1914 All-Black Golden Sunbeam Tricycle
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CYCLE ON A SUNBEAM
Compare this 1914 model with the catalogue pictures below.
Above you can see the catalogue picture for 1912 (price £28) and below for 1922 (£38).
The obvious difference between the catalogues and the actual bike is the front mudguard. I was confused by this, so I contacted Bob Cordon Champ. He explained:
As to the front ‘guard, all post-1912 machines have the front guard extension; it is just that Marston never used a new picture, as is the case with the one of the lady emptying the oil-bath. I have restored both pre- and post-WW1 tricycles and all have had the long front ‘guard.
I also checked the frame number sequences with him; I wasn’t sure if the tricycles numbers were concurrent. He confirmed: As you will know, the Sunbeam works records are presumed to have been lost. From the evidence obtained over the past 40 years or so, it seems that the tricycle and tandem numbers run concurrently, though I have no tricycle with an original receipt. 120766 is pre-war.
Dating your Sunbeam
This is a list of frame numbers which have been authenticated by bills of sale:
1901 41925
1902 51649
1909 97441
1911 102798
1913 110438
1914 120470
1914 122691
1914 129820
1915 130148
1916 131021
1919 137788
1923 150153
1924 152422
1924 153081
1925 155944
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The illustration above, from Cycling magazine of 15th January 1914, suggests that tricycles were not necessarily the domain of infirm riders. Which is surprising when you consider Sunbeam’s own catalogue, below, describing the Golden Sunbeam Tricycle as being…
…MOST SUITABLE FOR NERVOUS OR ELDERLY RIDERS
ENGLAND’S THOROUGHBRED CYCLES
DUST OFF THE BATH ROAD
SOMETHING AKIN TO LIFE
DIRECTIONS ABOUT THE LITTLE OIL BATH
PARTICULARS OF MONTHLY PAYMENT SYSTEM
THE SUN BEAMS BRIGHTEST WHEN YOU ARE ON A SUNBEAM
1913 Autocycle Magazine
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REASONS WHY THE BEST CLASS
OF CYCLISTS NOW RIDE SUNBEAMS
A SCIENTIFIC MECHANICIAN
GUARANTEE
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The rear axle is an Abingdon No 4.
According to the text on the 1910 Brown Brothers catalogue below, the Abingdon No 4 axle had free wheel and back pedal brakes.
