Vehicle Description
Like many early motor manufacturers, Singer - founded by George
Singer in Coventry, England c. 1875 - progressed through bicycles
and motorcycles before eventually settling upon automobile
production, which continued until 1970 as part of the Rootes Group.
Singer also contributed to the creation of Aston Martin. Early on,
however, Singer was a pioneer bicycle manufacturer with a
reputation for providing innovation, style and sturdy construction
by offering: "the highest grade at an exceedingly moderate figure".
In 1901, the Singer Motor Wheel was fitted to bicycles creating a
'motor bicycle' and, in the same year, Singer began manufacture of
motorized three-wheelers. The Motor Wheel was an ingenious design,
based on a patent by former Singer employee Edwin Perks and Frank
Birch, that placed a 222 cc four-stroke, single cylinder engine
together with a fuel tank, carburetor and low-tension magneto
inside a cast alloy spoked wheel. The Motor Wheel was mounted as
the front wheel of the tricycles and the rear wheel on bicycles. In
1904 the company created a range of more conventional motorcycles
with an upright engine mounted in a cradle hung from the downtube.
Both road racing and record breaking both helped to establish
Singer motorcycles. The single cylinder 2� and 3� hp Singer
motorcycles like the one presented here displayed a simplicity of
design that suggests little more than a larger diameter bicycle
frame with suitably heavier tires. Closer examination reveals
several surprises, however. The tiny, single cylinder engine is of
Singer manufacture; not outsourced, as was often the case for
motorcycle manufacturers. A coil and lever assembly dampens the
front fork, while the leather Brooks saddle is similarly suspended
for the rider's comfort. Most unexpected are the pedals, crank and
chain drive for starting the motorcycle engine -like later Mopeds -
before the drive is taken up by a leather belt between the engine
and the rear wheel! While we are still in the process of confirming
the displacement and horsepower of the engine, Singer offered both
299 cc and 535 cc engines in 1911. This Singer motorcycle and the
sidecar are an older restoration that has been maintained to a very
high standard. The motorcycle frame and accessory mounts are
painted in black, while the engine and drive train show a nicely
patinated alloy. The petrol tank is painted correctly in silver
with green panels and narrow red coach stripes. Trim is nickel
plated, including a delightful Lucas 'Kingsown' headlamp mounted
above the front wheel. The front brake grips the rim bicycle-style,
but the rear brake is actuated via an articulated shaft with a
pedal mounted on the right side of the frame. The shifter lever is
mounted near the tank. The sidecar is of a high quality but unknown
manufacture. The immediate impression is of a woven wicker chaise
lined with green naugahyde, button tufted on the back, sides and
seat cushion. The 'basket' is mounted onto a steel frame connecting
the rear wheel of the motorcycle to the third wheel, which also
features a black cycle fender and a small polished coach lamp. The
English registration BW444 remains on the motorcycle, as well as an
authentic RAC tax medallion mounted on the polished handle bars.
Singer's first four wheel vehicle was a 2-cylinder automobile in
1905. The breakout model for Singer automobiles was the Singer Ten
introduced in 1911, the same year as this motorcycle and sidecar
combination. A Singer 10 was driven by Singer sales agent Lionel
Martin to victory in the Aston hill climb, bringing all names to
widespread public recognition. The following year, Martin and
partner Robert Bamford introduced the first Aston Martin
automobile.
