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.
