Rudge tricycle ca. 1885 frame#46222 This tricycle has the Rudge brand name and “frame number” stamped in the handle bars. She’s in quite presentable condition and was found with two stablemates hanging from the ceiling in a traditional Belgian pub in the city of Ghent. She comes with radially spoked wheels with solid rubber tyres, ca 24 inch front and ca 38 inch rear. A differential is fitted to the rear axle, a spoon brake to the front wheel. The saddle, with probably original weathered leather ...
Humber No. 5 Ordinary tandem ca. 1890 “ This tandem is now so well-known that it needs very little describing; we have, however, improved it where possible, and have adapted it as to make the saddle and handles for rear rider adjustable for any reach; the front saddle and handles are also adjustable as before. We can safely recommend this Machine as being the very fastest cycle on the road, and smoothest in running. It is beyond doubt the most suitable Tandem for lady and gentleman to ride toget ...
Premier 1891 Tandem Safety bicycle “The King of Tandem Safeties” Hillman, Herbert and Cooper were one of the earliest firms in the cycle industry, having started business in 1876. William Hillman was originally a foreman at the Coventry Sewing Machine Co, where he was associated with James Starley, George Singer and other pioneers. He was the practical mechanic of the H.H. and C. trio. William Henry Herbert (nicknamed “Tubby”) was the financial man. He was a brother of Alfred Herbert, the well-k ...
Pentacycle ca. 1885 replica Designed by Edward Burstow, an architect from Horsham in Sussex, the Pentacycle is steered by the small outer wheels whilst the main wheel is turned by pedals at the centre. One of the practical uses of the vehicle was mail delivery. The two large baskets at front and rear were a vast improvement in delivering an increased quantity of mail and many Pentacycles were rolled out to postmen in the Horsham area. The bike was notoriously difficult to steer and was hard work ...
Phillips Tricycle ca.1958 Phillips Cycles Ltd. was a British bicycle manufacturer based in Smethwick near Birmingham, England. Its history began early in the 20th century and ended in the 1980s by which time it had become part of Raleigh Industries, itself a part of the Tube Investments group. For a number of years, the company was the second-largest bicycle producer in Britain, after Raleigh. The company motto, which was carried on all its badges, was “Renowned the World Over”. The “Phillips” b ...
Starley & Sutton Meteor Sociable double driver ca. 1883 Starley and Sutton Co. of Meteor Works, West Orchard, Coventry was an early pioneer of the bicycle. The company was founded by John Kemp Starley and William Sutton. Starley had formerly worked with his uncle James Starley. The double driver was a luxury tricycle with two driven wheels that were both fitted with band brakes. The brake was operated via a large handle by the rider, who was seated on the left hand side. The Sociable was availab ...
Quadrant 1889 Model 14a LADY’S TRICYCLE Mastery of a gentleman’s bicycle required youth and athletic prowess and, within the constraints of a conservative society, was entirely unsuitable for a lady. So cycle manufacturers started encouraging women to take up the hobby by riding a machine which would protect their decency. That machine was the tricycle. Cycling pioneer James Starley added the differential to the rear axle and greatly improved the machine. A differential allowed the rear wheels t ...
FN 1912 498cc AIV four cylinder frame # 37593 engine# 1365 To many enthusiasts the FN four has always been one of the most appealing machines of veteran and vintage times. Its production runs from 1905 till 1926. The earliest type has a 362 cc engine with atmospheric overhead inlet valves and side exhaust valves. It’s single geared, has shaft drive and the top speed is about 60 km/hour. The FN four is an immediate success and finds customers all over the world; FN sells their machines in more th ...
BMW 1951 R25 245 cc OHV single frame & engine # 234892 BMW’s first postwar model is a 247 cc single, the R24, brought out in 1948. In 1950 an improved model is presented, the R25. The BMW development engineers have incorporated many improvements in this new model; the most important being rear suspension, a refined engine and a welded tubular frame with sidecar mounts. Among the other refinements are a centrally sprung saddle, adjustable footrests, more graceful front mudguard, aluminium front b ...
Triumph 1923 499 cc OHV four valve “ Ricardo” frame # 330308 engine 91188 PRI Triumph decided to enter the 1921 TT with an overhead valve model and Ricardo and Co. Ltd. were given the order to develop a four valve racing engine. That is to say, the engine bottom half to be used was essentially that of the side valve model SD and many cycle parts were SD too, so only cylinder and head were to be designed newly. The four valves were not arranged radially but were set two by two and the heads were ...
