2611911 Douglas 2¾hp Model DRegistration no. FH 347Frame no. 549484Engine no. 1711The Bristol-based Douglas Foundry took up motorcycle production in1907 with a machine powered by a horizontally-opposed, twin-cylinderengine, and the company would keep faith with this layout until itceased motorcycle production in 1957. Fore-and-aft installation madefor a slim machine with a low centre of gravity, and the design’s virtueswere soon demonstrated in competition, 2¾hp Douglas machinestaking 1st, 2nd and 4th places in the 1912 Junior TT in the Isle ofMan. Douglas were quick to realise the advantages of the countershaftgearbox, its three-speed entries gaining the Team Prize in the 1914 SixDays Trial, a conspicuous success that resulted in the firm obtaining awartime contract for the supply of military machines. Douglas’ successcontinued after The Great War.This early 340cc Douglas was first registered on 22nd July 1911and most unusually every single owner over succeeding 104 years isknown and recorded, together with the duration of their ownership.‘FH 347’ is on the Sunbeam MCC Pioneer Register having beenawarded Pioneer Certificate No. 353 in January 1958, at which timeit was thought to be 1910. However further research by the currentowner, using original Douglas catalogues and archives held byGloucestershire Council, indicates manufacture in 1911, although 1910models are very similar, with only detail differences.The fortunate owner who first put it on the road was Leopold VictorGough of 26 London Road, Gloucester. It then changed hands on16th September that same year, passing to a resident of nearbyCheltenham, John Henry Chesterman of 43 St George’s Street. Acouple of years later, on 12th February 1913, Mr J Douglas Pearsonof Greville Lodge, Cheltenham acquired the Douglas. Possibly MrPearson upgraded to a larger machine as by 19th May 1913 a newowner, David Lewis of Blacklaines Farm, Birdlip, Gloucestershirewas tackling the local hills on ‘FH 347’. The Douglas remained at MrLewis’s farm until after the First World War when yet another local man,Christopher Hoggett of Whiteway Colony, Stroud, acquired it on 5thMarch 1919.A year later, Frank Edwin Burgess of Holloway Sanatorium, VirginiaWater, Surrey (believed to be a doctor) bought the Douglas and wasto keep it for some 26 years. He garaged the motorcycle in largelockup premises belonging to the hospital (photographs on file) andin the same wooden building was a car. Around 1946 a local repairgarage, Hayes Bros (Automobile Engineers) was called upon to lookat the car (ownership unknown) in Sandy Lane, Virginia Water. GeorgeHayes, the proprietor, spotted the 1911 Douglas under the workbenchand acquired it from Mr Burgess after contacting him. George Hayesintended to put the Douglas back on the road for the then increasinglypopular ‘Pioneer Run’. There was one snag: in the intervening yearsthe magneto had been removed (presumably some time after 1926as Mr Burgess continued to use the Douglas until that year). GeorgeHayes also had to locate a saddle.The magneto fitted to these early Douglases is a particularly unusualtype with advance/retard lever attached to it. George Hayes advertisedfor this particular Bosch magneto (Type DAl) and eventually Percy Clareof the famous Clare’s Motor Works of Knights Hill, South London cameto the rescue (see letter dated 28th March 1957 from George Hayesto Percy Clare). Amazingly, this latter was found in historic papersfrom Clare’s Motor Works already in the possession of the currentowner! Fitting of the all-important correct magneto enabled a PioneerCertificate to be obtained and the Douglas successfully participated inits first Pioneer Run (riding number ‘167’) a couple of months later inMarch 1958. Mr Hayes rode the Douglas in the 1960, 1961 and 1963Pioneer Runs and others subsequently.50 | the spring stafford sale
George Hayes (standing) Eddie Renham (on the Douglas), 1911.The Douglas then earned a rest for two decades until local trialsenthusiast and near neighbour of George Hayes, Eddie Renham ofEgham, Surrey purchased the machine and rode it many times on thePioneer Run during the 1980s and on into the early 2000s. The currentvendor has owned ‘FH 347’ since 2007 and has kept the engine turnedover and occasionally started it. Further research on the machine’sGloucestershire history has been undertaken during this period.Several 1st Class Pioneer Run awards (medals) and pennants areincluded in the sale together with an oak plaque displaying some ofthe early medals this motorcycle has earned. Also included is a plaquedenoting the Douglas’s inclusion on the Pioneer Register, which can beaffixed to the machine. ‘FH 347’ also comes with a most substantialhistory file containing comprehensive overhaul/restoration details(correspondence, receipts, photographs, etc), old-style logbook, V5/V5C documents and numerous Pioneer Run programmes.£7,000 - 10,000€9,800 - 14,000Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the description and condition of each lotprior to bidding. All lots are sold “as is/where is” with all defects and faults.motorcycles | 51
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