Fire at Top Mountain Motorcycle Museum

[Keep Calm & Cotton On]

On January 18th, fire destroyed the Top Mountain Motorcycle Museum in Timmelsjoch on the Austrian - Italian border. CP readers will recall the April 2019 Cotton Pickins, where Bob Smith related the story of how he happened on this “must visit” museum and found two outstanding Cottons on display, a green Telstar and a lovely 500cc V-Twin Cotton JAP. Thankfully, the fire occurred in the early morning and no-one was injured in the blaze. However, most of the collection was destroyed which included many rare and priceless pieces of history.

canadamotoguide.com/2021/01/22/update-top-mountain-motorcycle-museum-fire/

Came across this on Canada MotoGuide. Looks like a few motorcycles were saved, but didn't see any Cottons among them.  Just wondering if anyone knows what happened to the two Cottons? 

[CPR]

Is there any news as to the fate of the 500cc V twin Cotton? I suppose it's too early to know the cause of the fire. I wonder if the museum had a sprinkler system.

Chris R

[Bob Smith]

have spoken to Mark Upham who owned the 500 V twin Cotton; unfortunately it, like most of the bikes, has not survived this horrendous fire.

Very sad not only for Cotton but also the 250 plus other bikes there.

As we get more info I will put it here and in the Cotton Pickins.

Bob

[Keep Calm & Cotton On]

Memories.  The V-Twin, as it appeared at our Brooklands Rally back in Oct 2010.