The David Plant Collection, 1912 Wartnaby & Draper 3½hp

"Unfortunately, like so many before and like so many to follow, Wartnaby & Draper would find the motorcycle market difficult to conquer. The financial clout of larger established companies together with war looming in Europe made this virtually impossible. The company closed after just two years." - Damien Kimberley, Coventry's Motorcycle Heritage.

Wartnaby & Draper (often abbreviated to WD) of Coventry was a short-lived but technically innovative motorcycle manufacturer active between 1911 and 1913. Founded by engineers John Wartnaby and Alfred Draper, the firm used 496cc (3½) inlet-over-exhaust engines built for them by another local firm, Monk Engineering of 21 High Street, Coventry. Reviewing the WD motorcycle in November 1911, The Motor Cycle stated: "The WD motor bicycle is the joint production of two engineers named Wartnaby and Draper, who are enthusiastic motorcyclists. For some considerable time they have collaborated to design an engine for motorcycles dispensing with splash lubrication." WD's design incorporated a gear-driven oil pump within the crankcase, which delivered pressurised lubrication to the main bearings, big-end, and gudgeon pin. This advanced system significantly reduced wear, improved smoothness and enhanced reliability, and was sufficiently novel to be granted a patent in 1911 (GB191109020). Other notable features of the Monk engine included a detachable cylinder head and a front-mounted magneto. The WD motorcycle also featured Druid forks and belt drive, and continued in this form until production ceased in 1913.

The accompanying history file is extensive and supports this motorcycle's identification, history, and restoration. Included is a Pioneer Certificate dating the motorcycle to 1912, together with invoices for restoration work carried out between 1995 and 1997 in the name of Mr Norman Jay of Dronfield, understood to be a previous owner. The file also contains photographs of the machine as discovered and during its restoration, along with typed notes from Mike Worthington-Williams, who confirms his opinion that the motorcycle is correctly identified as a Wartnaby & Draper.

Further supporting correspondence includes a letter from the Vintage Motor Cycle Club dated September 1994, which identifies the machine as a WD and highlights the distinctive nature of the design, particularly its force-feed lubrication system. The VMCC correspondence also notes certain detail variations when compared with period descriptions - such as the absence of an external oil feed pipe to the connecting rod - raising interesting points for further research, but without detracting from the overall identification.

Also included is a letter from the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu dated October 1994, describing the WD as a technically unusual and noteworthy machine, whose advanced lubrication system was sufficiently significant to warrant contemporary technical coverage. The museum further notes that while the cycle parts appear relatively conventional for the period, it is the engineering of the engine itself that dominates contemporary accounts, underlining the design's importance.

This rare survivor of an obscure British make is presented in restored condition (the engine turns over). It should be noted that we have been unable to locate/verify the frame number, but the engine number suggests that it was built in April 1912. Offered with old/current V5/V5C documents.

Following a period of inactivity, this motorcycle will require recommissioning and/or restoration to a greater or lesser extent before returning to the road and thus is sold strictly as viewed. Prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves with regard to this motorcycle's completeness, history, authenticity, originality and mechanical condition prior to bidding.
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