John Marston served his apprenticeship with Edward Perry’s metalwork and japanning company in Wolverhampton, taking over the firm when Perry died. To domestic japanned-ware manufacture under the JM brand, he added bicycles in 1887, his ‘Sunbeam’ cycles displaying a quality unequalled by any other maker. In 1901, the company commenced manufacture of the famous Sunbeam cars and in 1912 he began to make motorcycles. A conservative man, Marston would only consider a ’gentleman’s motor cycle’, thus eschewing machines without clutch or foot starter. The company’s first product, a lovely two-speed 347cc ‘single’ sold well, proving quiet and extremely durable. The second, this 3½hp 499cc side-valve, designed completely ‘in-house’ by John Greenwood, launched the firm into the top echelon of the trade, almost winning the Isle of Man TT race at its first attempt in the hands of H.R.Davies and remaining in production until 1926. For the 1915 season, the audible magneto gear drive was replaced by a silent toothed chain and the 85 x 88mm ‘square’ engine appeared in its developed form. The ‘3½’ was made for the military after 1915 with Sunbeam supplying machines for the British, French and Imperial Russian armies. LC 4511 is one of these military machines, shown by the ‘General Service’ GS stamp to the engine. Contemporary picture show the ‘31/2’ in both service khaki and the famous Marston black enamel and gold finish, often with OHMS (On His Majesty’s Service), on the number-plate. Found by Bonham’s specialist and Sunbeam authority Bob Cordon Champ in a complete and un-rusted state in the 1970’s, LC4511 has been beautifully restored over a long period by its expert owner, arguably the finest restorer of Sunbeams in Britain. It is one of the last motorcycles made at the Pool St. factory while John Marston was still in personal charge. Running beautifully, this multiple concours winner is completely and correctly equipped and is sold with a current MoT and a V5 for its London number. It is unlikely that a Sunbeam 3½ to this standard will be seen again.
John Marston served his apprenticeship with Edward Perry’s metalwork and japanning company in Wolverhampton, taking over the firm when Perry died. To domestic japanned-ware manufacture under the JM brand, he added bicycles in 1887, his ‘Sunbeam’ cycles displaying a quality unequalled by any other maker. In 1901, the company commenced manufacture of the famous Sunbeam cars and in 1912 he began to make motorcycles. A conservative man, Marston would only consider a ’gentleman’s motor cycle’, thus eschewing machines without clutch or foot starter. The company’s first product, a lovely two-speed 347cc ‘single’ sold well, proving quiet and extremely durable. The second, this 3½hp 499cc side-valve, designed completely ‘in-house’ by John Greenwood, launched the firm into the top echelon of the trade, almost winning the Isle of Man TT race at its first attempt in the hands of H.R.Davies and remaining in production until 1926. For the 1915 season, the audible magneto gear drive was replaced by a silent toothed chain and the 85 x 88mm ‘square’ engine appeared in its developed form. The ‘3½’ was made for the military after 1915 with Sunbeam supplying machines for the British, French and Imperial Russian armies. LC 4511 is one of these military machines, shown by the ‘General Service’ GS stamp to the engine. Contemporary picture show the ‘31/2’ in both service khaki and the famous Marston black enamel and gold finish, often with OHMS (On His Majesty’s Service), on the number-plate. Found by Bonham’s specialist and Sunbeam authority Bob Cordon Champ in a complete and un-rusted state in the 1970’s, LC4511 has been beautifully restored over a long period by its expert owner, arguably the finest restorer of Sunbeams in Britain. It is one of the last motorcycles made at the Pool St. factory while John Marston was still in personal charge. Running beautifully, this multiple concours winner is completely and correctly equipped and is sold with a current MoT and a V5 for its London number. It is unlikely that a Sunbeam 3½ to this standard will be seen again.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
