Cotton 1935ca 498cc OHV JAP 3602

Cotton 1935ca 498cc OHV JAP in racing trim frame # 17534 engine # JOS/S 89295/4

The Glouchester-based Cotton factory was one of many small manufacturers that used proprietary engines in the years between the first en second world wars. But there was something quite special about the Cotton, that made it much more successful than most other small makes: its frame. The frame that Frank Willoughby Cotton designed around 1914 was of triangulated construction, very light and exceptionally strong. Cotton was studying law at the time, but after WWI he decided to become a motorcycle manufacturer. In 1922 Cotton entered three machines for the Junior TT; an unknown young Irishman by the name of Stanley Woods rode his Cotton to an impressive 5th place, despite a number of alarming mishaps during the race such as the machine and rider catching fire during refuelling!
The next year Woods rode again for Cotton and he scored his first of 10 TT victories, being only 19 years old. Cotton had proved the very good roadholding and cornering qualities of his bikes and the make was to win many more races. In the years after WWII Cotton left the triangulated frame principle and scored successes in moto-cross and road racing.

This interesting 1930s machine in racing trim is fitted with a ca. 1957 JAP engine with aluminium cylinder and bore x stroke dimensions of 80 x 99 mm. She is fitted with Burman gearbox, BTH racing magneto, Smiths 8,000 rpm rev counter and Dunlop alu wheel rims.