THE MOUNT FOR MODERNS
New Hudson tandems and commercial tricycles of the 1930s were built with twin tubes that bolted together to make them easy to dismantle.
As a result of the Great Depression, New Hudson suspended motorcycle production in 1934, and focussed instead on making brake and suspension units for Girling and manufacturing bicycles; various other motorcycle companies followed suit. The cycle manufacturers stopped making expensive models, and reduced construction costs so they could sell bicycles cheaply. The strategy was very successful and, though industry in general was suffering, the cycle industry was booming.
New Hudson led the market by introducing many innovative designs, the ‘bolt-up’ frame being one of the most renowned. Though it was brought in as a practical feature of their commercial box carrier tricycles, they also used it on their tandems and bicycles.
With an important international market – which became even more essential in the 1930s – this made them easier and cheaper to ship around the world, as well as making it much easier to supply replacement parts.
1936 New Hudson Box Carrier Tricycle
Twin-Tube Construction
Bolt-Together Frame
20 x 2″ Wheels
(Now sold)
This unusual box carrier tricycle requires only a few jobs to put it on the road.
The front tyre on it is 20 x 2 x 1 3/4″ and the rear tyres are 20 x 2″. They are serviceable and it is rideable, so they would do if you just want to display it. If you wanted to use it as a regular rider though I would recommend fitting new tyres.
The catalogue illustrations show a handbrake fitted. This does not have one, and I didn’t notice any place for one to be fitted, so maybe that was an optional extra.
As you can see in one of the photos, the chain guard is inside the box, waiting to be fitted.
You can see various box styles illustrated in the photos below, as supplied to different trades such as milkmen, bakers, butchers, fishmongers, laundrymen, etc. In fact you could order any style of box you required. This one was used by a village newsagent for paper rounds.
I’ve left the box unlettered, as the new owner may wish to design their own, perhaps to advertise their own business? If you enjoy displaying odd vehicles at shows, it could also be fun to create an interesting ‘trade’ to be advertised on this unique box carrier tricycle.
THE NEW HUDSON BOX CARRIER TRICYCLE
NEW HUDSON:
PRESSED STEEL FRAME & TWIN TUBE CONSTRUCTION