Clément 1903 Autocyclette 1¾ hp Model B 142 cc OHV engine # LM465 Adolphe Clément, born in 1855, becomes an orphan at an early age. He’s very interested in things mechanical and, as an apprentice at the village blacksmith’s, manages to build a simple bicycle out of wood for his own use. When he’s 17 he leaves his village on this bicycle to seek his fortune in other parts of France. In 1876 he starts to take part in cycle races and sets up a small cycle manufacture. He decides to move to Paris an ...
Indian 1922 Model GE “Scout” 596 cc side valve V-twin frame & engine # 50T195 After WW I the Indian factory decides it’s time to market a somewhat lighter model than the 1000 cc PowerPlus. The new model, designated “Scout”, is the brainchild of Charles Franklin and creates a sensation when brought out at the end of 1919. The strong points of the new model are easy handling, lightness, ample power for the 1920s roads and unbeatable reliability. The engine is essentially a scaled-down version of t ...
Excelsior 1913 “Model 7C“ single speed 974 cc IOE V-twin engine # 42814 The Excelsior Supply Company of Chicago starts producing motorcycles with its own single cylinder engine in 1908. In 1911 the firm becomes part of Ignaz Schwinn’s bicycle empire. The 1913 brochure introduces the new models with confidence: “ In presenting the 1913 Excelsior Auto-Cycle we have purposely condensed its features into these few pages. All mention of the innumerable Excelsior triumphs is omitted, for the speed and ...
Norton racing sidecar This racing sidecar for righthand use has obviously once been connected to a Norton motorcycle. On the front it carries a badge saying “sv. Kristofe ochranuj nas”, which is Slovak for “Saint Christopher protect us”. It’s in barn find condition and the wheel is missing, but the whole is worth saving.
Unfortunately we do not know the maker of this professionally and beautifully built sidecar. The original wooden frame, covered with sheet metal, is still intact and in good condition. A large nickel plated bracket holds the window and functions as a support for the passenger when stepping in and out, through the small door. It was restored some 30 years ago and has never been used since. Some paint damage has occurred over the years. The fabric upholstery of the seat is still completely origina ...
Griffon 1904 2¾ HP 353 cc side valve Zédel frame # 23498 engine # 9086 Griffon is one of the oldest French makes: it was founded as a bicycle company and motorcycle production started in 1902. The factory was situated at the Rue Louis-Blanc in Courbevoie, Paris and for many years this make was in the foreground of French motorcycle manufacture. The firm was established in 1898 by Eugène Peugeot who had fallen out with his cousin Armand. They had arranged that Armand’s part of the business would ...
Peugeot 1904 2½ HP 300 cc aiv single frame # 11790 engine # 9294 Although a prototype De Dion-engined Peugeot bicycle was displayed at the Paris Salon in 1898, the first motorized cycles to leave the factory were actually tricycles with De Dion & Bouton engines. The popularity of the tricycle was unchallenged at first, but by 1902 the motorized bicycle started to take the lead: at the Paris Salon in December 1901 81 motorised cycles were exhibited, of which there were only 21 tricycles or quadri ...
Norton 1948 “Model 18” 490 cc OHV single frame # C3 17544 engine # C3 17544CT The Model 18 is first catalogued in 1923 and improvements resulting from the racing programme are regularly incorporated into the production bikes, yet the Model 18 retains its essentially vintage characteristics until an extensive redesign in 1931. At this time Norton’s side valve and overhead valve singles adopt the rear-mounted magneto – already seen on the ES2 – and switch to dry-sump lubrication. Norton continues ...
New Gerrard 1926 345cc JAP OHV frame # 35228 engine # IO/M 33095 John Adam Porter (1894-1952), better known as Jock, was the first Scotsman to win the Isle of Man TT motorcycle race and was a European Grand Prix motorcycle racing champion. From 1922 to 1940 he designed and built “New Gerrard” motorcycles from his Edinburgh based business, Porter’s Motor Mart. Porter made his debut in the Isle of Man in the 1922 Junior race but he had to retire. In 1923 he won the 250 cc class at an average speed ...