Rrosenthal

Brough Superior – regarded by many as the pinnacle of vintage motorcycle design Brough 1909-25 UK The above dates are generally accepted as the production dates for WE Brough’s motorcycles. Yet he built his first motorcycle, powered by a period clip on engine in 1902 and by 1906, both sons, William (jnr) and George, were…

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1931 BSA B21 BSA 1905-73 UK In 1854, 14 Birmingham gunsmiths formed a group named the Birmingham Small Arms Company. Seven years later a public limited company of the same name was created and the 25-acre Small Heath, Birmingham site acquired. Needing to expand beyond armaments manufacture, the company began making cycle components in 1878.…

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Early Bultaco four speed model Buchet 1900-11 France Well known French manufacturer in the period of proprietary engines, offered single and twin cylinder motorcycles in varying capacities. They also built three wheelers, early racing motorcycles, often with massive engines, and cars, from 1910-30. Bucker 1922-55 Germany Built large numbers of motorcycles pre-WWII using proprietary engines…

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Single cylinder roadster from CCM CCM 1971- UK Following the closure of BSA’s competition shop, Bolton based Alan Clews bought from Small Heath 12 BSA motocross frames, assorted wheels and sundries. Alan built one machine, installing a BSA engine, then another, then another – and CCM (Clews Competition Machines) was founded. Early models were named…

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Standard 350cc Connaught with company’s own sidecar, pictured in 1923 Christophe c1922-28 France Range of machines identical to Automoto. Models included two-stroke lightweights, 350 and 500cc four-strokes and they tried a 498cc ohc model with three valve cylinder head. Ciamatti 1950-84 Italy Former Olympiad Marco Ciamatti – cycling gold medalist as part of the Italian…

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Coventry Eagle Flying Eight Cotton 1919-80 UK Frank Willoughby Cotton, the law student son of a Herefordshire farmer, competed in trials and hill climbs often riding an open framed Scott. Inspired, Cotton designed a light but strong triangulated frame which the Butterfield Bros at Levis tested before the outbreak of WWI. Patenting his design, 17434/1914,…

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125cc Jawa-CZ Cyc-Auto 1934-56 UK If you’re into autocycles and fancy something a little different thank Mr Wellington Butt for the Cyc-Auto. The engine, with its crankshaft in line with the frame, drives a reduction worm gear mounted in the pedal bracket by shaft with chain final drive. Butt initially fitted a 98cc three-port, deflector…

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1924 JAP-engined sidevalve Diamond Dalesman 1969-74 UK US financed production of well made lightweight off-road competition machines, using notably Puch and Sachs engines. Darmont-Morgan 1920-39 France Blackburne and JAP V-twin engined replicas of the British Morgan three wheeler built by French Morgan agent M Darmont – a former Morgan racing driver. Highly prized today. Dayton…

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1974 rotary-engined DKW W2000 DKW 1919-81 Germany From the late Twenties until WWII, DKW was the most influential two-stroke motorcycle maker in the world. They pioneered the loop scavenge principle, which utilised crankcase compression, employed ‘supercharging’ pistons and, later, rotary valve induction on their racers. They were for many years the world’s largest volume motorcycle…

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Douglas Dragonfly was last throw of dice Douglas 1908-57 UK One of the most successful and versatile motorcycle manufacturers ever. They won the Junior, Senior and Sidecar TTs, excelled off-road including ISDT, built the ultimate speedway machine, supplied motorcycles in their droves to the allied forces, pioneered disc brakes, built industrial engines, military equipment, cars,…

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