Phelon and Moore
Phelon and Moore, of Cleckheaton, Yorkshire, maker of motorcycles.
1901 Phelon had already been in business with Harry Rayner, as P and R, where they built their first motorcycle. After Rayner died in a car accident, Phelon unable to produce the machine himself, sold his first design to Humber for royalty payments.
1903 Joah Carver Phelon produced motorcycles in 1903.
1903/4 Joah Carver Phelon and Richard Moore went into partnership.
1904 The P and R engine was further developed and the all-chain drive was replaced by a simple two-speed gear system with clutches. Their first offering was a two-speed forecar but as this was not popular, the partners' attention focussed on motorcycles. The first models were typical of those times and were based on bicycles with engines. Before long the name was recognised in the field of hill climbs and trials.
1907 Only the 3.5hp model was now listed, and it was the mainstay of the company until the 1920s.
1913-1917 For a list of the models and prices of motorcycles see the 1917 Red Book
World War I. That model was taken on by the Air Force and used by their dispatch riders. A V-twin engine had been on the drawing board, but this was dropped with the outbreak of war.
Post War. The company still produced just one model.
1922 the company started producing the Panther sports motorcycle, a name which was to continue with their motorcycles for the next 40 years.
1926 The firm scored a massive success at the Olympia show, where they exhibited their 242cc V-twin Panthette, with a transverse engine and four-speed gearbox, designed by Granville Bradshaw of ABC fame. Sadly it failed to sell in any great quantity as it was very expensive and too advanced for the times.
1928 Exhibited at the Motor Show (for the last time??)[1]
1928 Joah Phelon died
1968 Acquired by Samuel Birkett Ltd.[2]
1969 Phelon and Moore Ltd was struck off the register of companies[3]
1978 Phelon and Moore (Engineers) were bought by IMI Group along with associated company Samuel Birkett and Sons [4]
See Also
Sources of Information
- The British Motorcycle Directory - Over 1,100 Marques from 1888 - by Roy Bacon and Ken Hallworth. Pub: The Crowood Press 2004 ISBN 1 86126 674 X