Descrição
This is Lot 321 to be auctioned by Bonhams at The Spring Stafford Sale on the 26 & 27 April, please see the Bonhams website for full details.
Public Viewing:
Available 26 April from 09:00 until 17:00 and 27 April from 09:00 until 17:00, at The International Classic Motorcycle Show, Stafford.
Lot 321
The Connoisseurs Collection, Formerly the property of noted collector, the late Ken Blake
1920 Redrup 309cc Radial
Registration no. U 4678 (see text)
Chassis no.
The only known survivor
An older restoration by Ken Blake
Winner of the VMCC's Jim Sheldon Trophy
Formerly displayed in the Sammy Miller Museum
Present ownership since 1999
The Redrup Radial was the work of engineer Charles Benjamin Redrup and was built by the British Radial Company, which had offices in Kings Road, Chelsea. Redrup's engine was a fan-cooled three-cylinder T-head sidevalve with the cylinders spaced at 120 degrees, which was housed in cycle parts supplied by Chater Lea. The Motor Cycle Index 1913-1924 records that the Redrup Radials were numbered from '82' to '112', a total of 31 machines, built over the course of some three years. The Redrup Radial was tested by The Motor Cycle magazine for its June 1920 edition and was found to be capable of achieving 40-45mph on the flat and maintaining 30mph indefinitely. TMC's tester remarked on "the complete absence of vibration, silent running and smooth torque".
Noted collector and VMCC stalwart, the late Ken Blake, had first heard of engine number '107' around 1952 but did not get the opportunity to buy it (from the late noted collector Jack Light) until many years later. The engine was badly damaged, necessitating the re-manufacture of numerous key components, including the sump (which was missing) and three new alloy cylinder heads to take modern 14mm sparkplugs. Modified Villiers pistons were used, as were Tiger Cub oil pumps, and Ken himself fabricated the fan. The gearbox is a two-speed Burman, as used originally, while the special period-correct magneto is by Thomson-Bennett of Birmingham.
The Classic MotorCycle magazine featured Ken Blake's Redrup in its March 1987 edition (copy article on file) after it had won the coveted Jim Sheldon Trophy at the VMCC's Banbury Run in 1986, awarded to the machine judged 'Of Greatest Technical Interest'. Surprisingly, the article does not mention the origin of the cycle parts, which exhibit a number of differences from those depicted in period photographs of Redrups. Post-restoration, the Redrup was displayed in the Sammy Miller Museum in Hampshire. It is not known if any others exist, but there are none recorded in the VMCC register in Great Britain. This machine was used to illustrate The Knife and Fork Man: The Life and Work of Charles Benjmin Redrup by William Fairney (Diesel Publishing, 2007).
Last taxed in the UK (in Parkstone, Poole, Dorset) until October 1987, the Redrup was purchased by the collection from Mr Hideaki Kumagai in Tokyo, Japan in 2001. The registration 'U 4678' is displayed on the machine (The Motor Cycle's road test bike was 'U 4676', and period imagery of the six-cylinder Redrup Radial display registration 'U 8879'); however, there is no record of this registration on HPI or DVLA sites, the only link is the 1987 tax disc. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves with regard to this motorcycle's registration status prior to bidding. Key not required.
All lots are sold 'as is/ where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding. Visit the Bonhams website for all pertinent auction information.
