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Auction archive: Lot number 283

1913 BSA 3½hp Registration no. CF 1388 Frame no. 5783 Engine no. 7434

Estimate
£0
Price realised:
£12,650
ca. US$22,745
Auction archive: Lot number 283

1913 BSA 3½hp Registration no. CF 1388 Frame no. 5783 Engine no. 7434

Estimate
£0
Price realised:
£12,650
ca. US$22,745
Beschreibung:

Originally established in 1861 as an armaments manufacturer, The Birmingham Small Arms Company switched to making components for the bicycle industry in 1878 following a Government-induced downturn in the arms market. Within a few years the firm had moved on to offering complete bicycles and tricycles distinguished by its famous ‘Piled Arms’ emblem, only to abandon the cycle business in 1888 when the War Office decided to re-equip the British Army with new rifles. BSA was back as a supplier of bicycle components in 1892 and even built a small quantity of internal combustion engines to order; but then came the Boer War and the firm once again reverted to the production of weapons. When it next returned to two-wheeled transport, in 1902, BSA would be there to stay. BSA first experimented with powered two-wheelers in 1905 using a standard-type bicycle. This first motorcycle made by BSA used a proprietary engine - probably the Belgian Minerva - clipped to the front down-tube, but it was not until 1910 that the firm introduced a model entirely of its own design and manufacture. This was produced, not at the famous Small Heath works in Birmingham, but at the old Eadie Manufacturing Company factory in Redditch. The acquisition of Eadie in 1908 had brought with it considerable experience in the manufacture of bicycle hub brakes as well as the services of Albert Eadie, who, together with ex-James Cycle Company works manager, Charles Hyde and engine designer, F E Baker, would be responsible for establishing BSA as a motorcycle manufacturer. Displayed at the 1910 Olympia Show, the first series-production motorcycle to feature the marque’s distinctive green and cream tank colours was a 499cc (3½hp) sidevalve single, built initially with single-speed, belt-drive transmission and later on with a three-speed countershaft gearbox. Well engineered and equally well made, this first BSA proved an enormous success and changed little over the next few years, though for 1912 a two-speed hub gear was available together with an all chain drive model suitable for sidecar work. This delightful Edwardian-era 3½hp BSA was discovered in ‘barn find’ condition in the early 1980s and subsequently mechanically restored. A photograph on file shows the BSA ‘as discovered’ and appears to confirm that, apart from a clean and the aforementioned mechanical rebuild, it remains unrestored and original. The machine has had three owners since it was reregistered on its original number in 1981: A W Ruffell, David Weeks and Allan Middleton, the last of whom acquired the machine in December 1987 and sold it to Brian Verrall in September 1999. There are two Sunbeam MCC Pioneer Certificates on file: one issued in December 1981 to Mr Ruffell and the other in 1988 to Mr Middleton, while further accompanying documentation includes three expired MoTs (1993-1994, 1995-1996 and 2002-2003), a quantity of expired SORNs, old-style Swansea V5 and current V5C documents. The machine was last licensed for the road to February 2003 and has not been used since the 2002 Pioneer Run. Two (photocopy) period BSA brochures are included in the sale. Courtesy of Bonhams and The Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club, complimentary inclusion in the 71st Pioneer Run for Veteran Motorcycles is included with this Lot. The Run takes place on the 22 March 2009.

Auction archive: Lot number 283
Auction:
Datum:
1 Sep 2008
Auction house:
Bonhams London
London, New Bond Street 101 New Bond Street London W1S 1SR Tel: +44 20 7447 7447 Fax : +44 207 447 7401 info@bonhams.com
Beschreibung:

Originally established in 1861 as an armaments manufacturer, The Birmingham Small Arms Company switched to making components for the bicycle industry in 1878 following a Government-induced downturn in the arms market. Within a few years the firm had moved on to offering complete bicycles and tricycles distinguished by its famous ‘Piled Arms’ emblem, only to abandon the cycle business in 1888 when the War Office decided to re-equip the British Army with new rifles. BSA was back as a supplier of bicycle components in 1892 and even built a small quantity of internal combustion engines to order; but then came the Boer War and the firm once again reverted to the production of weapons. When it next returned to two-wheeled transport, in 1902, BSA would be there to stay. BSA first experimented with powered two-wheelers in 1905 using a standard-type bicycle. This first motorcycle made by BSA used a proprietary engine - probably the Belgian Minerva - clipped to the front down-tube, but it was not until 1910 that the firm introduced a model entirely of its own design and manufacture. This was produced, not at the famous Small Heath works in Birmingham, but at the old Eadie Manufacturing Company factory in Redditch. The acquisition of Eadie in 1908 had brought with it considerable experience in the manufacture of bicycle hub brakes as well as the services of Albert Eadie, who, together with ex-James Cycle Company works manager, Charles Hyde and engine designer, F E Baker, would be responsible for establishing BSA as a motorcycle manufacturer. Displayed at the 1910 Olympia Show, the first series-production motorcycle to feature the marque’s distinctive green and cream tank colours was a 499cc (3½hp) sidevalve single, built initially with single-speed, belt-drive transmission and later on with a three-speed countershaft gearbox. Well engineered and equally well made, this first BSA proved an enormous success and changed little over the next few years, though for 1912 a two-speed hub gear was available together with an all chain drive model suitable for sidecar work. This delightful Edwardian-era 3½hp BSA was discovered in ‘barn find’ condition in the early 1980s and subsequently mechanically restored. A photograph on file shows the BSA ‘as discovered’ and appears to confirm that, apart from a clean and the aforementioned mechanical rebuild, it remains unrestored and original. The machine has had three owners since it was reregistered on its original number in 1981: A W Ruffell, David Weeks and Allan Middleton, the last of whom acquired the machine in December 1987 and sold it to Brian Verrall in September 1999. There are two Sunbeam MCC Pioneer Certificates on file: one issued in December 1981 to Mr Ruffell and the other in 1988 to Mr Middleton, while further accompanying documentation includes three expired MoTs (1993-1994, 1995-1996 and 2002-2003), a quantity of expired SORNs, old-style Swansea V5 and current V5C documents. The machine was last licensed for the road to February 2003 and has not been used since the 2002 Pioneer Run. Two (photocopy) period BSA brochures are included in the sale. Courtesy of Bonhams and The Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club, complimentary inclusion in the 71st Pioneer Run for Veteran Motorcycles is included with this Lot. The Run takes place on the 22 March 2009.

Auction archive: Lot number 283
Auction:
Datum:
1 Sep 2008
Auction house:
Bonhams London
London, New Bond Street 101 New Bond Street London W1S 1SR Tel: +44 20 7447 7447 Fax : +44 207 447 7401 info@bonhams.com
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