Brixton Motor Works
From Graces Guide
Brixton Motor Works of of Brixton, London
Etna was a motorcycle built at the Brixton Motor Works by Hubert Fawconer Harding for his own use.
- 1911 Directory lists them as of 289a, Brixton Road, London SW and as motor car makers. [1]
- It was a mighty tandem tricycle with a 1,750cc water-cooled V-twin engine, fitted at the rear between the back wheels and underneath the passenger. It had overhead inlet, side exhaust-valves, and the crankshaft extended across the frame to a detachable starting-handle.
- There were two radiators, between the rider's knees, with a pump to keep the water flowing. Ignition was by trembler coil to start, and magneto for running. The fuel tank was positioned alongside and above the engine. By a complicated process, the gearbox had four speeds. This involved two crown wheels, two pinions and an epicyclic gearbox.
- It was quite a bulky contraption and eventually the front forks were changed to Chater-Lea. The Etna was capable of reaching a rate of 70mph/112kmh and this was very fast considering that speed limits in those days were firstly 12mph and then 20mph. The capabilities of the braking system were always questionable.
- The Etna is still in existence and can usually by seen in the Pioneer Run [1].
See Also
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Sources of Information
- ↑ Post Office London Location Suburbs Directory, 1911.
- The British Motorcycle Directory - Over 1,100 Marques from 1888 - by Roy Bacon and Ken Hallworth. Pub: The Crowood Press 2004 ISBN 1 86126 674 X
- [2] This is Brighton - Pioneer Veteran Motorcycle Run