A Rolls Roy rep was visiting the Brough factory, and while passing through saw the employees handling a bike using white gloves, convincing Rolls Royce that Brough was indeed a class act. (Turned out they only used white gloves that day because some bikes were being shipped out and had to be absolutely spotless)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/motorcycles/brough-superior-the-rolls-royce-of-motorcycles-reborn/
Every motorcycle was test ridden to ensure that it performed to specification, and was personally certified by George Brough. The SS100 model was ridden at 100 mph or more before delivery. If any motorcycle did not meet specification, it was returned to the works for rework until it performed properly. The fit and finish was comparable to a Rolls-Royce car, and they were the most expensive road-going motorcycles in the world.
I say there "was a time" because now, there is no respect, and any one who wants to uses the phrase with impunity, ready to get a cease and desist letter, and not caring a bit about disrespecting an Icon they are using for advertising https://www.thrillist.com/cars/the-midual-type-1-is-the-rolls-royce-of-motorcycles#
thanks Kim!
At first R-R wasn't at all pleased with the slogan, but was invited to visit the Brough factory. There the employees handled the bikes using white gloves, which was one of the things convincing R-R that building Broughs were indeed a class act. (Turned out they only used white gloves that day because some bikes were being shipped off to somewhere (I forgot the destination), and had to be absolutely spotless).
ReplyDeleteThanks! That must have been you that tipped me to this story. But that was 100 stories or more ago for me, and I have no idea where the text is from that note.
DeleteI read that the bikes were destined for the London Motorcycle Show, hence the fussing. George Brough was the consummate showman.
DeleteTony
I read somewhere that the reason they were called Brough Superior was that George's father also built bikes, Broughs. George Junior figured he could do it better - hence Superior.
ReplyDeleteCorrect, I read that too, but I was focused on the Rolls Royce connection and exclusivity of using the term "the Rolls Royce of" with permission, based on respect. THAT is the story to cover. THAT is the most amazing thing about the Brough Superior.
DeleteI do not dilute a story that amazing with other aspects of the topic of a post.