The Rex Judd Collection, c.1902 Bradbury 211cc

• Rare early veteran
• Long term Judd family ownership
• Undoubtedly one of the earliest surviving Bradburys

Bradbury and Co. Ltd of The Wellington Works, Oldham, previously manufacturers of bicycles and sewing machines, marketed their first motorcycle in 1902. It was fitted with the very popular Belgian 1½ hp Minerva "clip on" engine which was mounted in front of the frame's front downtube at the bottom. Other notable users of the Minerva engine kits included Triumph and Quadrant. The slab sided compartments mounted between the frame tubes would have contained the fuel tank, surface carburettor, battery, and the ignition system. "Simplicity, Strength, Speed" was Bradbury's advertising slogan, and it sold for exactly £50. 1902 may have been the peak year for the clip on Minerva engines. It was still possible to buy a Minerva engined Bradbury in 1903, but this was the year that Bradbury started building their own engines which were now mounted vertically and centrally in the frame, which presumably resulted in better weight distribution and handling.

We thank Richard Rosenthal for his insights into contemporary Minerva engines, and we are indebted to Mike Wills, VMCC Bradbury marque specialist, for his help with Bradbury history and his thoughts on this particular machine. Mike said "overall it appears to be as per 1902 specification" but observed that it is fitted with the improved 1903 style braced forks. However, he points out that the original forks were known to break, and that it is likely that the braced forks were fitted from some unknown point during 1902. It is therefore possible that the "1903" forks have been fitted from new.

This rare early Bradbury from the first year of production must be one of the oldest still surviving. It is thought to have previously belonged to the late Percy Webb of Maidstone, who may have carried out what appears to be an earlier restoration. It is not known exactly when it was acquired by Rex Judd, but it was certainly in his possession by the mid-1960s when it was on display in the Montagu Motor Museum at Beaulieu. Mike Wills remembers seeing it hanging on the wall in the Rex Judd dealership in the 1980s. We have noted that MOTORCYCLING's 1944 five instalment profile of Rex Judd concludes with a list of his then motorcycle collection. Included in this list is a 'Minerva Bradbury'. It seems probable that this is the same motorcycle, and if so, it must have been acquired significantly earlier than is indicated above.

The engine turns over, but otherwise the Bradbury's mechanical condition is completely unknown. Following a long period in storage, recommissioning and perhaps more extensive restoration will be required before taking to the road. A sheet of Bradbury transfers is supplied, but there are no accompanying documents.

Prospective bidders must satisfy themselves regarding the motorcycle's provenance, condition, age, completeness, and originality prior to bidding. Sold strictly as seen.

Key not required.

The Rex Judd Collection
Baby boomer and Gen X motorcyclists from the northwest London area will associate Rex Judd's name with the busy Edgware based motorcycle dealership. Earlier generations, sadly no longer with us, would have remembered Rex Judd the world famous motorcycle racer best known for his exploits at Brooklands in the 1920s. Born on Christmas Day 1899, during WW1 the young Rex served in the RFC which was of course integrated into the RAF. Afterwards, being a motorcycle nut, he hung around the Brooklands track in the hope of a job offer – which duly came, resulting in him passengering a racing sidecar. This led to him joining one of the very best tuners of the day, "Wizard" O'Donovan, with whom he worked on and raced 500cc Nortons and 250cc two stroke Velocettes. In this period he won numerous races and set multiple speed records which included winning the Godfrey Cup for the first 500cc machine to exceed 90mph. He raced the 250cc two stroke Velocettes in the Island in 1921 and 1922 but retired on both occasions.

At the end of 1922 Rex joined Douglas, who were at the height of their powers in the 1920s, and contributed in no small way to their ongoing success. He continued his winning ways and set more speed records both at Brooklands and Arpajon, and raced in the Isle of Man in 1923 and 1925. He didn't have a lot of luck at the TT retiring in all his races except the 1925 Senior when he won the Nisbet Award for pluck. He had crashed on his first lap, breaking off a footrest, was stopped by the stewards at both Ballacraine and Ramsey, and rode the rest of the race with his boot resting on the exhaust, his foot getting badly burnt in the process, and finally finishing 19th and last in a little over four hours. In 1927 he became the 5th rider to achieve a 100+mph lap at Brooklands, and was awarded his Gold Star retrospectively in 1930 when the early achievers of this great feat were recognised. Following an extremely successful racing year Rex stopped racing at the end of 1927, but he continued working with Douglas, one of his titles being 'Supervisor of racing machines, races, and track work'.

No account of Rex Judd's Brooklands years would be complete without mentioning his close friendship with the legendary Freddie Dixon. Dixon left Douglas in 1926 and it was Rex who persuaded him to return in 1928. They obviously had some great and riotous times together. In Charles Mortimer's book 'Brooklands Behind the Scenes' there is an account of J. S. 'Woolly' Worter's Brooklands reminiscences. He was asked by Mortimer what sort of help and support was forthcoming from fellow riders. The answer was 'Comparatively little. Some riders would go to almost any lengths to hinder the up and coming. Dixon and Judd would help anyone at any time'. In relation to Rex Judd he said 'the spirit of good cheer at all times and a good TT as well as a track man'.

In 1927 Rex had become involved with Bob Newitt in a motorcycle dealership in High Wycombe, but this didn't last, and following his departure from Douglas in 1930, he opened his Edgware showroom the following year. As the 1930s progressed and the country finally came out of the Depression Rex Judd Motorcycles held agencies for many of the British manufacturers, and also had a successful business in bicycles and secondhand cars. Rex never lost his love of racing. In 1939 and the years immediately after the war he supported the Pike brothers with their Lightweight TT entries on 250cc Rudges. Later years saw many other riders being sponsored. He actively supported the Brooklands Reunions, was a regular visitor to the Isle of Man, and ran annual staff visits to the Senior TT. In 1963 he was President of the TT Riders Association. Rex became semi-retired after falling ill in 1965 and sadly died in 1970, but the business continued to thrive in the hands of his son Peter, before being sold in 1989. After his father's death Peter asked the Brooklands authorities whether Rex's ashes could be scattered on the track. They refused but he did it anyway.

Peter Judd had started working in the family business in 1948, and was active in trials, scrambles, and grasstracking, but in deference to his mother he didn't follow his father into road racing. By 1960 Peter was really running the business, and foreseeing how things would turn out in the future, it was he who oversaw the arrival of Hondas on the Judd shopfloor around 1963. In the years that followed Suzuki, Yamaha, and Kawasaki were also offered.

A true motorcycle enthusiast to the end of his life, Rex Judd became well known as a collector of early motorcycles. In a five instalment article published in 1944 'MotorCycling' magazine referred to him as 'one of this country's most brilliant racing men' and highlighted 'his phenomenal collection of vintage machines'. The collection was thinned out in the early 1950s, but Bonhams is honoured to have been chosen by the Judd family to offer the eleven remaining machines which make up The Rex Judd Collection at the Spring Stafford Sale on 26th April 2026.