S-22720-0-1

262c.1908 Zenette 3½hp ForecarEngine no. 5873Purchased at Brooks’ Olympia Sale in April 1995 (Lot 634), thisunusual machine had had much work done prior to purchase, therestorer’s hand-written details of which are included in the documentfile. The engine was rebuilt; new wheel rims, tyres and tubes fitted andthe suspension reconditioned, as was the Gradua gear, steering andbrakes. While much had been done, it was still a ‘work in progress’when purchased in 1995 and required finishing. Catalogued at thattime as ‘c.1904/1907’, it was acquired by the vendor in the hopethat it could be dated as 1904 and used on the London to BrightonVeteran Car Run. However, no further work was carried out andthe machine remains in similar condition to the last time it changedhands, having been dry-stored since acquisition. The 1995 cataloguedescription stated that the Zenette had previously formed part of theLips Collection in Holland.‘Zenette’ was one of the brand names used by the London-basedZenith Motor Engineering Company, which had commencedmotorcycle production in 1905 with the Zenith Bicar. The latter was adevelopment of the ‘Tooley’s Patent Bicar’, named after its inventor,which was a strange device featuring a horizontal tubular frame andhub-centre steering. The Tooley had been exhibited at Crystal Palacein February 1905 by Messrs Bitton and Harley of Great Yarmouth, andMr Bitton would go on to become Zenith’s works manager.Zenith was soon offering a three-wheeled forecar – the ‘Tricar’ – which,according to its maker, was ‘constructed on the “Zenith Bicar” doubleframespring suspension principle,’ the latter introduced for 1907. Thatsame year engineer Frederick Barnes joined the company (he wouldlater invent the famous ‘Gradua’ gear) and one of his first contributionswas the more conventional Zenette, another design available witheither two or three wheels. Engines used by Zenith at this time werethe single-cylinder Fafnir and twin-cylinder JAP and Sarolea.This machine has the aforementioned sprung frame, Fafnir engineand Gradua gear, the latter first made available for 1908. Theaccompanying VMCC dating certificate states the manufacturing dateas ‘Before 1914’ and describes the machine erroneously as ‘Tooleys’.Requiring further restoration work and sold strictly as viewed, themachine comes with the aforementioned restoration details; aphotocopy of a 1909 Zenith catalogue; various photocopies of earlyThe Motor Cycle articles; and miscellaneous papers. Also included is aspare Fafnir single-cylinder engine.£4,500 - 6,500€6,300 - 9,10052 | the spring stafford saleBidders 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.