Early Motorcycle Manufacture - The Rover Imperial (*silent movie)

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Grab yourself a brew, sit back and watch this enchanting video of a Rover motorcycle being constructed back in the good old days of hand crafted machinery. From casting the cylinders to machining the crank and assembling the engine, this a wonderful insight into the vintage days of building motorcycles for the road. And keep your eye out for the test rider who hits the water feature with a little bit too much gusto!
The Rover company began to develop and produced the Rover Imperial motorcycle in November 1902. This was a 3.5hp diamond-framed motorcycle with the engine in the centre and 'springer' front forks, an improvement ahead of its time. The first Rover motorcycle had innovative features such as a spray carburettor, a bottom-bracket engine, and mechanically operated valves. Featuring a strong frame with double front down tubes and a good quality finish, over a thousand Rover motorcycles were sold in 1904.
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[@92xl]

Cant like this video enough, absolutely fantastic! Hand built craftsmanship by true craftsmen. There is no wonder these things survived 100 years and still run.

[@jacobpoucher]

hahh that garbage was hand build micky mouse operation. i bet those engine didnt last 10,000 miles. or even 5k.

[@92xl]

@@jacobpoucher you sir, and I say this as kindly as possible, are a fucking douche bag. Have a good day!

[@cristianarango1509]

Don't be fooled, those things were and are still frail, hand fitted production is a nightmare quality wise, metal quality was subpar and seal technology was in diapers, the manufacturers knew it very well and that is why those engines were extremely underloaded, producing less than 4hp with massive displacements, even that way they wouldn't last long, a few thousand miles was enough to wear rings, valve tappets bearings and pushrods, but that was considered acceptable back then, people are usually oblivious on how much industrial standards have changed over time and how consumer demands have changed with them.

[@jaminova_1969]

What a perfect film! I love that the testers really put those motocycles through their paces. And they even caught air!

[@Plentisaki]

Brilliant! Tweed jacket, plus-fours, flat cap, huge moustache and a Billiard pipe stuffed with Scruttocks Old Shag tobacco. Now THAT'S motorcycling! :-)

[@GettingNervous]

Totally agree. Today they sit on the bike, pushing the starter button and that is the most exciting moment.

[@garryvee]

This video is amazing; It's a work of art. Watching the engine build sequence of an assembler with a careful eye and skilled hands. Human minds and hands at work; It's so beautiful to watch and such a well-made product overall too.

[@bradleyweiss1089]

Yes. I love work. I can sit and watch it for hours. Machinist 22 years. 63 years old still riding a 250. My brother 70. A Harley.

[@simplexgrinnell3498]

“Put the case on and hammer to spec”... lol Great video! Very interesting to see manufacturing in its early years.

[@coinslotsandjoysticks2572]

This is awesome. Those people had no idea what they were starting. Just a few guys trying to make life easier back then and look what it became. Dirt floors where they were working. And quality still prevailed !! I'm much obliged !! I been riding motorcycles for 40 years and hoping another 40 to come

[@eddieg849]

You can just feel their excitement motorcycles have brought so much joy to people's lives.

[@rickhalverson2014]

What a treasure to have a few old films like this available.

[@PurityVendetta]

Fascinating video. Coventry was a powerhouse of British industry in the 19th and 20th century. I have a little company manufacturing parts for classic British motorcycles, repairing them and carrying out many one off and short run fabrication jobs. So many of my tools, still in everyday use were made in Coventry, Birmingham and Leicester. I can't help it but I admit feeling sad when I see the way industry has been allowed to collapse but there are some relatively young, self taught engineers like myself trying to keep going in a world that doesn't seem to appreciate these skills. There's lots of like to say but will leave it at that.

[@عصامتاجالدين-ك3ص]

Hello good evening, my dear, how are you?

[@chachenaki_kichenancha]

I never had a British motorcycle, I had many Japanese bikes and one BMW. But I have a Yorkshire terrier.

[@stephenhowe568]

You are a great person making parts for old bikes. I have a 1966 Triumph and a love it.

[@ivandasty277]

Beautiful, simple and intimate. More attractive than any Hollywood movie! Honorable and hardworking workers with strong hands and calluses from hard work. No advanced tools and robots but with passion and love. See how lovingly they caress the cold pieces of steel and how skillfully they make everything out of nothing.

