Description
H&H Classic Auction @ National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
30th Oct, 2024 13:00
1920's Francis Barnett
Estimate
£1, 000 - £1, 500
Registration No: Unregistered
Frame No: Not visible
MOT: Exempt
1920s Francis Barnet project
Unfinished due to the vendors passing
Understood to have some parts missing
Graham Francis of Lea Francis fame, combined his talents with Arthur Barnett in 1919 to create a new lightweight motorcycle for which they felt there would be a great demand. They started their business in Coventry in the Midlands and by coincidence, the first Francis-Barnett motorcycle was constructed in the same workshop as the first English motorcycle, the Bayliss-Thomas Excelsior. In 1923 he evolved a system of six pairs of straight tubes and one pair specially formed which made up the framework of the motorcycle. In appearance the frame below the tank formed an inverted triangle; the triangular shaped tank was held by a similarly formed set of tubes. The framework from saddle to rear wheel hub and down to the footrest formed yet another triangle.
This mid 1920s Francis Barnett project was in the process of being restored by the late vendor, unfinished due to his passing earlier this year. A decent amount of work has been carried out to a good standard. Its understood to have some parts missing parts missing and no documentation is included in the sale.
