Dunelt Motorcycles
Encyclopedia
Dunelt Motorcycles was a British motorcycle
and bicycle
manufacturer. Based in Sheffield
, the business was founded by two steel makers and engineers, Dunford and Elliott (Dunelt is a combination of their names) of Sheffield in 1919. Their first motorcycle was an innovative supercharged 499 cc two-stroke single. The company specialised in good quality sidecars from 1926 and a Dunelt motorcycle was first to cross the desert from Cairo to Siwa and back in 1924. Dunelt also enjoyed racing success and won the Double Twelve Hour World Record at Brooklands
with a Model K in 1928. Dunelt moved into commercial three-wheeled cars but these were not a success. A Dunelt moped was exhibited at the Earls Court
show in 1956 but the company diversified into other areas of engineering in 1957.
Founded by steelmakers Dunford & Elliot in 1919, Dunelt made 500 cc single-cylinder two-stroke motorcycles at their works in Birmingham
. Noted for their supercharged engines, this was their own patented design, in which the supercharging is achieved by transfer of gases from the crankcase
to the cylinder. Dunelt also hoped to increase sales to women motorcyclists; in 1927 a young German woman, Suzanne Koerner, rode a Dunelt motorcycle from Berlin
to Birmingham
.
In February 1931 Dunelt closed the Birmingham factory and reopened in Sheffield
. In 1935 Dunelt produced their last real motorcycle and went on to develop outboard motors, and three wheelers, although they did attempt to launch a moped in 1956.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
and bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
manufacturer. Based in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, the business was founded by two steel makers and engineers, Dunford and Elliott (Dunelt is a combination of their names) of Sheffield in 1919. Their first motorcycle was an innovative supercharged 499 cc two-stroke single. The company specialised in good quality sidecars from 1926 and a Dunelt motorcycle was first to cross the desert from Cairo to Siwa and back in 1924. Dunelt also enjoyed racing success and won the Double Twelve Hour World Record at Brooklands
Brooklands
Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...
with a Model K in 1928. Dunelt moved into commercial three-wheeled cars but these were not a success. A Dunelt moped was exhibited at the Earls Court
Earls Court
Earls Court is a district in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, England. It is an inner-city district centred on Earl's Court Road and surrounding streets, located 3.1 miles west south-west of Charing Cross. It borders the sub-districts of South Kensington to the East, West...
show in 1956 but the company diversified into other areas of engineering in 1957.
History
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. Noted for their supercharged engines, this was their own patented design, in which the supercharging is achieved by transfer of gases from the crankcase
Crankcase
In an internal combustion engine of the reciprocating type, the crankcase is the housing for the crankshaft. The enclosure forms the largest cavity in the engine and is located below the cylinder, which in a multicylinder engine are usually integrated into one or several cylinder blocks...
to the cylinder. Dunelt also hoped to increase sales to women motorcyclists; in 1927 a young German woman, Suzanne Koerner, rode a Dunelt motorcycle from Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
to Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
.
In February 1931 Dunelt closed the Birmingham factory and reopened in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
. In 1935 Dunelt produced their last real motorcycle and went on to develop outboard motors, and three wheelers, although they did attempt to launch a moped in 1956.
Models
| Model | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Model K | 1926 | 250 cc two-stroke |
| Royal | 1928 | |
| Royal deluxe | 1928 | |
| Majectic | 1928 | four-stroke with a 350 cc Sturmey Archer engine. |
| Model T | 1930 | 250 cc |
| Model S | 1930 | 250 cc |
| Model SD | 1930 | 250 cc |
| Dunelt 297 cc | 1931 | Sturmey-Archer side-valve engine Flathead engine A flathead engine is an internal combustion engine with valves placed in the engine block beside the piston, instead of in the cylinder head, as in an overhead valve engine... |
| Dunelt 348 cc | 1931 | Sturmey-Archer |
| Dunelt 346 cc | 1931 | Villiers two-stroke |
| Dunelt 496 cc | 1931 | Sturmey-Archer |
| Dunelt 598cc | 1931 | Sturmey-Archer side-valve engine |
| Dunelt 148 cc | 1932 | Villiers Villiers Engineering Villiers Engineering was a manufacturer of motorcycles and cycle parts, and an engineering company based in Villiers Street, Wolverhampton, England.... |
| Dunelt 350 cc | 1932 | Villiers |
| Model T special | 1933 | Python (Rudge) engine |
| Dunelt 248 cc | 1934 | Python (Rudge) engine |
| Dunelt 499 cc | 1934 | Python (Rudge) engine |
| Dunelt 248 cc | 1934 | Python (Rudge) engine |
| Dunelt 245 cc | 1934 | JAP JA Prestwich Industries Ltd JA Prestwich Industries, was an English engineering company named after founder John Alfred Prestwich, which produced cinematographic equipment, internal combustion engines , and other examples of precision engineering.-History:J. A... engine |
| Dunelt 490 cc | 1934 | JAP engine |
| Dunelt Moped | 1956 |