[@ajenjohnson7413]

Lovely this is a display of the mechanical engineering history, I really enjoyed it.

[@TranscendianIntendor]

I got to work with mechanics who serviced R-2800 aircraft engines. I came to recognize I also loved that engine. 18 cylinders. Big cylinders. Then there were the jet engines of the early Learjets. Way I learned it was that you designed the airplane around the engine, and I see Rolls Royce Merlin was what made the P-51 great. It was still heartbreaking to see what an Me 262 could do to Allied bombers and fighters. Pilots are wise to understand that mechanics are watching them to see if they are making them work harder. I had a mechanic ask me if I rode my motorcycle hard. "It's a motor-cycle." is what I answered.

[@jde9095]

truly enjoyed this, thank you

[@Jacquesthebike]

Invaluable document ! Probably very few people have an idea of the engineering processes used in the early days of motorcycle. The factory (the foundry) looks like a garden shed ! On the other hand, workers are dressed with a tie ! Thank you for putting this video on line !

[@vulkusbanks5985]

That is real testing, those guys were fearless.

[@raymondlidy5918]

Great to watch these old silent films no robots making these and most of all no music

[@robyesidra9490]

Real Pioneer,Real man,Real mechanic.

[@menodumbdumb2334]

What a treasure of a film. Fantastic

[@throughput6674]

The Lathe really is the Queen of the workshop

[@Dbeattie299]

I just looked back in time! Those guys at the end were having a lot of fun 🤩

[@richardolson5880]

Awesome video! Footage from that era is so rare. Such simpler times, but impressive nevertheless.

[@MichaelLawrence-td7qn]

Wonderful captured moments of time lived by life

[@jirkacipera335]

Fantastic video, fantastic a wonderful time, thank you.

[@nunya9555]

Thanks! What a great time capsule that film is!

[@thevoxofreason8468]

This video is priceless in my eyes.

[@dr2644]

Notice some of the men in the foundry were wearing coats and ties. amazing

[@bradleyweiss1089]

It was what people wore. And sometimes showed you knew a trade. We have pictures of my grandfather wearing a white shirt tie and Fedora with a overall and he was a teamster. I always wondered why their symbol was two horse heads. Because they drive a team of horses. I asked what did you haul. He said You name it we hauled it. Coal lumber hay move houses heavy equipment much like today. He was so good with a team men would come over to watch as he sat on the porch while his team mowed the bottom with a horse drawn sickle mower with him not on it!! He’d whistle click gee haw whatever if they stopped. And off they’d go. Back up lay down whatever he said they did. We had pictures of us kids sitting on em while they lay there. One where he brought it up to the back of his old Buick and said up It stepped on the bumper. Up. Again other hoof on the trunk. Look at the stars and it put the first hoof up in the air reared it’s head back and look up in the sky.

[@donaldbroussard5290]

Ya gotta love it! No helmets, no pads just guts!

[@heisrisen6898]

Them boys got down back in them days, racing.

[@wntu4]

The quality of the film after all these years is incredible.

[@allanjelen2365]

real men doing hard work they were the pioneers of motorcycles by now the men are gone to dust and the machines also went to scrap metal only memories remain.

[@Jesse-B]

Their workshop is messier than mine haha! I wonder if it's the same Rover who later made cars, and lawn mowers. Great little film, thank you for sharing.

[@fidelcatsro6948]

i guess they were that same Rover that made cars and got bought up by Ford in the end

[@jumpfortyfour9965]

super rare film thanks a lot

[@bukster1]

These bikes remind me of a bike that was in a bike shop in my home town. It was a 1912 Abingdon King Dick. It wasn't for sale, but part of the owner's collection on display. The overall style was similar. It looked pretty complex to ride. A lot of things modern engines do for you were manual controls. So there was a lever to adjust the engine timing and a manual oil pump. You had to pump up the sight glass with oil as you rode it or the engine would seize up.

[@michaelhart895]

I celebrate 40 years in business this June operating as a sole trader in my small machine shop . There are still some of us left that still use manual machines every day . Over the years I have manufactured parts from drawings or samples ,from a wide variety of materials. For industrial locomotives, brickworks, food factories, ceramic goods factories, wind turbines , the motor industry, classic cars and bikes , to name but a few . Sadly it’s getting really ever more difficult to earn a living with sky high fuel ,electricity bills and any profit you do make is taxed until you think , why do I bother .

