The Velocette Venom, the first of a collection that would span a lifetime for the three brothers - Maurice, Rubin and Sam - was the only bike his father bought for him. And building from that foundation, over the last 25 years, today, he has a collection of 14 motorcycles from the 1940s to the 1970s.

``The passion for vintage motorcycles,'' says Sam, ``is hereditary.'' His father, a military man who retired and settled in Pune, was a collector of vintage cars. ``Unfortunately, we had to sell all of them. The maintenance cost was too high and they required too much space. We brothers were anyway always more inclined towards motorcycles,'' summarises Sam.

The passion is all-consuming. He spends all his weekdays at the workshop, which is a bridge between the past and the present. On one side is housed a rebuilt 30-year-old engine, while a row of present-day Hondas and Samurais line up the other end.

``My workshop is my bread and butter. But Sundays are exclusively for my vintages. And I don't need more money.'' That would explain why he turns a deaf ear to the constant offers for his priceless and rare motorcycles. ``I am not in this for the money. It is not a business. Each motorcycle is a piece of history, and is a part of me. They make up Sam Solomon. How can I ever sell them?'' he asks.

Collecting rare items appears to run in his blood. Apart from motorcycles, he has a terrific collection of rare stamps and coins. ``I have seven lakh stamps,'' he informs. And then his mind runs over the nostalgia of days gone long by. ``You know how I'd get all the stamps?'' he asks with a chuckle. ``In the old days, this area (Shankarshet Road) used to be populated with Swedes. They'd get a lot of letters from abroad, and I would make sure that the stamps came to me!''

There is, however, one angst against a world that does not understand his passion. ``The insurance companies refuse to accept insurance for my motorcycles. They say my motorcycles are too old for them to give comprehensive insurance,'' he says, shaking his head.

For, as far as Sam is concerned, each one of his treasures is worth more than an entire factory of modern-day marvels put-together. ``These are vehicles built to last. They have all raced on the tracks of Pune and other parts of the country and have won innumerable awards. They are priceless. "Today's motorcycles do not have even one-fourth their strength or endurance. These vintages may look bulky and unmanageable, but they are actually the lightest and smoothest ever built. Can you imagine any of today's motorcycles still running after 30 years?''

And with that he makes his exit. A figure in trademark overalls, walking away to his sanctuary of history!