1914 Triumph, Model C, 550cc. Registration number AB 3637. F...

Hammer

£11,000

1914 Triumph, Model C, 550cc. Registration number AB 3637. Frame number 251278. Engine number 31979.
Triumph’s well-engineered 3hp single-cylinder motorcycles earned the company a reputation as a manufacturer of reliable products that were capable of sporting needs. In 1907, the 3hp model was superseded by the 453cc, 3.5hp, side-valve, single-cylinder models. The engine was enlarged to 475cc in 1908 and then to 499cc in 1910. The front forks are of a unique Triumph type that is sprung to move backwards and forwards.
In 1914, the engine was enlarged to 550cc and the 4hp model introduced of which this is an example. It has a three speed Sturmey Archer hub and belt drive.
The first owner was Mr. L. Baker of Stourbridge who registered it on the 6th April 1914 with Worcestershire County Council and was registered under the Roads Act of 1920 on the 18th February 1921. He licensed it until 1929 when Mike Garbett's father bought it and he can remember his mother and father riding it in the 1920/30's on the Shropshire/Staffordshire border, going as far as Colwyn Bay and Leamington Spa (see letter dated 2008).
Percy Clare of Clare's Motor Works in London sold it in 1955 to William Wilshere of Watford for £15; he obtained a Pioneer certificate, numbered 299, in October 1956 for it and another, numbered 393, was obtained in 1961. The R.F. 60 shows it was taxed until 1967 and a V10 dated 1983 confirms continuous ownership. In 1975 it was ridden by Malcolm Taylor in the Pioneer Run, see photograph. Malcolm has added the following.
"At some time in the 1970s, the machine was loaned to what was then the G.P.O. they wanted to run it, along with some other vehicles, in the Lord Mayor’s Show in London to celebrate an anniversary. The local Post Office workshop painted the tank bright red with GR letters in gilt. VMCC member Mike Vangucci rode the machine. and there was a photo of him on it on the front of a VMCC Journal. I remember Mike telling me that he had to pedal most of the way because the pace of the procession was too slow for low gear on the bike! The tank was red when I rode her, it wasn’t repainted until the VMCC got hold of the bike". Malcolm also states "One thing that I do remember, is that the bike had a Brown and Barlow carb instead of the usual Triumph twin-barrel type. Bill was adamant that, despite what experts had said, this carb had been an original option. I see that she still wears it."
In 1985 the VMCC bought it and offered it as a raffle prize, it was won by Mr Rees Of Carmarthen, the two 20p tickets he purchased are on file! Rees did not want the machine so the promoter, David Earnshaw of South Yorkshire arranged for our vendor to purchase it from him.
In 1986 our vendor obtained a new Pioneer certificate, in his name and numbered 393; he has ridden it in many Pioneer/Vintage/Veteran runs over the years and is now, of an age, when it is not easy to ride.
AB 3637 is an unrestored machine with amazing verified history, that is an important part of the VMCC history that has been in use for nearly 100 years.
Sold with the V5C, the aforementioned paperwork, raffle tickets, VMCC register 1712, and MOT's from 1961, 1970, 1975, 1983, 1986, 1987 and 1997