History
I'd been looking for a Francis Barnett for a while - I liked the history of the marque, and the simplicity of the machine.
This one showed up in Margate, Tasmania and after some yarns with the owner, and agreeing in a price I shot over to Tas to collect it.
As to be expected it wasn't quite a basket case, but close.
Supposedly and last registered as a 1946 FB Merlin but as happened with many bikes here following the war years the frame turned out to be a 1952 FB Falcon and the motor a 147cc Villiers, probably from an Excelsior - the rims, though, are still from the original I believe!
Modifications
As this Villiers model 30 engine lacks charging coils, lighting is provided from a lithium battery housed in a Francis Barnett Falcon toolbox. Lighting is LED.
Brakes are untouched, so are best described as 'slowdowns'.
