Philip Conrad Vincent (1908-1979) was a British motorcycle designer and manufacturer. Founder of Vincent Motorcycles
1908 March 14th. Born in Wilbraham Gardens, Fulham son of William Conrad and Ada Mary Vincent, a farmer with Argentinian cattle interests.
1926 Went up to Cambridge. He already had a workshop and was designing and building motorcycles.
His father eventually agreed to let him leave Cambridge and fund him for a trial period in his motorcycle venture. His first machine was a "Vincent Special". Philip then formed a company with Frank Waller, a family friend.
1927 Gained the first of more than 30 patents, this on "Improvements in or relating to spring frames for the driving wheels of cycles, motorcycles, and the like vehicles".
1928 Howard R. Davies, founder of the HRD marque and winner of the 1924 Senior Isle of Man TT was in financial difficulties and so Philip, with backing from his family and their cattle ranching business, was able to acquire the trademark, goodwill and remaining HRD spares for £450. The company was promptly named Vincent HRD Co., Ltd., and the logo appeared with The Vincent added in very small letters over the top of the large HRD. Vincent designed a brand new motorcycle with his own spring frame and marketed it as Vincent HRD, with a choice of either JAP or Rudge engines
1939 Philip C Vincent 31, chairman and managing director of an engineering company, lived in Stevenage with Elizabeth M Vincent 75[1]
1947 A petroleum refinery engineer when he arrived in the USA[2]
1953 Married Elfrida Mary Nolan[3]
1979 March 27th. Died in Ashford, Surrey[4].