Description
National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
Viewing: Tues 27th October from 1pm
Auction: Wed 28th October from 10am
Location: National Motorcycle Museum, Coventry Road, Bickenhill, Solihull B92 0EJ
Registration No: CWN 176
Frame No: 1914
MOT: Exempt
Built to a bespoke specification for the first owner
Last on the road in in 1958
In single ownership since 1970 and never shown or rallied
Active from 1901 to 1954, the Osborn Engineering Company was founded by Frederick Osborn, who initially built motorcycles with Minerva and MMC engines. Production never took off, until it was restarted in 1920 in Gosport, Hampshire, by Frederick’s son John, initially with Blackburne proprietary engines. Engineer Fred Wood introduced such features as duplex steering. The 1920s range encompassed everything from 350cc singles to a 1, 096cc vee-twin for sidecar work, with a steering wheel instead of handlebars. Post-1925 machines used all manner of engines, including JAP, Blackburne and Matchless. By the 1930s, OEC operated from the Atlanta Works in Portsmouth and introduced the sturdy 500cc Commander model.
This Matchless-engined 1939 Commander is understood to have been built to the unique touring specifications laid by its first owner, Mr. T. Richings, with lower compression and larger brakes than standard. Spending its early life in Swansea, it was last on the road in 1958 and was purchased by our vendor in 1970. He dismantled it in 1974, but made sure it never disappeared from the DVLA database, and eventually reassembled it during 2020 and 2021, albeit with the magneto and pushrods missing. This wonderful restoration project, which has never been shown or rallied, is supplied with the V5C, a buff logbook, a historic photograph, and original OEC and Lucas instruction books.
** Bidding will take place live at the venue, online via our H&H website, by telephone and commission - T&Cs apply**
Entry by catalogue and can be purchased for £20 (admits 2 people)
