Property of Alan Whitehead, 1924 Scott 486cc Squirrel Two Speed

• Property of Alan Whitehead
• Painstakingly restored with specialist help
• Comprehensive history file

Alan Whitehead, the founder, and moving force, of the Stafford Shows for many years, has owned many motorcycles throughout his life, many of them sporting and/or exotic, and known most of the personalities in the worlds of classic motorcycles and motorcycle sport. One of the bikes on Alan's 'wish list' many years ago was a Scott, and after searching for some time to find the right machine, in 1989 he finally came across AO 9674, a Squirrel in the possession of Peter Harper, a well-known character in the world of vintage motor cars and motorcycles. A deal was struck (letter on file), and Alan began to restore the machine, using help from noted Scott specialists of the time to rebuild the engine and gears (invoice on file), and to make or replace various controls and other parts. New mudguards were sourced and painted, the unusual Fellows magneto was rebuilt by Dave Lindsley, a new radiator was made by Darad Radiators (Jack Butterworth) and any aspects requiring attention were refurbished or replaced as necessary. The Squirrel mascot for the front mudguard was also located.

At the same time as the restoration was proceeding apace, Alan was intent on researching the machine's past history and owners. This was no easy task, especially in 1989, and he wrote to Mike Worthington Williams, who utilised his Wheelin' 'N' Dealin' column to enquire after previous owners and history. Mike supplied the information that it had passed through a Sotheby's sale in 1987, and Alan had obtained a copy of the Cumberland County Council registration register confirming the first owner of the bike was one Alfred Marley, of Cockermouth. Both the auction description and Peter Harper, had provided the information that, prior to Harper, the last owner was Kenneth Ullyett, a respected motoring and motorcycling writer of the 1950s and 1960s. It transpired that the Scott had spent its first 30 years around the Cockermouth and Barrow areas, before making its way to the London area, when it was owned from 1955 to 1958 by Geff Monty, well-known owner of Monty & Ward Motorcycles, dealers in racing motorcycles, as well as builder of the Geoff Monty Special 250 Gold Star and other racers. This information came from Jim Best, former Vice President of the Scott Owner's Club, who used to occasionally borrow the machine from the subsequent owner. Following its sojourn in London, it travelled to the North West when purchased by Peter Harper, and has remained there ever since.

Since completion of the restoration of the Scott in 1990, the machine has covered approximately 300 miles, and was last run three years ago. Accordingly, it will need a degree of re-commissioning and safety checks prior to returning to the road with a new owner, and Alan advises that it would be wise to finish running-in the Scott, having only had 300 miles so far to bed-in. The history file for AO 9674 is large and comprehensive. It includes a current V5C, an old V5C, an old V5, expired MoT certificates, two copies of The Book of the Scott, the aforementioned engine and gears rebuild bill, together with a large quantity of articles, research letters, history of previous owners, drawings, notes and sundry papers. The bike is presently taxed.

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