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Thread: Royal Enfield Flying Flea Cage

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  1. #1
    Contributing Member Flying10uk's Avatar
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    Royal Enfield Flying Flea Cage

    I noticed this unusual looking metal tube cage on a stall at the Malvern Militaria event today and, curiosity getting the better of me, I asked the stall holder what it was. He explained that it is known as a "Flying Flea" and that it was used to air drop Royal Enfield motor bikes out of aeroplanes, obviously, aided by a parachute. He went onto explain that the cage hinges open to allow the bike to be placed inside, within the cage.
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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  4. #2
    Contributing Member Flying10uk's Avatar
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    Legacy Member WarPig1976's Avatar
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    There's more steal in the Flea then the Enfield!!!...

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    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    A very scarce item for sure. Those would have been opened and kicked aside for no future consideration...
    Regards, Jim

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    Legacy Member Brit plumber's Avatar
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    The Flea is the nick name for the bike as far as I know. I’ve always known it as the Royal Enfield Flying Flea or WD/RE and I’ve had about 13 various Enfields in the past and still own 5. The other similar bike is the James ML.

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    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Brit plumber View Post
    The Flea is the nick name for the bike as far as I know
    That's correct and if you go searching the internet for it, that's the name you use...
    Regards, Jim

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    Contributing Member Flying10uk's Avatar
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    I'm sure that you're right B.P..

    My own father did own an ex W.D. Royal Enfield bike in the late 1940's/early 1950's but when he decided that he wanted to sell it he found that nobody wanted it. He therefore decided to break it up for spare parts but then found that nobody wanted the spares either. This was possibly because a lot had been released as surplus by the military post WW2.

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    Legacy Member Bruce_in_Oz's Avatar
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    My brother, the motorcycle buff, sent me this:


    "The Royal Enfield Flying Flea was the paratroop motorcycle, the drop cage was just that, no fancy name.

    James, made a similar spec bike for same purpose and drop method, it was known as the "Clockwork Mouse"; ( James ML Military ww2 classic motor cycle ).

    S.O.E. at Welwyn* designed the folding mini-bike known as the Welbike, it was dropped in a plywood/cardboard cylinder

    * See also: Welrod silenced assassin pistol etc.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The "Welbike" had a brief reincarnation post war as the Indian "Papoose", apparently.

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    Thanks to Flying10uk for all the info he provided me with but Unfortunately the Cage was sold....... I managed to contact the dealer yesterday but was sold on Monday, but as strange as things are I received a TXT message yesterday evening regarding another......

    I don't have a flying flea but is on the list, the cage as BR points out was a disposable item so I guess not many out there.


    Bruce in Oz, the Welbike now demands a high premium, around £10,000 +..........

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    Legacy Member Bruce_in_Oz's Avatar
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    The only catch is that by the time the 'Welbike" became the Papoose", a lot of parts had been redesigned / improved, thus virtually no interchangeability.

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