1924 Beardmore Precision, Barr & Stroud sleeve valve 350cc. ...

Estimate

£10,000 - £15,000

1924 Beardmore Precision, Barr & Stroud sleeve valve 350cc. Registration number PU 2421. Frame number (DVLA & R.F.60, 968) not found. Engine number (DVLA & R.F.60, 658, see text) 22654.
At one time F E Baker's Birmingham-based Precision company rivalled JAP as a supplier of engines to Britain's motorcycle manufacturers. The first Precision engine went on sale in 1910, but it was not until after WWI that the firm got around to building a complete motorcycle. Launched as the 'Beardmore Precision', the Scottish Beardmore engineering group having gained control of Baker's company, that first machine was a 350cc two-stroke featuring leaf-sprung suspension front and rear. The range expanded to include sidevalve models of various capacities, a Barr & Stroud sleeve valve-engined '350', and overhead-valve and overhead-cam works racers. Although production models gained an enviable reputation in the trials events of their day, the racers faired disastrously at the 1924 TT, the debacle prompting Beardmore to close the ailing firm. Leaf-sprung front suspension, an external contracting band front brake, and a fuel-tank integral with the frame structure were among its unusual features.
In 1888 Archibald Barr and William Stroud began their association, forming the Barr & Stroud company of Glasgow in 1913. Tested successfully in 1919, the first Barr and Stroud sleeve-valve engines were made available to the motorcycle trade in November 1921, initially as a 349cc and later in 499cc single and 998cc V-twin configurations.
Engine manufacture ceased in 1927. The company produced somewhat fewer than 2000 motorcycle engines, the majority being of 350cc capacity.
PU 2421 was first registered on the 27th March 1924 with a Precision engine, number 658, and by 1929 it was with Ernest Brown of Peckham in London. In 1954 it was sold for £1 10s by E.J. Bonson of London to Frederick Hesk of Hertfordshire, it still had its original engine at this stage.
In 1992 it was bought in auction as a restoration project by vintage specialist, Peter Autheson of Hull who replaced the engine with the current Barr& Stroud example and sold it on to our deceased vendor in 1995. The pride of his collection it has MOT certificates from 1996, 1997, 2002, 2004 and 2005, (no mileages recorded as there are no instruments), last taxed in 2009.
Rarely do these machines come on the market and with nearly 100 years of history this Beardmore presents very well as an older restoration by a skilled mechanic and well cared for by its last custodian.
According to VMCC marque specialist, two complete Beardmore Barr and Strouds exist, this one and one Bonhams sold as lot 206, April Stafford 2017. Another is under construction as a project. The marque specialist Derek Bryant would like the next custodian to contact him to keep his records complete.
Sold with the V5C, V5, R.F.60, 5 x MOT's, letter from VMCC marque specialist in 1992 and various other paperwork.