Brown Brothers: Motorcycles
Note: This is a sub-section of Brown Brothers.
1902 Having been component suppliers to the trade, the brothers produced their first motorcycle. Using typically primitive frames, direct-belt drive and braced forks, they mounted 2hp, 2.75hp and 3.5hp Minerva engines vertically. Following on from these came a 5hp V-twin.
1908 There was now an option of a two-speed gearbox and all-chain drive, but the braced forks were still unsprung.
1910 Druid forks were adopted and the range was widened to include a selection of powers, in either single or V-twin, and transmission systems.
1914 Late in the year the name appeared on a 225cc two-stroke model with a two-speed gearbox and chain-cum-belt transmission. They also listed a 4hp V-twin, with an overhead inlet valve, Bosch magneto, and various transmission options.
1915 They were now using either their own or Precision engines only. Production of Brown motorcycles ceased.
1916 The two-stroke was still listed and the twin had a 6hp JAP engine driving a three-speed Sturmey-Archer gearbox.
After World War I, the motorcycles were sold as the Vindec, but there was no association with the Vindec Special (VS) or VS make.
Post-war. A 225cc two-stroke single was listed.
1920 A 976cc sv JAP V-twin was added. [1]
1922 Those models carried on into that year.
1923 The two-stroke was replaced by a 292cc sv JAP model finished in art grey.
It is probable that most Vindec machines were bought-in designs from established manufacturers, finished and badged under the Vindec name. Some models of that period strongly resembled Rex-Acme machines.
1924 The big twin went and a 170cc two-stroke joined the JAP single for one season.
1925 The twin returned for that year only, along with the 292cc sv model.
1926 The 292cc sv model was enlarged to 300cc, and another lightweight two-stroke of 147cc was added for one season.
1927-1929 It was the 300cc sv JAP machine that carried them through to their final year of 1929.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ The Engineer of 27th Feb 1920 p208