1898 MMC Werner 217cc Motocyclette

"Of all pioneer machines, undoubtedly the most famous is the 1¼ hp front-wheel-drive Werner, which first appearing in 1897, was produced up to the early months of 1902, when the Werner factory popularized a new fashion by introducing a 'central-engined' machine." - Motor Cycling, testing 'BL 5569' in February 1952 (photocopy article on file).

Paris-based Russian émigrés Michel and Eugene Werner had built their first motorcycle in 1896 by the simple expedient of mounting a single-cylinder petrol engine, designed by Hippolyte Labitte, in front of the steering head of a bicycle, directly above the front wheel, which it drove via a belt. One of the first practical motorcycles, the Werner Motocyclette proved an immediate success and the brothers abandoned their cinematograph business to set up a factory to build it.

Priced at around £50 in 1898, the Werner Motocyclette was handled in the UK by the Motor Manufacturing Company Ltd of Holborn, London E4, which had acquired the British rights to the design. The Motor Manufacturing Company (MMC) was successor to The Great Horseless Carriage Company, which had been founded in 1897 by the infamous entrepreneur and fraudster, Harry J Lawson, and was part of his British Motor Syndicate. Lawson had sought to establish a monopoly of motor manufacturing in Britain by obtaining as many related patents as possible, starting with those of the German Daimler company. His efforts would be frustrated by the courts.

Although immensely successful - in 1900 Werner sold a staggering 1,000 machines - the design was not without its shortcomings, not the least of which was the dreaded 'sideslip' - a consequence of its high centre of gravity - whereupon the hot tube ignition would cause the fallen machine to catch fire. It is not difficult to imagine what an immense step forward the Werners' next design must have seemed when it arrived in 1901.

The 1901 Werner is generally acknowledged as the first powered two-wheeler to carry its engine in the frame where the bicycle's bottom bracket and pedalling gear had been located, and thus is credited as the progenitor of the modern motorcycle. In actual fact, Gottlieb Daimler's Einspur prototype of 1884 had mounted its engine in the same position, as had various other manufacturers prior to Werner. The latter though, was the only firm with the foresight to patent the idea.

At the time of Motor Cycling's 1952 test, 'BL 5569' belonged to one A L S Denyer of Alton, Hampshire, who had acquired it in 1949. Arrangements were made to ride the Werner to meet first owner Walter W Webber at his home in Cliddesden Road, Basingstoke. Walter Webber was a former mayor of the Hampshire town and founder of local firm Webbers of Basingstoke. Set up in 1893 as a vehicle repair shop, the firm soon moved to showroom premises in Winchester Street, selling bicycles, motorcycles and motor cars. A successful motor dealership, the company would remain in the Webber family's hands for over 100 years before it passed into the ownership of the Harwoods Group in 2007.

Issued in 1949, the old-style RF.60 logbook on file lists two further private keepers after Mr Denyer: Owen Tyler of Warnborough (1954) and Robert Brind of Henley-on-Thames (1970). However, the accompanying Pioneer Certificate was issued to the late owner in 1961, and it would appear that Mr Brind's registration was effected so that he could borrow the Werner to ride it in the Pioneer Run (see documents on file). There is a (copy) photograph on file of Owen Tyler and the Werner at the North Hants Veteran Rally in September 1954; Owen Tyler is shown shaking hands with first owner Walter Webber.

The RF60 logbook records the date of first registration as 7th March 1921, this being shortly after the introduction of the Roads Act of 1920, which required local councils to register all vehicles at the time of licensing and to allocate a separate number to each. (Many vehicles, although in existence for several years in some cases, were only registered for the first time after the Act's passing).

The MMC Werner was restored by the current vendor's aforementioned late father and appears to be an older restoration that has since deteriorated. 'BL 5569' is said to have participated in several London to Brighton runs, most recently in 1998 to celebrate Werner's 100th birthday ridden by Brian Kettles, a good rider, engineer and mechanic (the affixed tax disc expired in 1998 and the last MoT expired in 2003). In recent years the Werner has been kept on static display as part of a private collection. Following a period of inactivity and storage, the machine will require recommissioning and/or restoration to a greater or lesser extent and thus is sold strictly as viewed (the engine turns over). Prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves as to this motorcycle's completeness, originality and mechanical condition prior to bidding. In addition to the aforementioned documentation, the history file also contains a current V5C Registration Certificate and DVLA SORN correspondence.

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