Description
H&H Classic Auction @ National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
30th Oct, 2024 13:00
1933 Francis Barnett
Registration No: Unregistered
Frame No: Not visible
MOT: Exempt
1933 Francis Barnett project
Unfinished due to the vendor's 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 the saddle to the rear wheel hub and down to the footrest, formed yet another triangle.
This 1933 Francis Barnett project is from the Fred Evans collection and was in the process of being restored by the late vendor, but unfinished due to his passing earlier this year. So far, a decent amount of work has been carried out to a good standard, although it is understood to have some parts missing and no documentation is included in the sale.