MPH issues for Vincent Luggage Equipment Articles by EMG Stevens & FJ Griffin - Numbers 533 to 538. - June to November 1993.
The early Vincent luggage
equipment consisted of two handed black cases and frames. Two drawings,
M043 and M044, and a list of the parts appeared in early issues of the
Spares List. The cases are wrongly drawn on M043; the rear and front
are reversed, the slope should be at the front (however the cases seem
to fit the sheet metal brackets more correctly as shown). Not sure
about this "not correct as shown" observation. Covered with black
leather and lined inside with "leather cloth", the stiff cases are not
out of place in a four star hotel. The finish is of high quality
throughout and so are the fittings, which include chromium plated solid
brass locks, retractable leather handles and an aluminum drainage
channle under the lid. The cases are hooked to pegs riveted to the
frames;they are secured by two leather straps, but the pegs carry all
the weight. The frames are made of embossed light alloy sheet, 14swg,
reinforced at the forward end by a 3/8" alloy strip and stiffened at
the bottom by a 1/4" diameter steel rod. The top straps are riveted to
the top edge of the frame, which has a cutaway to clear the seat stay;
the bottom straps are rivited to the back of the frame. Each frame is
suspended at its front by a 1/2" bolt which passes thru and can rotate
on two bronze bushed brackets, each secured underneath the seat behind
the tool tray by eight woodscrews and one 1/4" BSF bolt. A pivot is
bolted at the bottom of the 3/8" strip reinforcing the front of the
frame. A similar pivot is screwed to a bronze bracket clamped to the
RFM lower tube. A bronze link, 3½" between centers, fitted with
oilite bushes, connects the ½" pivot on the pannier frame to the
pivot clamped the the RFM. All the weight is carried by the top bolt;
the link at the bottom of the frame merely controls the swinging motion
of the assembly.
Craven panniers
Phil Primmer panniers and rack that were designed principally for Vincents
Rodark
Panniers
For CRAVEN parts:
Ken Craven died some time ago. Here iswhat happened, to the
best of my knowledge:
First; things went to: sales@cfgsiteservices.co.uk
You could have found them unresponsive, and you might have found a website
for Craven stuff, and found it also
unresponsive. Nash Morgan; Lightmoor
Works, Speech House Road, Cinderford,
Glos., GL14 3HU England Tel.
+44-1594-827649 was the contact. All Craven items were next sold to
Phil
Primmer: http://www.westcountrysidecars.co.uk
On 01/13/2009,
I received the following information, which I have edited for clarity....so
these are not Roger's exact words.
We acquired the Craven
Equipment business from Phil Primmer of West Country Sidecars who retired. It is
taking us some time to sort out all the drawings, moulds and tooling but we hope
to be in a position to start production late in 2009. We will start by making
the more popular top boxes, panniers, racks and fittings and hope to eventually
have most of the Craven range in stock. We will supply individual parts to
repair or complete old sets of luggage and carriers but in the meantime we are
not able to help with any spares as there was very little stock. We also will be
producing Phil Primmer's own panniers and rack that were designed principally
for Vincents and we hope to finish of the moulds he was making in order to
produce Rodark Panniers. We welcome enquiries in the meantime. At the moment we
do not even have any permanent premises and the preferred method of contact is
by email contact@CravenS.org.uk
Roger
Gwynne
sales@draganfly.co.uk
Craven Equipment
Long Beren, Upper
Oakley, DISS, IP21 4AX
Strictly no callers, mail order only.
Telephones
(01986) 894 798 or 892 826 Facsimile (01986) 894
799
contact@CravenS.org.uk www.CravenS.org.uk