1900/1901 BMTC (British Motor Traction Company) Motor Bicycle

[New Mexico Brant]

This just sold today for 18,000 GBP without the auction commission, VAT, and fees. Details from the auction:
"Not registered
Frame number Not visible
Engine number 133
Museum inventory number (marked on rear mudguard) 1933-40
The BMTC plate fixed to the engine is stamped with number 28 which could indicate how many engines were used in the production
Original owner Cecil Bullen-Brown
On loan to the Science Museum from 1933 until 2024
We believe that the company used a proprietary engine (probably De Dion) fitted into a purpose made bicycle
It is not certain how many were made or if this is a ‘one off’ prototype
The British Motor Traction Company was owned by Selwyn Francis Edge
‘SF’ as he was known was a pioneer of motoring and a successful racing driver
He was also a director of the Ariel Cycle company so it is possible that there may have been some association with Ariel to produce the cycle parts for the bike
There is an early descriptive letter from the C Bullen Brown applying for the bike to be included in RAC register
Included are several photocopies of photographs and descriptions of the bike taken from various publications
The photographs were taken many years ago and show the bike fitted with the original horn and rear front wheel stand
Our thanks go to Derek Foxton for providing several items from his archives to help with the history of this motor bicycle"

 

[Whizzerick]

Outstanding. 23 000$ USD for such an extraordinary well preserved turn of the century machine seems low...

 

[New Mexico Brant]

Outstanding. 23 000$ USD for such an extraordinary well preserved turn of the century machine seems low...

I am not following your maths; cost plus commission, VAT, and fees, depending how you bid, puts it over $27,000. Then crating and transport, insurance, entry fees to the US would put this over $30,000 for an orphan marque.

 

[mikecuda]

Love it.

 

[Fritz Katzenjammer]

At a guess, trembler coil ignition and a surface carb. Which means you can’t ride the thing as it doesn’t really like to run but it does like to catch fire. Which is why there’s so few machines with these systems still around.

At least it isn’t hot tube ignition…