1914 Wall Auto-Wheel & Premier Tricycle

Registration no. DS 8287 Frame no. 3534 Engine no. 4755

Motorised attachments for bicycles were first popularised on the Continent but even before The Great War there were one or two British examples, perhaps the best known being the Wall Auto-Wheel. The latter was the work of A W Wall of Guildford, who offered a proper motorcycle of his own design during 1903/1904, which was later marketed under the 'Roc' name and produced in Birmingham. Wall's prototype Auto-Wheel appeared around 1909 and the first production version in 1912. Powered by a 118cc four-stroke engine, the Wall Auto-Wheel was mounted in its own tubular frame, compete with fuel tank, and fitted alongside the bicycle's rear wheel, endowing the machine with a top speed of around 15mph on the flat ('light pedal assistance' was required to cope with ascents). Output totalled some 1,750 units in 1913 and 10,000 in 1914, 5,000 of which were produced by BSA, with production continuing into the mid-1920s. Wall's advertisements listed HRH Prince George of Battenberg and HRH Prince Henry of Russia as satisfied customers.

Registered to the current vendor in 2007, this example was restored by him and is attached to a Premier tricycle. Beautifully presented and a delight to look at, this superb Auto-Wheel-powered tricycle is offered with a Pioneer Certificate (issued December 2014); a V5C registration document; and some marque-related literature.