The Abingdon Engineering company (later to be renamed Abingdon King Dick) dates to 1856 when they produced tools and chains. The tools became famously known as the King Dick and were particularly known for the adjustable spanners that sold in their millions across the world.
The Abingdon Works were located in the heartland of the British automotive industry in Birmingham, and in 1903 they turned their trade to motorcycles – both in solo and tricycle form. A variety of motorcycles were produced over the years, which included ones that featured outsourced proprietary motors, and later a selection of engines that were assembled in-house.
This 1928 174cc AKD Model 40 is a recent acquisition into the Brooklands Museum and is a model capacity that was produced from 1927 until 1933 when AKD packed up camp in the motorcycle world. It is one of two known to exist, and so is quite a rarity. A motorcycle of this type won the ultra-lightweight world record at Brooklands in 1928 where it achieved 56.77mph – not bad for a small capacity machine.
We could tell the story, but it is much better coming from Bill Whiteley from the museum who provides an insight into the acquisition and history of the bike – click on the video to hear all about this wonderful machine.
an article by The Girder Club
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