Description
This motorcycle is Lot 303 to be auctioned by Bonhams at The Autumn Stafford Sale (The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show) on 12 & 13 October, please see the Bonhams website for full details.
Auction Timings:
Lots 1 - 176 are to be sold from 11:00 on Saturday 12th October 2024.
Lots 201 - 429 are to be sold from 11:00 on Saturday 13th October 2024.
Public Viewing:
Available 12th & 13th October 2024 from 09:00 until 17:00, at The Stafford County Showground (The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show).
Lot 303
1913 Wilkinson 830cc TMC Four
Registration no. F 8364
Frame no. 108 & 513
Engine no. 161
One of only a tiny handful of survivors
Known ownership history
Present ownership since 1985
An older restoration
Pioneer Run, Banbury Run and Oude Klepper Glorie participant
Massive history file
There was a time when Wilkinson, as well as being 'the name on the world's finest blade', could also be found on one of the world's finest motorcycles. Manufactured in Acton, West London, the Percy Tacchi-designed 'Touring Auto Cycle' (TAC) was launched by the razorblades-and-weapons firm in 1909. Wilkinson's machine was powered by a 679cc inline four-cylinder engine and had shaft drive. The air-cooled inlet-over-exhaust engine was linked by a short shaft to a three-sped gearbox of the Panhard sliding-gear type, and the long-wheelbase TAC was also notable for having leaf-sprung suspension front and rear, drum brakes on both wheels, and a luxuriously upholstered bucket seat. The company's stated aim was "to make the adoption of car lines the starting point and not an afterthought". In keeping with this philosophy, a steering wheel was used on some early machines but the idea was swiftly abandoned.
In 1912 the TAC was superseded by the improved TMC (Touring Motor Cycle). The new four's power unit was an 830cc water-cooled sidevalve; the gearbox remained a three-speeder but the final drive was now by bevel gears rather than the earlier 'underslung worm' arrangement. Girder-type Saxon front forks replaced the leaf-sprung design, and braking was now confined to the rear wheel only by means of an internal expanding footbrake and an external contracting band brake (see below). The factory's performance figures for the TMC claimed a top speed when solo of 65mph and 50mph when attached to a sidecar, impressive figures for the Edwardian era.
Factory correspondence on file from Wilkinson's then Design Manager Mr John Arlett states that the total number of Wilkinson motorcycles made when production ceased at the beginning of 1914 would not have exceeded 125 to 150. This would cover all models (prototypes, v-twins, air-cooled fours and water-cooled fours). At time of writing (1985) it states that only four TMCs were known to have survived (one in the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu) plus a further two of the earlier TAC model.
This Wilkinson TMC four was first registered in Essex on 17th March 1914 by a Mr Roland Beckett of Sleafield, Essex (later of Great Baddow, Essex). A wealthy South African studying electrical engineering, Roland Beckett served as a dispatch rider with the Royal Signals during WWI and returned to South Africa on 12th December 1919. Copies of Mr Beckett's military service record are on file together with local census details. It is not known how the machine was used during his ownership.
In the early 1920s the Wilkinson was bought by Mr Derek Ince of Chiswick, West London. It is believed he bought it dismantled and only got around to starting the rebuild in the 1960s. Some progress was made over the following years and the machine was loosely assembled when he died in 1983, by which time he had moved to Sundridge, Kent. The following year current owner Richard Mummery bought the Wilkinson from Mr Alan Keeler of Sundridge, who was handling the late Mr Ince's affairs. Although the machine was a rolling chassis it was found to require stripping and rebuilding again. The rebuild was carried out by Richard and his friends over the next couple of years (details on file). Many new parts had to be made and fitted, but always the aim was to keep to the original specification as closely as possible. Much help in this regard was received from the aforementioned Wilkinson Sword's John Arlett, a fellow motorcyclist who who became a good friend. John Arlett was a mine of information for he was also Wilkinson's Historian and organised a quarterly magazine, The Swordsman, full of information relating to their swords. He also organised the Wilkinson rally at the National Motorcycle Museum where all known Wilkinsons were on show. When he died Wilkinson lost their best ambassador.
The restoration was completed in 1986 and the TMC had its first outing in the Sunbeam MCC's Pioneer Run that year. As a result of his experiences with the Wilkinson, Richard became, for a while, the VMCC's marque specialist (he no longer is).
Over the last almost 40 years the Wilkinson has taken part in numerous events both in the UK and on the Continent, including the Pioneer and Banbury Runs at home and the Oude Klepper Glorie in Belgium. It has failed to finish an event on only three occasions, respectively: when the magneto was flooded by heavy rain; the oil tank burst; and the rear brake jammed on. There have been other problems but all have been overcome.
Richard advises us that the machine is very long and heavy and requires a fit person to ride and manoeuvre it. Care should also be taken with regard to the lubrication procedure. The oil pump does not circulate the oil. When the tap on the oil tank is closed it pressurises the oil tank and lifts oil into the sight glass where two pipes take it to the crankcase. Now it lifts oil faster than the feed pipes can deliver, so care must be taken to see the sight glass does not overflow, thus making a mess. Provided the oil in the crankcase is up to the correct level the pump only needs to be used about every ten miles, otherwise the exhaust becomes smoky. The external contracting band brake should only be used for parking; if used on the move it fades.
The Wilkinson was last used on the road in the 2019 Pioneer Run and has since been statically exhibited at several motorcycle shows. The machine was fully serviced and last taxed for the road in 2020 and has been kept in dehumidified storage alongside Richard's other Veteran and Vintage motorcycles. But for the Covid outbreak Richard would have continued riding, but age has now caught up with him.
Accompanying the machine is a massive file of history containing copies of in-period advertisements; Derek Ince's driving licence; factory and other correspondence; factory brochures; copies of press cuttings and magazine articles; factory promotional material; copy original registration particulars; action and restoration photographs; V5C document, Pioneer Certificate, etc etc (perusal recommended). Also offered with the lot is a spare engine, fuel tank and a framed Pioneer Run completion badge from 1987 - 2019 (30 consecutive runs).
With so few made and only a tiny handful surviving, this magnificent Wilkinson Four represents what is almost certainly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for collectors.
All lots are sold 'as is/ where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding. Visit the Bonhams Motorcycles website for all pertinent auction information.
