It was a different world back then. Thanks for sharing.

 

I think the only head protection available was leather helmets worn by WWII pilots and racecar drivers. How much protection they actually offered is anyone's guess. I don't think foam crash helmets hit the scene for another decade or two.

Barney Fife started the ATGATT movement in the late 50's.

 

Nailed it.

 

That would be a blast to ride. The most confusing would be the brake on the left handlebar!!!
The clutch and shift would be no problem,

 

Cool video. Thanks for sharing it.

 

Being a metrologist, I enjoyed seeing the speedometer test area for calibrating speedometers.

 

04:47 - "The speedometer is controlled by this electric stop button."

WHAT?!? I always thought that was a kill switch. What would it do to the speedometer?

 

Waay Cool ! My dad would have loved to have one of those...
With all the goop in their hair back then, how did the hats stay ON ??

 

In the days before radar, you had to “clock” a suspected speeder by matching speed. You then hit the button to freeze the speedometer needle. That way, when you pulled the guy over and asked, “do you know how fast you were going?” You had the answer.

 

That’s really cool!