1913/1914 Chainless Rover Roadster

Durkopp was a well-established German cycle manufacturer. They brought out their new chainless (‘kardan’) bicycle in 1913, and Rover used the gear system under license for their own chainless bicycle which made its debut in 1913, at a competitive sales price of 10 guineas.

Pioneers of the cycle industry, Rover introduced their first automobile in 1904. Demand for cars and motorcycles increased steadily, and the motorised side of Rover’s business gradually took over from bicycles. In 1912, they sold their cycle business to Charles Sangster of Components Ltd. (Rover bought back their cycle business in 1922 and ran it for a further four years before giving up cycle production completely). Rover’s relationship with Component’s Ltd stretched back at least as far as 1901, as the cross frame illustrated in the 1901 Rover catalogue used Charles Sangster’s patent (above).

Quadrant and Humber had sold chainless bicycles in Britain around the turn of the century. Quadrant’s chainless used the Lloyd’s cross-roller system. Humber supplied frames to the French firm Metropole in 1897 for Metropole’s chainless ‘Acatene’ bicycle – which was also sold as the ‘Humber Chainless’ in Britain.

By 1913, Components Ltd had been supplying frames and parts to the cycle trade worldwide for twenty years. Perhaps, as Humber had done sixteen years earlier with Metropole, Sangster landed a contract to supply chainless frames to Durkopp? If the frames were built in the newly-acquired Rover Cycle Co factory, it would have been logical for Rover to offer a version too. Unfortunately, events conspired against the Chainless Rover – because Germany and Britain went to war the following year. As a result, the ‘Chainless Rover Roadster’ only appeared in the company’s 1913 and 1914 catalogues and there are very few survivors.

BELOW: SHORT VIDEO OF THE CHAINLESS GEAR TURNING

rover chainless

1913/1914 Chainless Rover Roadster

26″ Frame

28″ Wheels

Coaster Hub Brake

(Now sold)

This rare Chainless Rover is an old-time restoration in good working order. It has the wrong lamp bracket, but otherwise appears to be original.

One of the catalogue illustrations shows brazed-on pump fittings, while in the close up picture of the gear mechanism it is not illustrated. This Rover does not have it.

The Rover could do with a service but it is otherwise ready to ride.