[@moe92870]

"Get the kid in here to wedge the belt on. His fingers are small, plus I need mine." Ha Ha

[@agnel47]

Hahaha

[@AJ-qn6gd]

Interesting to see the engine being used as a part of the frame not sitting in the frame,very progressive thinking. Awesome video.

[@Jacquesthebike]

There is nothing new under the sun !

[@davidk6271]

Great piece of history, thanks for sharing

[@tyrssen1]

Wow, rather amazing! The manufacturing techniques look crude by modern standards, but I gather the Imperial had a very good reputation.

[@AbhishekJainChannel]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2eki2qVoqZ2i8k

[@peterduxbury927]

A man and his Lathe. The forerunner of the CNC.

[@hamansutra]

Terrific Footage.

[@BPantherPink]

The bloke, sitting on the fence is the quality control manager, ready to whip them if they fell 🤣

[@Monz-jy9hl]

Its the revolution and technology of the motorcycle..😊

[@mjc4462]

Fantastic, love the hoodlums at the end!!

[@motsmots7940]

Really Beautiful machines 😍

[@jonnidematteis1753]

storic ! is a great doc! all must watch it !!

[@96Duelfuel]

Great film. Circa the early Teens I would imagine. Lets take a timewarp back...

[@caseyst0ner]

Genius, only that word to describes

[@cosak23]

unusual core prints on cylinder core ,no cutting suds on lathe . wonder if they were Alfresd Herbert machines wonderful piece of captured history

[@ozzstars_cars]

cool video footage!

[@julianbetts6490]

Lovely old film, hope you have more like this.

[@zormigaming4034]

Piece of art

[@572334]

What a great video./film. Congratulations to the company and the cameraman who filmed it. great

[@jerrycagle7565]

Loved the video, thank you.

[@jeffc79]

And motocross was born.

[@machobunny1]

Give a guy a motorcycle, any motorcycle, and he will find a way to make it fly off the ground. It is human nature, and this video proves it.

[@plumberman4u]

Young fella building it just "knew" what to do. Proper "hands on" work. No computers. Huge variety of tools 2 screwdrivers, a chisel & a fock off hammer. LUUURRRVEE IT.

[@mohammadjafari1769]

wery good

[@gondes1862]

Semua masih manual dibentuk oleh tangan2 yang terampil, very amazing job

[@Tadesan]

Filmed in Britain in 2004.

[@user-ks5ff]

Nor enough low IQ migrants from poor shit hole countries to be 2004.

[@themedic4050]

1912 Rover motorcycles :) NICE

[@Alejandro-pz3qd]

stronger and more powerful than modern motorcycles

[@CreatorCade]

It truly was another time and the closest thing to a steam punk era.

[@ranazeshan5125]

What a powerful awesome Dream bike 👍

[@HalfLifeAMD]

amazing footage, thanks!

[@nunosantiago8195]

Not a hint of gasket cement anywhere...

[@hhoward14]

I feel that the assembly of that engine was made for the making of the film, and they left out "boring" details like gaskets, and "gunge " and lubrication... Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.

[@jonathanw4942]

All the old bikes were 100% oil loss, they have a separate tank and new oil was put in, dripped down and ran out the bottom.

[@frontcentermusician]

That what I was wondering

[@CZ350tuner]

You forgot the "Spoon Brake" which was a metal "Spoon" that rubbed on the rear tyre on some bicycles and motorcycles. Obviously it had the same stopping power in the wet as a 1970's Suzuki disc brake on a GT 125 / 185 / 250 / 380 / 550 / 750. The disc brake appeared in 1904 but was a poor performer compared to the single leading shoe drum brake, which appeared as a feature in 1906 (both British inventions). (better performing Twin and Quad leading shoe drum brakes didn't appear until the early 1960's). Other things on these old bikes was hand change gears (usually 2 though 3 was the latest thing before WW1), rear brake being hand operated (usually 2 levers on the left bar on some models or left bar brake and foot clutch) and pre-Bowden cable linked rods on some bikes. My grandfather, who died in 1975, spend a few days in bed after he had the leather drive belt on a bike such as this snap, catch in the rear wheel and flay him through his jacket when he was hurtling along back in the 1920's. Having once ridden a 1929 Rudge Ulster belonging to a friend, I can say that today's bikes are a lot easier to ride with less levers and stuff to fiddle with.

