Thomas Humber began bicycle manufacture in 1868 when useable cycles were in their infancy and made their first motor cycles, admittedly under both P&M and Minerva patents, in 1902, in conjunction with the manufacture of motor tricycles and fore-cars. A break followed until a company resurgence in 1909, when a wholly Humber-designed '3 1/2' single-cylinder was announced with, on the first few, a frame doubling as the silencer. Developing from this successful machine, well-respected cars and motor cycles were made until the late 'twenties, when the motor part of the Humber concern was swallowed by the newly emerging Rootes group in 1932. This early Humber is noteworthy for its control layout. Unusually for a motor cycle, the rear axle of the 3 1/2 is live for use with the engine's starting handle when on the stand. Following starting on the two-speed model, as here, neutral can be selected before, of course, taking the machine off the stand. The Humber's epicyclic two-speed gear is by Roc, a marvellous mechanism from the A.W.Wall firm of which Conan Doyle was a shareholder. It is controlled by no fewer than three pedals, a right-hand one for the lower of the two ratios which acts also as the 'clutch', a left-hand, two-part pedal for 'high' next to a third pedal for the rear brake and another right-hand pedal for the exhaust cut-out. The throttle, mixture, valve-lifter and front brake are conventionally worked by handlebar levers plus a tank-top handle for the ignition timing. In an era where complex mechanisms were the source of great pride to their operators, the Humber's controls were said, at the time, to be simple to operate. The rest of this lovely veteran is relatively conventional, with a conventional side-valve engine and a heavy frame of bicycle-type construction with Druid-style, sprung front fork, the whole machine being of excellent quality. This most interesting and very rare Pioneer Humber was carefully restored some years ago and has been further worked on and well looked-after while on display in a motor cycle museum. Offered with Pioneer Certificate No. 1743 and a V5, of course and following the usual careful re-commissioning, will be ready for road use and a possible entry for the 2012 Pioneer Run.
Thomas Humber began bicycle manufacture in 1868 when useable cycles were in their infancy and made their first motor cycles, admittedly under both P&M and Minerva patents, in 1902, in conjunction with the manufacture of motor tricycles and fore-cars. A break followed until a company resurgence in 1909, when a wholly Humber-designed '3 1/2' single-cylinder was announced with, on the first few, a frame doubling as the silencer. Developing from this successful machine, well-respected cars and motor cycles were made until the late 'twenties, when the motor part of the Humber concern was swallowed by the newly emerging Rootes group in 1932. This early Humber is noteworthy for its control layout. Unusually for a motor cycle, the rear axle of the 3 1/2 is live for use with the engine's starting handle when on the stand. Following starting on the two-speed model, as here, neutral can be selected before, of course, taking the machine off the stand. The Humber's epicyclic two-speed gear is by Roc, a marvellous mechanism from the A.W.Wall firm of which Conan Doyle was a shareholder. It is controlled by no fewer than three pedals, a right-hand one for the lower of the two ratios which acts also as the 'clutch', a left-hand, two-part pedal for 'high' next to a third pedal for the rear brake and another right-hand pedal for the exhaust cut-out. The throttle, mixture, valve-lifter and front brake are conventionally worked by handlebar levers plus a tank-top handle for the ignition timing. In an era where complex mechanisms were the source of great pride to their operators, the Humber's controls were said, at the time, to be simple to operate. The rest of this lovely veteran is relatively conventional, with a conventional side-valve engine and a heavy frame of bicycle-type construction with Druid-style, sprung front fork, the whole machine being of excellent quality. This most interesting and very rare Pioneer Humber was carefully restored some years ago and has been further worked on and well looked-after while on display in a motor cycle museum. Offered with Pioneer Certificate No. 1743 and a V5, of course and following the usual careful re-commissioning, will be ready for road use and a possible entry for the 2012 Pioneer Run.
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