1909 Triumph 3½hp

Registration no. X 1631 (see text) Frame no. 139567 Engine no. 9 3 09

• Present family ownership for between 30 and 50 years
• An older restoration
• Started within the last year
• Two-speed hub gear

The first Triumph motorcycle of 1902 used a Belgian Minerva engine, but within a few years the Coventry firm - originally a bicycle manufacturer founded by German immigrants Siegfried Bettman and Maurice Schulte - was building its own power units. The first of these - a 298cc single-cylinder sidevalve - arrived in 1904. This first engine was not without its weaknesses, pistons and bores wore out quickly and the curious 'tandem down-tube' frame in which it was installed broke, but these shortcomings were soon sorted and within a couple of years 'Triumph' was a byword for reliability. The famous 3.5hp model first appeared in 1907. Originally of 453cc, its 3½hp sidevalve engine was enlarged to 476cc in 1908 and finally to 499cc in 1910 before being superseded by the 4hp model in 1914.

The company was involved in racing from its earliest days, and the publicity generated by competition successes - Jack Marshall won the 1908 Isle of Man TT's single-cylinder class for Triumph having finished second the previous year - greatly stimulated sales. By the outbreak of The Great War, the marque's reputation for quality and dependability was well-established, leading to substantial orders for 'Trusty Triumphs' for British and Allied forces.

This belt-driven 3½hp Triumph has been owned by the vendor's family for between 30 and 50 years. Kept on display in a private museum, the machine has not been used for at least 20 years but has been started within the last year or so (the engine turns over). The Triumph has obviously been refurbished prior to the present ownership but nevertheless will require re-commissioning before further use. Notable features include a two-speed hub gear; Cowey 0-70mph speedometer; and an unusual large USA-made Rushmore 'Searchlight' acetylene headlamp with its own large-capacity generator. There is a second smaller generator on the opposite side, presumably to supply the rear lamp. There are no documents with this Lot and it should be noted that the registration 'X 1631' is not listed in the HPI database; accordingly, prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves with regard to this motorcycle's registration status prior to bidding.
Offered without key