Vale Milton Jones 08.03.1931 - 10.06.2013
Milton (Spike) Jones passed away on Monday June 10th. Apart from being a founding member of the club Milton was a respected frame builder and repairer. His MH Jones and Capo branded bikes are treasured where they have been preserved.
Club member and close friend of Milton's Cameron Smith penned these lines in his honour;
In fond memory of Milton Henry (Spike) Jones.
I knew him well
For we had the same passion
But we’d only just met
A man full of life, experience and love
The love of his family
The love of his passion
Bicycles that is, right to the end
Always his mission
MHJ or Spike that knew him best
Not a man like the rest
His craft is abound
Some own one others just dream
I learnt so much from him
But know so little
Still much to learn in this bicycle craft
A very sad day when he did pass
For those that knew him
His legend lives on
In those that share the passion
All cyclist's abound.
We will all miss you Spike.
Mavis Jones has contributed this account of Milton's life.
MILTON (Spike) HENRY JONES - 8th March, 1931 to 10th June, 2013.
Milton was born in North Perth, the second son of Cyril and Vera (Hardman) Jones. Brothers Alwyn and Mervyn together with sister Alethea grew up in a happy home at 88 Daglish Street, Wembley.
The surroundings included market gardens, poultry farms and a very popular place called 'the olive grove' where local lads met after school for climbing olive trees. School was West Leederville Primary School as though Wembley School was recently established Daglish street was not included in their area.
Because of the times, the end of the Depression and beginning of Second World War, the horse and cart delivered ice, and milk; and a Chinaman sold veges from his market garden door to door. Radio programmes entertained the family and communication was written, using a pen and a piece of paper.
Milton was soon the proud owner of his first bicycle, and his first job was that of messenger boy for a sign writer, then to Aussie Cycles where he learnt to hand build bike frames in all sizes for the trade, eventually developing the skill to measure individuals for their light weight racing frames. He moved to Flying Arrow Cycles (Bill Kell) in Rokeby Road, Subiaco where, he then became a member of the Subiaco Cycle Club (eventually Floreat Park Cycling Club), where his first success came in being selected as a member of the State Team, 15 mile, Junior (1948) Cycling Championship as winners.
In 1956 he opened his first Bike Shop - Super Sports Cycles, at 21 Angove Street, North Perth, still manufacturing standard bike frames for the trade and special light weight racing frames as required. The popularity of the motor car was slowing the bike trade down, so when an opportunity came to join R Moore & Sons, Short Street, East Perth, to recondition engines he made the move.
His career saw him manufacturing jail locks for Chubbs Australia in Myaree, servicing marine engines for Harris, Scarfe & Sandovers in Subiaco and then to Repco back to motors, and all the time following his love of cycling - mainly road races. The shed at 6 Carey Street became the next manufacturing site for many styles of bike frames. From three wheelers, specials for children at Rocky Bay Village, MosmanPark. A Special 753 license from Reynolds Tubing of England, to weld their double-butted tubing, was a noted achievement.
During this time he used M H JONES, MHJ and CAPO a s trade names on his frames. His riders' enjoyed many successes, competing in the World Masters, Australia wide, and locally, both on the track and on the road, one in particular was Rodney Evans, a 24 hour track record. Apart from setting Rod up on his frame, Milton massaged his legs before, during and after the event. In 1994 Rod set many new track records and broke Sir Hubert Opperman's 50 year old Australian and World distance (24 hrs) record. This, here at the Midland velodrome.
At the present time his machines are being treated as collectables - many a rider has a "steel" MHJ frame, hanging in their shed, while riding the current aluminium or fibre glass creations. And may they occasionally have a "down memory lane" ride on them.
(Mrs) Mavis E Jones 12 August, 2013.
