1930 OEC Duplex 500
Unique Duplex steering system

Registration No: BR 7950
Frame No: DSRS 3092
Engine No: KYS 58403/11
CC: 500
MOT: Exempt

• 1930 OEC 500 with an unusual and unique duplex front fork system
• Rare model fitted with a side valve JAP engine, only one known to the VMCC
• Supplied with lots of paperwork including the original buff log book

The Osborn Engineering Company was a British manufacturer of motorcycles marketing its bikes under the OEC brand name. Initially they used Blackburne engines, but later used other engine manufacturers such as JAP. The Osborn Engineering Company went into receivership in 1931 and the extensive premises in Gosport were auctioned by the receiver in 1931, however the motorcycle part of the business survived and by 1933 OEC motorcycles were being produced by O.E.C. Ltd of Portsmouth. In 1927 OEC introduced its first bike with the unusual patented duplex front fork system and this was to be fitted to all their models and the next year they also patented a novel rear swinging arm suspension design. At the 1929 Olympia show Osborn Engineering Company listed 350cc and 500cc motorcycles in either side-valve or overhead-valve form, all with the unusual duplex fork arrangement.

This OEC is fitted with a 500cc side valve JAP engine and is believed to be the only 500 side valve known to the VMCC and is in fact listed as number 80 in the VMCC roster. The bike is fitted with a rack and has leather side pouches stamped with the War department arrows so it may have been seconded during WW2. Part of a small private collection, the vendor is the fifth owner of the OEC and has owned the bike since 1996. Included are letters from the VMCC Marque specialist, sales brochures showing the model range, various letters, a Pitmans hand book on JAP engines, the original buff logbook and a current V5C.

For more information, please contact:
Ian Cunningham
[email protected]
07415 871189