In the decade preceding World War 1, the high quality of Triumph bicycles and motorcycles fuelled sales both at home and abroad. The European market was particularly strong, as you can see from the French postcard above.
The Gent’s Imperial and Royal Triumphs were the company’s top-of-the-range models, priced at £14 19/- 3d and £12 1/- 6d respectively. The basic Royal without any extras was £9 13/-. The ‘Special’ Triumph took over from the ‘Standard’ as one of Triumph’s budget lines, and the model featured here, the Special No 21, cost £7 10/-. It became very popular because, despite the very reasonable price, the customer was still buying a bicycle made to the highest standards in Triumph’s own factory.
To compare prices with the current day, multiply the sale price by 100 (approximate): the Special Triumph No 21 would cost around £750 and the Imperial just under £1500.
1912 Special Triumph ‘No 21’ Roadster
23″ Frame
28″ Wheels
Frame No 182255
‘Brown’ saddle
Inflator pump marked ‘Kemp Bros, Seaford’
This 113-year-old Triumph is in superb original cosmetic condition, with its original transfers (decals) intact, excellent nickel and a ‘Brown’ motorcycle style saddle. It is fitted with attractive four bar pedals and the inflator pump is marked ‘Kemp Bros, 11 Clintons Place, Seaford.’ (Kemp’s Garage opened in 1921). Its previous owner needed to repair the lower part of the seat tube: you can read about it at the bottom of the page. The Triumph has been serviced and is ready to ride.
1910 TRIUMPH CATALOGUE EXTRACTS
NO FEMALE LABOUR WHATSOEVER IS EMPLOYED
It was Triumph works manager Charles Walter Hathaway who objected to female labour, as he believed women could not assimilate the engineering skills required. He had been there from the start of the company so his advice was followed. However, he died in 1915, aged 51, after an operation. By early 1916 women became employed in a variety of jobs including the assembly of artillery fuses.
REPAIR TO BOTTOM OF SEAT TUBE
I bought this Triumph from Terry, who is a retired blacksmith. When he got it around 12 years ago, the bottom of the seat tube had been damaged where it meets the top bb lug. Triumphs are particularly lightweight machines, and I had another one some years ago with damage here, so I assume this might have been a weak point. As Terry was a blacksmith at the time, he was able to effect a very professional repair. He tapped a 2 inch solid steel plug down through the seat tube, drilled and screwed it into the tube and then drilled and bolted it through the lug too. He told me the hard part was working out the diameter of the plug, as if it was too wide it might get stuck tapping it down the tube and if too narrow it would not act sufficiently to strengthen the joint. He says he didn’t want to braze it because the heat might weaken the tubing and spoil the original paint. Terry rode the Triumph regularly and I’ve ridden it too. It’s lovely to ride!
Terry was the blacksmith at Glynde (East Sussex) from 1996 until he retired in 2016.
You can read the history of Glynde Forge via the link below
