Lot details
Registration No: DU 6488
Frame No: A220
Engine No: 6741A
cc: 498
MOT Expiry Date: Exempt

- From a large private collection

- Pioneer certificate

- Owned for 20 years

- Used regularly by family members on many pioneer runs and the Banbury run

- All matching numbers machine, a good usable pioneer machine for many events including the Banbury run and the London to Brighton

- V5c current, some old MOT certificates and DVLA paperwork

- Will need recommissioning or restoration before use

This is a very rare and important Veteran Motorcycle, 107 years old, the original owner of this machine was a Mr Pollard, who at the time lived in Kenilworth, his next-doorneighbour was Mr Schulte who was the Managing Director of the Triumph Motor-Cycle Company. Mr Pollard & Mr Schulte used to ride to work together each day to Coventry on their machines & compare the respective merits of the Sun & the Triumph.

Mr Pollard always said the Sun was a superior motorcycle to the Triumph as he had fitted a "Phillipson Pulley" on the drive to the belt to enable the drive belt tension to be adjusted as needed at approach to junctions without the need to stop the engine, then restart to proceed as on the Triumph so saving time at all junctions without having to stop.

It will be noticed as well that Mr Pollard had an"ALLOY" beaded front wheel built & fitted before the First World War this is not a match for the rear wheel, a unique feature on a Veteran motor cycle, Mr Pollard claimed the different wheel added to better steering qualities & lightness over the Triumph.

Mr Pollard then moved to Burnley after the First World War where he established a radio & motor-cycle business & the machine was hardly used for a period of of 30 years.

In the 1950's it was purchased by Dr J Brooks who set about bringing it back to rideable condition. He stored it in his house until his death in 1964 Dr Brook's widow then sold it to Mr Clegg of Rochdale who died in the early 1970's, Mr Clegg's son sold the machine to a friend of his father who purchased it for reasons of sentiment.

The motorcycle then passed into the hands of The Reverend Christopher Dudley Johnson, The Vicarage, Eton, Windsor, Berkshire in 1972, subsequently sold by him in 1977 to David Leach of Wallington, Surrey, who was Managing Director of Trust Houses Forte Hotels in the U.K & Ireland, the motorcycle finished the coarse in both the 1977 & 1978 Pioneer Runs, London to Brighton, & featured in the parade of Historic Vehicles at Windsor Great Park in the Queens Silver Jubilee Celebrations.

Mr Leach then sold the motorcycle to Mr Leon Taylor of Chilton Hills, Beaconsfield, he then sold the motorcycle to Mr Brian Greening, Tewkesbury Gloucestershire via advert in July 1999 VMCC Journal, with original acetylene lights, Phillipson pulley, history, pioneer certificate.

Mr Greening rode the Motorcycle in the Pioneer Run 2000 alongside his brother Mark a Past Chairman of VMCC Flat Tank Section, on 1913 Douglas comparing respective merits of each motorcycle as Mr Pollard & Mr Schulte had done 88 years previously. Used in many VMCC events in the U.K & Ireland. Brian Greening subsequently sold the motorcycle to his father Francis Greening of Tewkesbury.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF SUN MOTORCYCLES

Sun Motorcycles was founded by "JAMES PARKES" a well-known Birmingham Industrialist I the second half of the 19th Century, and it was one of his enterprises - Messrs. James Parkes & Son, brass founders, of Alma Street, Birmingham- which established in 1885 the trade name of "SUN" for its products. The choice was not inappropriate as the firm made incandescent lamps. They started by making frame parts & lugs for the pedal cycle industry which was in its boom years & proceeded to play a significant part in that industry in & around Birminghm.

The firm prospered to such an extent that in 1887 they expanded into a new site, The Phoenix Works, Aston Brook Street, Birmingham, with James Parkes still in command, they started to make pedal cycles under the name Sun Cycle Fittings Company.

James Parkes son Joseph was joined by his brothers William, Thomas & Fredrick, after the founder's death in 1896, the four sons continued & in turn brought their own sons into the business manufacturing both pedal cycles & motorcycles.

Fredrick Parkes, known as' C Parkes" was commissioned into the Royal Engineers for the 1914-1918 War, then seconded to The Royal Flying Corps. There he flew single seat stringbags in No 60 squadron in company with Albert Ball, VC & Billy Bishop, VC great names among that that great company of early pilots.

They did not produce their first motorcycle until 1911, when they started to build machines with Birmingham-made Precision Engines, continuing the same models for the 1912 season. A rather pleasant looking machine.

A square finned barrel, air cooled, 498cc, B&B Carburettor, bosch magneto & belt drive. The motorcycle was turned out in handsome grey finish with black lines & a number of "rider's points" such as front wheel stand on separate lugs, valanced guards, leather mud shield & a small "sump to the petrol tap in the flat base to the tank.

At the end of 1914 a large "Sun Advertisement" claimed "The largest measure of success in the shortest time of any machine", adding that Suns were built in "One of the largest & best equipped works in the world for its purpose", well this was not so much in Aston Brook Street, but Aston Brook itself, indeed, the culverted brook ran slap through the middle of the machine shop & in times of flood was apt to rise up.

In mid -1961, Fred Parkes chairman of Sun Cycles & Fittings, announced his retirement after 48 years with the family company & sold the company to Raleigh Industries Group. The motor-cycle side was discontinued & bicycle manufacture moved in with Carlton at Worksop, Nottinghamshire, as for Aston Brook Street Works "Largest & Best Equipped in the World" they became a Tea & Coffee Warehouse on the junction of Bracebridge Street of NORTON fame.

Important Information

Pioneer Certificate Number:786
Certificate Issued:11th March 1977
Make:Sun
Frame Number:A220
Engine Precision:6741A
Cylinders:One
Cubic Capacity:3 ½ hp
Magneto:Bosch
Carburettor:B & B
Registration Number:DU 6488
Manufactured:1912
Registration:V5C & Buff Log Book
MOT Certificates: 1970's, 1990's
Magazines: "On Two Wheels Magazine, Volume 6, Part 86, 1710