Description
1914 JAMES WALL QUADRICYCLERegistration number: BF 4816Frame number: 5392Engine number: 3212A rare and fascinating veteran machine, combining a James tricycle with the ingenious Wall Autowheel attachment. Dating from the pioneering era of motorised transport, this unusual combination offers a glimpse into the inventive engineering solutions that helped bridge the gap between the pedal cycle and the early motor vehicle. The Wall Autowheel, introduced around 1909, was an ingenious auxiliary power unit developed by A. W. Wall of Guildford. Incorporating its own small wheel, engine and fuel tank, the device could be attached to a conventional cycle, providing powered assistance without the need for a purpose-built motorcycle. The concept proved sufficiently successful to attract large-scale production, with BSA manufacturing Autowheels in 1914. Paired here with a James tricycle, the arrangement creates a particularly distinctive machine, recorded by the DVLA as a quadricycle. Such combinations are increasingly uncommon and offer considerable interest to collectors of veteran vehicles and the earliest days of British motorcycling. The V5C records the vehicle as first registered in 1996, and the registration number BF 4816 is non-transferable. Although potentially eligible for the prestigious London to Brighton Pioneer Run, the machine does not currently have a Pioneer Certificate; eligibility and acceptance would therefore need to be established with the event’s organisers. An appealingly eccentric survivor from the dawn of motoring, this rare James and Wall combination would make an intriguing addition to a collection of veteran machinery, particularly for an enthusiast with an interest in the earliest forms of powered two- and three-wheeled transport. This example formed part of a museum collection and will require some recommissioning.This vehicle is located near from Newton Abbot, Devon TQ13 where it will need to be collected. Motorscan report available on request. Viewing is by appointment, please contact the office to arrange.
