Rare Welbike Restored For Military Museum

Rare Welbike Restored For Military Museum David Baker says, “I’d never restored anything before Evan Fagen of the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum in Granite Falls, Minn., asked if I wanted to work on a rusty little motorcycle that the museum had received from a fellow in Baton Rouge, La. Even though the bike had missing parts, I said, ‘Sure, why not?’” Over the next 14 mo, Baker restored the rare British WWII Excelsior Villiers Welbike to its original “new” condition. He worked at least a few hours each week, including time spent online searching for background information and manuals. “Not many people, including myself and others at the museum, had ever heard of a Welbike,” Baker says. “I learned that about 6,600 of them were built in England in 1943, and only about 100 are known to exist now, most of them in England.” History shows that the Welbikes were a valuable contribution to the success of allied forces in WWII. Weighing just 75 lbs and powered by a tiny 98cc engine, the bikes were painted a drab brown and carefully packed in sturdy shipping boxes. Those boxes were loaded aboard transport aircraft with paratroopers and dropped behind enemy lines with green parachutes. Soldiers could quickly assemble a Welbike in under 30 seconds, adjusting the handlebars and securing them with spring-loaded pins. The seat was raised, and the footrests were folded down. The gas tank was primed with a tiny pump similar to that on a Coleman lantern, and the engine fired up quickly. Welbikes were used by Royal Marines and commando forces during the Normandy and Anzio landings and other operations, including scouting enemy positions, gathering intelligence, conducting hit-and-run raids, and covertly transporting agents. Designed for quick, practical use, the tiny Welbike earned its name because it was a variation on a bicycle and was produced in Welwyn, England. The bike had 10-in. rubber tires but no suspension, mudguards or lights, and only a rear brake. The 98cc two-stroke Villiers engine was paired with a single-speed gearbox. It had a top speed of about 30 mph and enough gas in its tiny tank to travel about 65 to 85 miles. Baker says that when he started working on the museum’s bike, he couldn’t believe how small it was, barely reaching his knees. It was rusty and painted a single color. As he removed paint and rust, he discovered that the carburetor and intake were copper, and the flywheel was brass. “I polished those up and got the engine loose, but it wouldn’t run. I found a condenser in the U.K., put the original spark plugs in, and the engine backfired but wouldn’t keep running.” After he rebuilt the frame, he had it sandblasted and painted, then added the original military number. He cleaned the carburetor, redid the bearings, and even installed original leather on the handle grips. Baker says, “The serial number on the frame is original, which I verified through an online search.” Fagen says the Welbike is a very small yet significant addition to their museum, which showcases WWII aviation history through a large collection of airworthy aircraft and fully operational ground vehicles. With the Welbike completed, Baker is now working on a U.S.-made Simplex Servi-Cycle built in 1945. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Fagen Fighters WWII Museum, 2450 540th St., Granite Falls, Minn. 56241 (ph 320-564-6644; www.fagenfighterswwiimuseum.org).

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