Every now and then, there is an old bike that will stop you in your tracks and force you to take two steps backwards to begin the process of visual examination. We have all been there, and this is one bike that did exactly that to countless passers-by at the 2024 Banbury Run.
The Matchless company started life in 1878 when Henry Collier started to produce bicycles out of Herbert Road in South-East London. The firm later became H. Collier & Sons when his two elder sons Harry and Charles were added to the team. The enthusiasm of the Collier brothers was immense, and before long they were experimenting with engines mounted in their fathers’ bicycles. Harry and Charlie began racing the Plumstead built machines around the small London tracks such as Canning Town and Crystal Palace. The Colliers became particularly adept at wringing the last knot out of an engine, and were soon running head to head with rival crack riders of the period at Brooklands and the Isle of Man TT.
The pursuit for speed undoubtedly created a foundation that led to the success of Matchless, and soon there were a number of machines available to the buying public. In 1905 Matchless released a new V-twin motorcycle, a result of their association with John A. Prestwich who was making his J.A.P. engines over in Tottenham, North London.
It was a bike that was way ahead of its time, and featured leading link front forks with springs in tension behind the fork blades, and rear suspension which was highly unusual for the period. The J.A.P. relationship continued and by 1914 the range consisted mostly of V-twins. The Great War then reared its grizzly head, and the Plumstead factory became occupied with the production of munitions and aircraft parts. A handful of motorcycles were built for service use, although Matchless did not receive an official contract to build them for the army.
After the war, when the Ministry of Munitions had lifted its embargo on civilian motorcycle production, Matchless returned to the stage with a set of motorcycles that pretty much mirrored their pre-war line up, one of which was aptly named the “Victory” model which was sold in either solo or sidecar form. The next in the pack was the Model H, which was similar to the Victory but featured all of the mod-cons such as an all-enclosed drive and swinging fork rear suspension. Both models used the thumpy side-valve J.A.P. 1000cc big twin.
The motorcycle pictured is a Matchless Victory model which was purchased in 1919 and is believed to have been used until 1927 (as this was the last tax disc found with the bike). At this point it was taken apart, stripped, put in a box, and shipped to Canada to remain with the same owner. The motorcycle remained hidden away in the wooden box for a number of decades and was passed down through generations of the same family, until the top was wrenched open at the turn of the century and a decision made to piece the bike together to return it to its original splendour.
It was not that simple however, as the box had been sat in the damp at the back of a shed, and therefore it needed some careful hands. The bike was repatriated in 2014 where a chap called Trevor started the restoration, cautious to retain the character and personality of this lovely old bike. Due to unfortunate circumstances, Trevor lost interest in continuing with the restoration and the bike was sold, to end up with David Wood who is in the process of fettling the machine.
As can been seen in the photos, as much has been done to retain the persona of the Victory, which retains its bruises and scars. The rubber footrests and bar grips are original, and still show the Matchless stamps through the years of wear. It is the detail like this that rewinds the mind.
The exhaust is one to note – it is tapered to a smaller diameter at the tip, which results in a quieter note. This was something that the likes of Bentley were doing at the time, let alone a little motorcycle company out of Plumstead.
This is an extremely rare bike, made even rarer by virtue of its condition and originality. It was great to be shown around the machine by David Wood at the Banbury Run who provided an interesting insight into its life. Hopefully we will see it next year running around the Banbury route!
an article by The Girder Club
If you would like to be kept up-to-date with the latest news and information on vintage motorcycles, feel free to sign up to our newsletter, which we aim to ping out each month.
I live in Canada and have the very same model that was sold at Yesterdays. SN is WD M 63610
Ah that’s cool, you will have to send us a couple of photos!