1938 Cotton Model 9/special, 350 cc high camshaft. Registrat...

Hammer

£5,800

1938 Cotton Model 9/special, 350 cc high camshaft. Registration number VSV 737. Frame number 17077. Engine number 10 H/0 59755/S.
Gloucester-based Cotton established its reputation with a string of racing successes in the 1920's thanks to an innovative frame patented by its founder, Frank Willoughby Cotton. Cotton's design featured four straight tubes running from the steering head to the rear spindle, augmented by further straight stays supporting the gearbox and engine. The result was a stiff, lightweight chassis far in advance of the bicycle-derived diamond type of frame used by the majority manufacturers. Like other small independent firms Cotton relied on propriety engines such as Villiers, JAP and Blackburne, but such was the advantage conferred by its frame the Cotton had little trouble seeing off similarly powered rivals.
The legendary Stanley Woods made his Isle of Man TT debut on a Cotton in 1922, going on to win the Junior event at record speed the following year. Countless wins and placing's were achieved in International events throughout the 1920's; Cotton's finest TT achievement occurring in 1926 when its entries finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the 250 cc Lightweight class.
In 1938 Cotton produced the following models O.H.V. Super De-luxe Models 9/38, 350/38, 9/Special, 500/38, 5/Special, 25/Special, 600/38, 6/B, 250/38 & 30/Special and S.V. De-luxe Models 1/V, 1/B, 2/JC and 2/J. The Model 9/Special had a 3.5 hp OHV JAP engine with a high camshaft and cost £56 10 shillings.
When World War II broke out in 1939, Cotton was prevented from making further models for private use, but the expected Ministry contract did not materialize and Bill Cotton liquidated the company in 1940. Shortly thereafter, Cotton received the Ministry contract so Cottons continued to be produced in small numbers and Bill Cotton kept the company alive post-war mainly by refurbishing older Cottons for resale.
VSV In July 1957 the then owner, Mr Marshall of Ross on Wye sold it to Mr Bacon also of Ross on Wye. In 1978 Ian Coomber of West Sussex bought it from his friend Norman Broadbridge of Chichester who had found it at a farm in Wiltshire where it had been used as a field hack, it was in a very poor state (see photo on file). He set about acquiring the correct parts and by 1985 he had it MOT'd and had the VMCC confirm its date of manufacture.
In 2015 Verralls were asked to sell the Cotton and emails between them and Charles Cotton (whose grandfather was W.F. Cotton) threw some interesting light on its early years. He confirmed that originally it had been sold on the 18th January 1938 with the the registration number BFH 716. Our vendor bought it from them as a "keeper" but now other interests have taken his fancy.
Sold with the V5C, V5, a large history folder and related paperwork.