Description
The roots of the firm of Alldays & Onions go back to 1650; in that time the company – “the oldest known engineering dynasty in the world” – (Bob Currie, TCM 1982) made blacksmith’s sundries (bellows, anvils, vices) and are still doing that today, in the form of electric fans and blowers.
From the 1880s the firm operated as “The Alldays and Onions Pneumatic Engineering Company LTD” and they occupied two neighbouring factories (Matchless Works and Great Western Works) in the Sparkbrook district of Birmingham.
They became involved in car production from 1898 on at Great Western Works. From 1903 till 1914 A&O Matchless Works produced a series of Alldays Matchless motor cycles, both single and V twin. (There was no connection with Matchless at all with the Collier family in Woolwich)
This Machine is a 550cc side valve, with two speed roc gear, mounted in the rear hub, it does not have a clutch, but you are able to pull away from a standing start by applying pressure to the small pedal at the rear of the nearside foot board, this in affect gives the user a pull away system and a first gear, you would then release this pedal and flip the pedal/ lever at the front of the nearside foot board, to give you top gear, this all very easy to use, hope I'm not making sound complicated.
So: the bike is easy to use and has a very good engine both mechanically quiet and surprisingly powerful.
As with a lot of Veteran bikes the front brake is poor, however the rear brake is very good indeed, I have locked it up.
It has a counter lever saddle currently fitted, which is very comfortable but not original, I do have the original which will be included.
The Roc hub gear has been completely re-made and has proved to be very reliable.
I have lots of paperwork for this bike, to support what I have written.
The bike has a Pioneer certificate and had done many Sunbeam MCC Pioneer runs as well as other events, with both me and my father.
If you have any questions of wish to view this very interesting Veteran. please call.
