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Motorcycle Apprentice: Matchless - in name & reputation

Motorcycle Apprentice: Matchless - in name & reputationAuthor: Bill W. A. Cakebread
Publisher: Veloce
Category: Book

List Price: $39.95
Buy New: $30.36
as of 11/21/2009 14:26 EST details
You Save: $9.59 (24%)



New (15) Used (5) from $21.55

Seller: Amazon.com
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 2 reviews
Sales Rank: 1434830

Media: Hardcover
Pages: 128
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 9.9 x 8 x 0.6

ISBN: 1845841794
Dewey Decimal Number: 629
EAN: 9781845841799
ASIN: 1845841794

Publication Date: November 15, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours

Features:
  • ISBN13: 9781845841799
  • Condition: NEW
  • Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
This is the inspiring story of how a young Londoner with no academic qualifications and low expectations built a successful career based on an apprenticeship with Associated Motor Cycles Ltd, and eventually became Managing Director of his company. It describes the very personal story of the ups and downs of factory life in the 1950s and 1960s. In particular, it conveys the unique atmosphere and excitement that surrounds the manufacture of motorcycles; an atmosphere that for those who have experienced it is like no other. The excellence of the training that was provided by the company enabled the writer to achieve far more than he ever anticipated. The journey through the factory, starting with the lowliest of duties in the machine shops and ending as personal assistant to the top motorcycle designers of their time, is described in detail. It gives a rare insight into working practices within the different departments and the characters that were employed. It provides a unique record of work within the British motorcycle industry in the final years of its decline into oblivion.


Book Description
A young Londoner had one lowly ambition in life – to work with motorcycles. That simple ambition led to an apprenticeship that was to change his life forever. This book gives a unique insight into the atmosphere and excitement of working in a motorcycle factory. It is an inspiring story, supported by a host of period photographs and rare documents, and provides a fascinating record of work within the British motorcycle industry in the final years of its decline into oblivion.



Customer Reviews:
4 out of 5 stars Interesting, historical, biographical story   April 18, 2009
Peter J. Dumanian (Syracuse, NY)
Admittedly I am a British Motorcycle nut. The book tells a fascinating story of how the authors life was shaped and formed by his apprenticeship at Matchless Motorcycles. It is the little things in life, and a good deal of luck that helped shape the author's working life and while I am a "nut" I do think that less obsessed readers might find the book a bit slow reading. Bill Cakebread tells of his interesting life and of the various influential individuals that shaped him into a successful engineer.


5 out of 5 stars Back in Time   February 25, 2009
Marty Paulson (Lewistown MT USA)
This book is a trip back in time to when machines like motorcycles were built by living, breathing human beings. No plastic, all metal machining and everything was a learned craft. AJS and Matchless were at the among the leaders of motorcycle manufacturing and this book is a story of how a young man became involved, and the love of his career and motorcycles.

I really enjoyed this book.
Marty Paulson




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