LOT 719
Offered from the National Motorcycle Museum Collection 1923 Martinsyde 495cc Motorcycle Combination Registration no. FE 5211 (see text) Frame no. 221285 Engine no. H/221283
Sold for £25,300 inc. premium
Lot 719
Offered from the National Motorcycle Museum Collection, 1923 Martinsyde 495cc Motorcycle CombinationRegistration no. FE 5211 (see text) Frame no. 221285 Engine no. H/221283
Offered from the National Motorcycle Museum Collection
1923 Martinsyde 495cc Motorcycle Combination
Registration no. FE 5211 (see text)
Frame no. 221285
Engine no. H/221283
1923 Martinsyde 495cc Motorcycle Combination
Registration no. FE 5211 (see text)
Frame no. 221285
Engine no. H/221283
• Late example of the marque
• Extremely rare model
• An older restoration
The British firm of Martinsyde was founded in 1908 when Helmuth Paul Martin and George Harris Handasyde went into partnership to build aircraft. By the end of WWI Martinsyde was Britain's third largest aircraft manufacturer, occupying sites at Brooklands and Woking. Faced with a sharp downturn in demand for its products, the firm turned to motorcycle production at the war's end having acquired the rights to an unusual exhaust-over-inlet v-twin engine, designed by Howard Newman, and an AJS three-speed gearbox. Martinsyde made its first public appearance at the 1919 Motorcycle Show at Olympia, displaying a 6hp combination powered by the 678cc version of Newman's engine. Problems caused by unsatisfactory frame components having been overcome, motorcycle production got properly underway early in 1920.
The company's first machines were marketed as Martinsyde-Newmans, abbreviated to simply Martinsyde after Newman's departure. 495cc v-twin and 350cc single-cylinder models were added to the range and Martinsydes began to feature in competitions, achieving some notable successes at Brooklands and the Scottish Six Days Trial. In November 1921 Martinsyde rider H H Bowen captured the One-Hour record at Brooklands, covering 77.58 miles on the 24th and 78.13 miles on the 29th of that month. Although of unusual layout, the Martinsyde motor was nothing if not durable, its maker's advertising confidently declaring that 'You cannot tire the Martinsyde engine'. Many years after the factory's closure, Martinsydes were still setting records, their most astonishing achievement of modern times being Neil Bromilow's circumnavigation of Australia, a 9,933-mile marathon that took him 34 days to complete in 1984. Sadly, in 1922 a disastrous fire destroyed the works and Martinsyde went into liquidation, its name and remaining stock being acquired by BAT. The last complete machine was sold in 1923 and few examples - a little over 30 according to the Martinsyde Register - of the 2,000-or-so made survive today.
Even rarer than the 680cc twins, this 495cc Martinsyde comes with an old-style buff logbook (issued in 1963) showing that at that time it was licensed as a solo, the change to sidecar being made shortly thereafter. The logbook confirms matching frame and engine numbers. It should be noted that the registration 'FE 5211' has lapsed and is not recorded in the HPI database; accordingly, prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves with regard to this vehicle's registration status prior to bidding. Apparently, an older restoration, the machine is offered with Martinsyde Register correspondence and a photocopied manufacturer's brochure. The machine's mechanical condition is not known; accordingly, prospective purchasers must satisfy themselves with regard to its condition, completeness, correctness, or otherwise prior to bidding. It should be noted that this machine is recorded as a 680cc model in the Martinsyde Register.
• Extremely rare model
• An older restoration
The British firm of Martinsyde was founded in 1908 when Helmuth Paul Martin and George Harris Handasyde went into partnership to build aircraft. By the end of WWI Martinsyde was Britain's third largest aircraft manufacturer, occupying sites at Brooklands and Woking. Faced with a sharp downturn in demand for its products, the firm turned to motorcycle production at the war's end having acquired the rights to an unusual exhaust-over-inlet v-twin engine, designed by Howard Newman, and an AJS three-speed gearbox. Martinsyde made its first public appearance at the 1919 Motorcycle Show at Olympia, displaying a 6hp combination powered by the 678cc version of Newman's engine. Problems caused by unsatisfactory frame components having been overcome, motorcycle production got properly underway early in 1920.
The company's first machines were marketed as Martinsyde-Newmans, abbreviated to simply Martinsyde after Newman's departure. 495cc v-twin and 350cc single-cylinder models were added to the range and Martinsydes began to feature in competitions, achieving some notable successes at Brooklands and the Scottish Six Days Trial. In November 1921 Martinsyde rider H H Bowen captured the One-Hour record at Brooklands, covering 77.58 miles on the 24th and 78.13 miles on the 29th of that month. Although of unusual layout, the Martinsyde motor was nothing if not durable, its maker's advertising confidently declaring that 'You cannot tire the Martinsyde engine'. Many years after the factory's closure, Martinsydes were still setting records, their most astonishing achievement of modern times being Neil Bromilow's circumnavigation of Australia, a 9,933-mile marathon that took him 34 days to complete in 1984. Sadly, in 1922 a disastrous fire destroyed the works and Martinsyde went into liquidation, its name and remaining stock being acquired by BAT. The last complete machine was sold in 1923 and few examples - a little over 30 according to the Martinsyde Register - of the 2,000-or-so made survive today.
Even rarer than the 680cc twins, this 495cc Martinsyde comes with an old-style buff logbook (issued in 1963) showing that at that time it was licensed as a solo, the change to sidecar being made shortly thereafter. The logbook confirms matching frame and engine numbers. It should be noted that the registration 'FE 5211' has lapsed and is not recorded in the HPI database; accordingly, prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves with regard to this vehicle's registration status prior to bidding. Apparently, an older restoration, the machine is offered with Martinsyde Register correspondence and a photocopied manufacturer's brochure. The machine's mechanical condition is not known; accordingly, prospective purchasers must satisfy themselves with regard to its condition, completeness, correctness, or otherwise prior to bidding. It should be noted that this machine is recorded as a 680cc model in the Martinsyde Register.
Saleroom notices
According to the Martinsyde authority and marque specialist Brian Walker, this example may be a 680cc example. He also advises that it retains a good level of originality and that he believes the sidecar is an original Martinsyde. Please click the link to view the walkaround video of Lot 719: click here
Additional information
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