Arthur Atkinson 1930s Australian and British speedway memorabilia, a gold wristwatch with the back engraved WEMBLEY SPEEDWAY, PRESENTED TO A.ATKINSON
£700 - £900
Arthur Atkinson 1930s Australian and British speedway memorabilia, a gold wristwatch with the back engraved WEMBLEY SPEEDWAY, PRESENTED TO A.ATKINSON SNR. IN RECOGNITION OF HIS VALUABLE SERVICES TO THE WEMBLEY TEAM, SOUTHERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONS 1930, a quality Swiss movement in an English 1929 hallmarked 9-carat cushion form case by Stolkase; a photo album of his 1930 overseas travel and Australian racing successes, including many period press photos and clippings; a 1938-1939 scrapbook of his time with West Ham Speedway with many specialist press photos, cartoons and clippings, plus a 'Hammers' silk scarf signed by the 1938 Australian tourist and West Ham speedway teams, 71cm., 28in. square (qty.) Arthur Atkinson gained a motorcycle licence just as speedway, or 'dirt-track' racing as it was then known, was introduced into this country. He won his first individual championship at the age of 16, then travelled with his father, who looked after his Rudge motorbikes, to Western Australia two years later where he won another in 1930. Now established as a world-class rider, he soon moved from the Wembley-based league team to become a mainstay of the 'Hammers' at West Ham for many years.