Don’t you just love it when a plan comes together? No, this is not a story about the A-Team, but the further history of a rather famous Lambretta S-Type from Arthur Francis Scooters Ltd in Watford, Herts.
The scooter pictured on the front cover of Practical Scooter & Moped in March 1967 has a fair bit of history, including breaking the record from London to Milan that stood until the 1990s.
It was a ‘dealer special’ scooter built by Arthur Francis Ltd of Watford to promote the shop’s expertise at modernising a Lambretta, both cosmetically and mechanically.
We’ve reported on it before; you can read about it here and about the Lambretta S-Type’s 50th anniversary event here.
Back in November, Chris Wylde contacted us to tell us about his ownership of TJH 25D, which he bought from Arthur Francis Scooters Ltd in the St Albans Road in Watford.
Then, last week, Mary Hyde contacted us and sent us this wonderful photo of her father, Michael Hyde pictured on the same Lambretta in Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, aged 16 in 1971.
We presume Michael was the next owner after Chris, but unfortunately Mary’s father passed away a few years ago, so we can’t be certain of this or what spec the scooter was in when he bought it. Looking at this photo though it’s still wearing it’s ‘250’ badges (the engine capacity also suggested by the number plate Arthur managed to obtain for it back in 1966!), although the seat has been changed and possibly the contrasting paint colour too.
With many thanks again to Mary for supplying the information and photograph, we wonder if there are any more previous owners of TJH 25D out there who can fill us in of the further history of this Lambretta scooter?
AF S-Type 50th anniversary event.
The AF Rayspeed shop today, where they still produce the S-Type Lambretta.
UPDATE FEB 2024: We compiled the information we had about TJH 25D last summer and published an update in edition 38 of ScooterNova magazine, along with the story of Ken Peters’ record ride to Milan upon it.
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Hi I owned TJH25D before Mick Hyde. Bought from Arthur Francis in Watford in the late sixties I think. Wish I had kept it didn’t know its history. Although badges said 250 was 225 engine loved owning it.
Nice to see so much interest. Wonder where it is now.