding "mods" ever used them as far as I can remember. No self respecting leather pants wearing bike rider would be seen dead wearing one. ****, we had to be forced to wear a lid. -- Beav VN 750 Zed 1000 OMF# 19
Kent Screen; been around for decades and was probably the inspiration for the strange helmet appurtenance. Quite why the inventor lost sight of the unlikelihood of other than a very few knobheads being daft enough to wear one, is anybody's guess; but that's inventors for you - they get all caught up in their idea and don't look at it objectively.
Rich wrote I remember them. They were always worn by fat spotty blokes who lived with their mums beyond the age of 30 and rode shagged out vespas and dressed in suede shoes and old gabardine macs. I didn't have one of course, I wore Shades man and rode a shagged out LD
Beav wrote No they fucking didn't. See my reply to the op on the subject. No self respecting mod would either. I didn't. You could stick more tons Redex stickers on a yerrat than yerred.
Dr Ivan D. Reid wrote: but the concept of a spinning (perspex, glass) They were around in the 40s certainly. Kent Clearview Screens, in piccy here; http://www.havengore.com/venue.htm The Grey Funnel Line used them after they decided open bridges were a bit too rufty tufty.
Known as Clearview screens, fitted to all ships' bridges since the year dot. http://www.speich.it/htmlEN/cvs/cvs.htm -- _______ ..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom) \`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3 (slightly broken, currently missing) `\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10 `\|/` `
Damn, I wish I'd read this before replying to Ivan's post. I couldn't for the life of me remember the maker's name, so spent a good ten minutes googling. -- _______ ..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom) \`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3 (slightly broken, currently missing) `\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10 `\|/` `
Don't book a bed yet...... they did exist and though I never had one, my mate had one on his cork helmet which he occasionally wore when riding his Bantam.... they came and went and then the helmet laws came in. The good old days Eh!! The cork helmet (covered in some white, waterproof stuff) used to expand in wet weather and eventually disintegrate from the inside out.... better off with no helmet... I didn't wear a helmet until forced by what is known now as the "Nanny State".... even thought about chabging religions and wearing a scarf round my head to get round the law.... they covered that loophole pretty quickly I seem to recall. 1965 sounds about right.. they were highly inefficient but I did see loads in Brighton one year.... if you really want an accurate date I can look through some old pics in the loft and be more specific.
They fucking did where I live, so FOYRNB. IS there such a thing? You were a good boy? I don't believe it You could stick more tons Redex stickers on a yerrat than STP stickers oop 'ere. None of yer poxy Redex. -- Beav VN 750 Zed 1000 OMF# 19
