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Ascot-Pullin Motorcycles

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Ascot Motor & Manufacturing Co
Company typeLimited
Industry
Motorcycle design and manufacturing
Founded1928; 96 years ago (1928) in Letchworth, UK
FounderCyril Pullin
Defunct1930 (1930)
FateLiquidation
HeadquartersPixmore Avenue and Dunhams Lane,
Letchworth SG6
,
UK
ProductsMotorcycles
Production output
c. 400-500 motorcycles (1928-1930)
BrandsAscot-Pullin
OwnerCyril Pullin
Footnotes / references
[1][2]

Ascot-Pullin Motorcycles was a British motorcycle manufacturer founded by Cyril Pullin as the Ascot Motor & Manufacturing Co Ltd. at Letchworth, Hertfordshire in 1928.[1] An inventor and winner of the 1914 Isle of Man TT, Pullin had been developing ideas for motorcycle designs since 1920 with Stanley Groom, and had patented a two-stroke engine motorcycle with pressed sheet metal frame and forks. After leaving Douglas[clarification needed] the first time, Pullin worked with Groom again to refine his ideas and develop and patent the Ascot-Pullin motorcycle.[3] Fewer than 500 were built and sales were poor, resulting in the company's liquidation in 1930.[4]

Ascot-Pullin 500

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Ascot-Pullin 1929 500 cc 1 cyl OHV

Pullin was an innovator and the Ascot-Pullin 500 OHV single had the engine horizontally mounted and enclosed with a pressed-steel frame.[2] As well as the first use of hydraulic brakes on a motorcycle, Pullin also designed a telescopic centre stand and an adjustable windshield with a windscreen wiper and rear-view mirror, as well as a fully enclosed chain and interchangeable wheels.[5][2]

Powerwheel

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The Ascot-Pullin name was revived in 1951 by the Hercules Cycle and Motor Company, a division of Tube Investments, who commissioned Pullin's new invention, the "Powerwheel", a 40 cc (2.4 cu in), 0.7 hp (0.52 kW), single-cylinder rotary engine. The prototypes were scrapped after the company decided not to proceed with production, but a sectionalised example survived together with most of the drawings, and an industrialised version was developed for the Ministry of Supply.[6]

Sources

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  1. ^ a b "Ascot Motor and Manufacturing Co". GracesGuide.co.uk. Grace's Guide Ltd. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Ascot Pullin". GracesGuide.co.uk. Grace's Guide Ltd. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Douglas Patents". Retrieved 30 November 2008.
  4. ^ "Ascot-Pullin". Archived from the original on 11 December 2008. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
  5. ^ Brown, Roland (1 September 1999). The History of British Bikes (hardback). Bath, United Kingdom: Parragon Plus. ISBN 978-0-752-53153-3. OCLC 42578944. OL 10821108M.
  6. ^ "Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs" (PDF). Newsletter. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 July 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
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