HMS Tern Living Museum is a treasure trove of fascinating equipment and memorabilia that vividly captures the 1940s wartime era, when the airfield was fully operational and bustling with activity.

Among the impressive collection is the quirky Excelsior Autobyk. This exhibit not only showcases the innovative engineering of its time but also serves as a tangible link to the past, allowing visitors to appreciate the historical significance and the stories associated with the airfield and its operations during a pivotal moment in history. Each item in the museum tells a story, preserving the legacy of those who served and lived through the challenges of war.

Our initial research indicates that the bike was owned by Sub-Lieutenant Peer-Groves while he was stationed on Hoy. Non-senior ranking staff were accommodated at the Longhope Hotel, suggesting that he likely used the bike for his daily commute to work at Lyness. Picture him, if you can, speeding around the North Ness bend and past the beached Iron Duke every day on his way to work. He left Hoy for London in late 1942.

The Excelsior Autobyk is a motorised bicycle produced by the Excelsior Motor Company in 1937. Designed as an affordable and practical mode of transportation, the Autobyk combines a reinforced bicycle frame with a small petrol engine, resulting in a lightweight vehicle known as an “autocycle.”

Most Autobyks were equipped with a 98cc two-stroke engine made by Villiers Engineering. The rider could pedal to start the engine and assist the motor while climbing hills. With its straightforward controls, chain drive, and basic suspension, the Autobyke was easy to maintain and affordable to operate.

Machines like these proved especially valuable before and after the Second World War, when petrol, vehicles, and raw materials were scarce. Lightweight motorised bicycles offered an affordable means of commuting for workers to factories, farms, and military bases. Autocycles were also popular with airfield personnel, mechanics, and messengers who required a quick and economical way to navigate large sites.

In 1939, the Autobyk was priced at around 18 guineas (equating to around £1000 today), making it one of the most affordable powered vehicles available in Britain. Its straightforward design catered to the practical needs of the time, prioritising reliability, economy, and ease of repair.

Production of the Autobyk continued into the 1950s before it was replaced by more modern mopeds. Today, these vehicles provide insight into everyday transportation in Britain during the wartime and early post-war years.