Vehicle Description
Formed in 1894 by George Patterson after divestment from the
Birmingham, England-based bronze and brasswork firm, Hudson,
Edmunds & Co., the New Hudson Cycle Company began producing
high-quality safety bicycles. Following their successful startup,
the company unveiled their first two motorized products:
single-cylinder motorized bicycles with De Dion, and Minerva,
engines at the 1902 Stanley Show of Motor Bikes and Motor Cars.
Unfortunately, the company's first attempt failed to capture the
attention of the buying public. This setback only fueled
Patterson's entrepreneurial spirit and at the 1910 Stanley Show,
his company pulled out all the stops for their next attempt, a
range of motorbikes fit with J. A. Prestwich Industries (JAP)
engines, Druid front forks, Armstrong three-speed transmissions, a
drip lubrication system, and kick starter, the new motorbikes were
aiming for the top of the market with an economical price tag. Over
the next four years, improvements to these motorbikes were steady
and by 1914 had replaced the JAP engines with their own single
cylinder designs with 2 � or 3 � horsepower, and a Top-of-The-Range
V-Twin with 6 horsepower. The company shifted towards war efforts,
until acquisition in the interwar period ceased motorbike
manufacturing. This motorbike,Frame No. 1761, was built in late
1914 and is finished in gloss black, carryingNew Hudson's 3 �
horsepowersingle cylinder engine, No. 3492, has benefited from an
older restoration, allowing a uniform patina to develop. The fuel
tank's finish in brown with an orange outline and tan "New Hudson"
script has some spiderweb cracking between the fuel level and oil
drip lubrication sights,while the nickel-platedacetylene
lamps:theP&H No. 127 HB Handlebar headlamp set from Powel and
Hanmer has lost some embossed detailing from years of polishing
whilea Miller headlamp fitted to the outer corner of the sidecar
and a Joseph Lucas No. 44 and 344 taillamp set do have some minor
pitting, as does the manual horn, footrests, "New Hudson" engine
cover. But perhaps the most notable things with this already
noteworthy antique motorbike are the leather chain-link final drive
belt, wooden rear brake shoe, and the Castor-Wheel Sidecar.
Constructed of wicker by Mills & Fulford of Coventry, England, a
manufacturer known for sidecars and motorbike trailers during the
first decade of the 20th century, from designs by inventor and
Vice-President of the Institution of Automobile Engineers, George
Douglas Leechman. The basket,with button-tufted burgundy leather
seating surfaces, is affixed to a steel tube frame and mounts to
the motorbike's rear downtube under the seat, the rear fork, and
the front downtube. The sidecar's wheel is connected to the
frameviakingpin, allowing for 180 degrees of travel on the
horizontal axis to help mitigate the handling compromises a sidecar
can create: aiding in maneuverability at low speeds while
increasing high-speed stability. The neat bits of simple
engineering like thatfuel the adoration of antique motorbikes and
the quirky solutions they adopt. With so few examples of the
motorbikes produced by smaller marques having survived, this New
Hudson Model VI is in a category of its own.This unique part of
British motorcycle history will surely hold its own in any
prestigious vintage vehicle, motorcycle, or automobilia collection
with the well documented history and beautiful patina. Offers
welcome and Trades Considered For additional details please view
this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7731-1914-new-hudson-model-vi-motorbike/
