1920s PA Pictures
Add Your Photos!
A lovely picture sent in by Eric Marreel of Belgium. Patrick Heselmans has pointed out that this is in fact a Lady (not a description of the rider as I first thought!) but a Belgium marque. Built in Antwerp between 1924 and 1940, these robust machines initially used two-stroke engines from Villiers, and from 1927 also used a variety of four-strokes from MAG, JAP, Blackburne and AJS.lady rider. This one has a MAG engine and Burman gearbox.
And many thanks also to Valentin for pointing out this is a PA.
“This has to be PA motorcycle. Lady bought this company in 1929 and continue to build them under Lady brand. Just rebage them. Here is a lit a bit history :
PA stood for: P & Raillet Antoine, later D. Hanlet & Cie, Herstal(Liège) and Motorcycles PA, Anvers.
Praillet and Antoine were initially deserving motorcycle racers and they were selling Triumph motorcycles. In 1920 they started their own brand “PA”.
That marque had its heyday between 1921 and 1925, when they made a variety of machines using Blackburne and, later, their own engines.
Around 1925, they ended their production of motorcycles and Praillet and Antoine went back purely into Triumph sales. The business was sold to sidecar manufacturer Dieudonné Hanlet in Herstal who continued to produce motorcycles in addition to the “Perfect” sidecars and “Flostroy Motorette” disabled vehicles. Early machines continued to use Blackburne engines but in 1926 decided to produce their own motors (a 174cc two-stroke and a 341 cc OHV motorcycle racing engine.
Around 1928 the company was sold for the second time, this time to H. Caubergs and F. de Keersmaeker in Antwerp. They produced the Supersport Race- (stillcalled PA) for a while in 350cc and 500cc versions, but with JAP- Blackburne and MAG-engines.
Over a year later, in 1930, the PA brand was owned by Lady, also in Antwerp. At that time, Lady also made motorcycles with JAP, Blackburne and MAG-built engines. and the PA name was finally dropped.
If you look at the oil tank, and also the fuel tank in this picture you will see that the logo on it is not the Lady logo. This logo look like to be the “PERFECT” logo. I think that this is PA from the time when it was sold to Dieudonne Hanlet in Herstal. The Lady on it it should be Irma de Maere, she died in crash in 1929 during the LE GRAND PRIX DE BRUXELLES . She was racing in the 350cc class. I think that this is an extremly rare photo. Important part from the PA history.
Hi,
I found this picture 2 days ago on the net when I was writing a farewell text for my mother Yvonne De Maere who died last week. Irma was her aunt and Yvonne told me lots of stories about her. In fact the little Yvonne was Irma’s mascotte.
Thank you so much for this lovely picture.
Annie Gentils
Hello, this was my Great-Aunt Irma, My Grandfather’s sister, My father Theophil De Maere jr’s aunt. .
thank you,
Theophil De Maere III
Hello Theophil De Maere III,
Nice to meet you.
My mother Yvonne (daughter of Alfons the brother of your grandfather) had some correspondence with your father in the 70ties. She told me some stories about your grandfather and her family. I remember when I was 4 the cupboard with the trophies of Irma…I think it was a big trauma in the family when the accident happened.
best regards
Annie
Happy birthday Irma!
Annie, Orlando & Rogier Gentils