[@Laffy1345]

Nuno Santiago lol

[@daveharris7734]

I worked in a aluminum foundry. Finish. Cutting the gates off the castes.

[@doncarlo5]

such a rare and interesting footage ...

[@Hensen1954]

Lovely clean working conditions ....

[@Steve765]

What a great video 😄

[@johnhemming9721]

Amazing film I am in the process of making parts for one of those engines con rod timing gears among other the parts, the cycle parts have been assembled now waiting for a few more bits to be made .

[@joescambait]

the jumping was the best part

[@mialmagama]

Me gustaria viajar en el tiempo y yegar a ese taller con una honda cr450f jajajajaja yo creo que seria mas liviana que esas jajajaj ..enserio que buen video gracias por compartirlo y sin esas personas no tendriamos la tecnologia de hoy en motocicletas 👍👍👍👍👍👏👏👏

[@karunakarpradhan9555]

Cast Iron Engines = Truly Legend, Aluminium is just a need of time...

[@mickbrenton]

Absolutely awesome!!!!!!

[@bobmonkhouse50]

What a truly wonderful look back at not only early 20th century engineering ( look at the cutting speed when boring the cylinder, i get it to 60rpm,a time when only carbon steel tools qould be used, high speed steel still some years in the future)but seeing the fun the riders are having( note the head down at one point so they had already got an idea of streamlining)and also the cars which appear in the film. I wonder what the road looks like today and if the house is still standing by the bridge,does anyone know the locations?

[@andrewboulton9928]

Hi, yes houses still standing and looking much the same, Stoneliegh near Coventry. The ford is in Kenilworth I think.

[@bobmonkhouse50]

@@andrewboulton9928 would you have a postcode so I can get it on Google Earth?

[@andrewboulton9928]

@@bobmonkhouse50 Try cv83bz

[@wearemotorhead4747]

Good old school👍.

[@lastup4170]

Love this!

[@captlarry-3525]

not a measurement tool in evidence anywhere.. .if it doesn't fit.. take another one out of the box.. maybe it will.. typical English workshop assembly.. they still did triumphs and bsa's this way in the 60's !

[@jesus8102]

Qué tiempos tan hermosos les tocó vivir a estas personas

[@iwantrisetiyon3873]

They make an art

[@timtravasos2742]

Great video.

[@guzziben]

Thanks! At first I was shocked there was no headlight, then I realized it was a motocrosser! I am kidding. I have seen similar vintage Nortons with acetylene headlights.

Incredible

[@staninjapan07]

that was great thanks

[@mnicrashSoren]

lmao over a hundred years of pissing off cagers and pedestrians great video

[@nicparker3809]

I got a cage for you,

[@antansuria4192]

@@nicparker3809 hahaha..nice jokes.

[@pressedsteel7463]

Love it.

[@achimduc3938]

Absolut fantastisch 👍

[@ati246]

Ne guzel zamanlarmiş. Keske birine sahip olsabilseydim..

[@gaz5839]

not a gasket in sight awesome

[@lebreton9988]

Excellente vidéo, merci.

[@cardboardboxification]

Wow quick change on the lathe

[@lsp4644]

Effective technicians

[@RenatoGuns-bv4bt]

Todos motociclistas deveriam ver esse video, ,,e lindo voltar ao passado

[@akashmuthanna6646]

Back to the past❤

[@johnhodges8264]

Forget your Japanese multi cyclinder bikes, this is British engneering at its best.!!!

[@DIYOneForAll]

That crash at the end, lol😀

[@maycontrojan7763]

Nos Brasileiros adoramos uma dessa......kkkkkkk Brasil

[@50bottlesofoile36]

This is RARE bikes With Rare Ancient Time

[@MikeL-vu7jo]

Amazing those bikes moving along at a pretty good clip back in the day in all that dust , but i wonder how long those cylinder bores lasted with out air filters on the carburetors .

[@ragsflh]

old iron sounds great buzz