Beschreibung:

The British firm of Martinsyde was founded in 1908 when Helmuth Paul Martin and George Harris Handasyde went into partnership to build aircraft. By the end of WWI Martinsyde was Britain’s third largest aircraft manufacturer, occupying sites at Brooklands and Woking. Faced with a sharp downturn in demand for its products, the firm turned to motorcycle production at the war’s end having acquired the rights to an unusual exhaust-over-inlet v-twin engine, designed by Howard Newman, and an AJS gearbox. Martinsyde made its first public appearance at the 1919 Motorcycle Show at Olympia, displaying a 6hp combination powered by the 678cc version of Newman’s engine. Problems caused by unsatisfactory frame components having been overcome, motorcycle production got properly underway early in 1920. The company’s first machines were marketed as Martinsyde-Newmans, abbreviated to simply Martinsyde after Newman’s departure. 497cc v-twin and 350cc single-cylinder models were added to the range and Martinsydes began to feature in competitions, achieving some notable successes at Brooklands and the Scottish Six Days Trial. In November 1921 Martinsyde rider H H Bowen captured the One-Hour record at Brooklands, covering 77.58 miles on the 24th and 78.13 miles on the 29th of that month. Introduced in 1922, the 739cc Quick Six sports model benefited from many of the engine modifications, including detachable cylinder heads, tried out on the One-Hour machine. Sadly, a disastrous fire later that same year destroyed the works and Martinsyde went into liquidation, its name and remaining stock being acquired by BAT. The last complete machine was sold in 1923 and few examples - a little over 30 according to the Martinsyde Register - of the 2,000-or-so made survive. Martinsyde manufactured 100 Quick Six models only one of which - the machine offered here - is known to exist today. It was bought by automobile engineer Chris Tait, one of the founders of the Martinsyde Register, in 1938 and used in a variety of competition roles through to 1956, including the Brighton Speed Trials, picking up a number of modifications along the way. At that time registered ‘FN 5679’, the machine was entered in the Martinsyde 50th Anniversary event at Brooklands on 18th July 1970, when it was ridden by one T E Hockenhull, an antique collector from Buxton. It is interesting to note that it was the only Quick Six listed in the programme. At some time in the 1980s the Martinsyde was acquired by the respected West Country collector/restorer Fred Body and totally rebuilt, going on to win concours awards at the VMCC’s Banbury Run and Bristol Classic Bike Show. While still in Mr Body’s ownership the machine – still registered ‘FN 5679’ – was featured in British Bike magazine (December 1992 issue) for whom it was road tested by ‘PUB’. Acquired by the current owner in September 2004, the Martinsyde has seen little use since restoration and is presented in concours condition throughout. Representing a wonderful opportunity to acquire a unique ‘Banbury bike’, this superbly presented Vintage-era v-twin motorcycle is offered with insurance valuation, starting instructions and Swansea V5C registration document.