1856 The Abingdon engineering company first appeared and produced a
range of tools known as the King Dick.
1903 Abingdon Motorcycles began making motorcycles
Their machines, typical of the era, ranged from 2hp to 3.5hp, with
solos and tricycles available. They began to make their own four-stroke
350cc single and 794cc V-twin engines. The company first used proprietary
engines, such as MMC, Fafnir, and Minerva by 1909 they built
their own singles and V-Twins
The MMC engine 1898-1903
Based on the De
Dion System
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Fafnir Engine 1903
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Note that MMC had just gone into liquidation, so I guess the bought the
bunckrupt stock cheaply.
1905-1906, it had produced the 5 hp (4 kW) AKD tricar.
1906 The Abingdon Ecco company was registered on 27 August, to take
over the Abingdon Works Co & the Ecco works
(info-The Stock Exchange Year Book 1908)
1907 At around this time the company joined with the East London Rubber
Co to make Kerry-Abingdon motorcycles for that firm, who bought and sold
in preference to manufacturing. This arrangement continued until 1915.
1909 A neat 3.5hp model was produced, soon followed by a 5 or 6hp V-twin
(that is what is says in Gracys,guide, but,I'm not sure on the dates on
those engines, earliest photo's are 1913)?. Both were belt-driven and had
a three-speed rear hub. There were also two large singles of 499cc and
623cc. The company made the engine itself, but later it was supplied to
other firms.
3.5hp
photo-1913
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Available in 5hp & 6hp versions
photo-1913
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1913-1917 For a list of the models and prices of motorcycles see the
1917 Red Book
Post WWI. The same two models continued.
Trading under the name Abingdon Ecco Ltd
1919
1922 For that year only, a 4.25hp single was produced.
1924 The range had been reduced to two singles and a twin.
1925 They changed their name to the initials of AKD. They continued
their production from premises at Tyseley, Birmingham.
1925 This was the final year for the Abingdon name. One of the singles
was known as the Abingdon King Dick. After that they were known as AKD
and continued as such until 1932.
1926 The company was also known as Abingdon/AKD, and also supplied
engines to other manufacturers.
The models were dropped but the company continued with a 174cc ohv
in 1927 until 1933.
1928 After a gap of a couple of years or so the company returned to
production of motorcycles with a six-model range, all using the same 172cc
ohv engine driving a three-speed gearbox. The difference in models was
made with fixtures and fittings and some engines had twin ports. There
was also a super-sports model.
1929 A special model appeared with an ohv 148cc engine built in-unit
and a three-speed gearbox. The rockers oscillated against a roller held
up against a fixed bridge. Several other models arose from that one and
some had a saddle tank
.
1930 One model was dropped and two 248cc models were added following the
same form.
1931 The model numbers were changed to astrological names, and the
148cc model that was dropped the previous year made a come back - this
time with an inclined engine.
1932 This was the last year that the company produced motorcycles and
after that they turned their attention to producing hand tools.
Information from Gracysguide & other sources.
Edited by S.Dogdragon |
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