LOT 498 - YARRA VALLEY AUCTIONS -1916 TRIUMPH MODEL H MOTORCYCLE

ORIGINALLY RESTORED IN 1959, THE MOTORCYCLE WE ARE SELLING INCORPORATES PARTS OF BOTH THE MODEL H, AND THE EARLIER MODEL A.
IN ITS PRESENT FORM THE MOTORCYCLE CAN BE FITTED WITH A SIDECAR. THE SIDECAR ATTACHED WAS DISCOVERED IN ABOUT 1958 IN A BARN IN HEATHCOTE VICTORIA. THE WEIGHT OF THE BALES STACKED ON IT HAD, HOWEVER, FORCED THE SIDECAR OUT OF SHAPE. IT WAS SOAKED IN WATER TO SOFTEN THE WICKER, AND THEN REPAIRED.
THE TRIUMPH WORKS WERE FOUNDED BY TWO GERMANS, SIEGFRIED BITTMAN AND MAURICE SCHULTE, IN 1897. THEIR FACTORY AT CONVENTRY, ENGLAND BEGUN BUILDING BICYCLES, BUT PROGRESSED TO ITS FIRST MOTORCYCLE IN 1902. THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL PRODUCTION MODEL WAS THE 499CC "RICCY". THE COMPANY PRODUCED A WIDE RANGE OF MACHINES WHICH ENJOYED GREAT SUCCESS IN BOTH PRIVATE USE AND RACING.
DURING WORLD WAR TWO, MANY THOUSANDS OF 346CC TRIUMPHS WERE SUPPLIED TO THE ALLIED FORCES. DESPITE INDUSTRIAL DIFFICULTIES IN THE 1970'S, TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES ARE STILL BEING PRODUCED.
THE TRIUMPH MODEL H WAS FIRST MARKETED IN 1915, AND WAS FITTED WITH A 550CC FOUR STROKE SIDE VALVE ENGINE. DEVELOPED FROM THE 1914 MODE A, IT FEATURED REFINEMENTS INCLUDING A KICKSTARTER AND A THREE SPEED GEARBOX WITH CLUTCH; THESE MODIFICATIONS ALLOWED THE FITTING OF A SIDECAR. THE MODEL H REMAINED IN PRODUCTION UNTIL 1920.