1939 Dunelt Tradesman’s Carrier Model C/1

1939 Dunelt Tradesman’s Carrier Model C/1

This 1939 Dunelt carrier cycle was sympathetically restored by Dave, the previous owner, and repainted in its original green with its front name transfer intact.

As Dave lives in Bristol, he dropped it off for me to me when I had a Cyclemaster Museum display at the Bristol Classic Bike Show in Shepton Mallet.

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HISTORY OF DUNELT CYCLES

Dunford & Elliott (Sheffield) Ltd,

Bath St, Snow Hill, Birmingham 4

Also at

Attercliffe Wharf Works, Sheffield

Dunelt Cycle Co Ltd

Rabone Lane, Smethwick, Birmingham 40

Dunford & Elliott (Sheffield) Ltd started in 1902 as steel-makers. Their Birmingham factory was established in order to make components for car manufacturers. From 1919, motorcycles were built at the Birmingham, and both bicycle and motorcycle sales were impressive.

I very briefly owned the 1924 Dunelt, above, three years ago when I bought it on behalf of a customer. The ‘super-charged’ Model K in the advert below is from 1926.

During the 1920s the company also marketed a variety of delivery vehicles based around motorcycle combinations. A van, a small van, truck and box carrier were advertised until 1929. They were powered by Dunelt’s own 499cc single cylinder engine. The advantage of a motorcycle combination with a commercial box was that the sidecar chassis allowed an alternative body to be fitted for weekend use; so you could take the family to the seaside at weekends, as in the picture below.

But the three-wheeler commercial vehicle market was a difficult one for all motorcycle manufacturers, and Dunelt did not have the success they wished for in this area. From 1929, most of the combinations were discontinued and, by 1930, they also stopped producing their own engines. Sturmey Archer and Villiers units were used instead and, from 1933, they also fitted Rudge Python and JAP engines. All manufacturers were re-assessing their businesses as a result of the economic climate. and Dunelt’s Birmingham factory closed in 1931.

Motorcycle production ceased in 1935, though their cycle business continued.

In 1956 the marque name was briefly revived with a Dunelt Reynolds moped exhibited at the Earls Court show, but it did not go into full production. Dunelt cycles, however, sold well in the fifties, and TI/Raleigh used the Dunelt marque for American exports. Compare the sixties American poster below with the 1954 British advert above!

As you can see below, the Dunelt name had a very brief renaissance as a Rex-powered moped in 1956.

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Vintage Tradesman’s Delivery Bike Museum

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http://www.lowgravity.co.uk