I was born in Europe a few month before D-day. When I grew up most of the scooters were Lambrettas or Vespas. However there was a third kind, tiny and foldable, probably army surplus. Invading paratroopers carried them on their backs when they were dropped behind enemy lines. I'dont think I'm making this up, because I saw one fo these scooters about a decade ago on display at the old jail museum in Hay NSW . Does anybody know the make or the country that manufactured these scooters? .W.
There was one of a similar description in a shop window in Tokyo . It was folded up and fit into a suitcase. Not sure if I still have the picture, but will have a look.
During WW they were known as the Welbike or para scooter(made in England)( designed to be dropped by parachute in a small cylindrical container)
After WW2 they were sold in a civie form here in Australia and were known as a corgi.
I restored a 1946 model many years ago.
They could have either a villers or excelsior motor depending on year.
Production stopped in about 1954.
The Americans during WW2 had a much bigger parascooter made by Cushman and was a civie design produced before and after the war.
Italy produced a parachutable motor bike during WW2, it had twin wheels front and rear....( moto Guzzi ???)
Check this thread...some pics of my 1946 Corgi
Pages 2 and 4 Motorbikes
Late production Corgi,s had a two speed gear box and kick start.
Early ones were single speed with a cork clutch.
You run along side it with the clutch in and then dropped the clutch to clutch start it....no kick start.
Top speed is about 3o mph which is about as fast as you can steer it.
Wheel bearings were same as a push bike as was the steering head bearings etc.
98cc two stoke with over hanging crankshaft.
It can be lifted and carried by one man and would be possible to back pack it with difficulty.
Post war ones were legal on Australian roads and carried in the boots of new cars so they could be delivered to the customer and the seller/dealer rode the corgi home.
They didn't like hills..........mostly designed for the flat ground of Holland during WW2.
end of lesson.
There were a few different types of bikes made by the various warring parties for their paratroops, including the Cushman, Welbike and Corgi. Some are shown below.
Thank you for your replies
It seems I got a bit muddled up. This is the bike that stuck in my mind. It's got absolutely nothing to do with WW2, or the bike in the Hay museum, nor is it foldable. Sorry about the confusion. .W.
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