These oddballs were produced by the Wilkinson Sword Company. Wilkinson made the Maxim machine gun, a young on-staff engineer designed a scouting motorcycle armed with the gun. The military wasn't interested in the V twin powered device, but the seed was sewn for a unique touring motorcycle which was introduced in 1909 and named the TAC (Touring Auto Cycle). The engine was now a 676cc inline four and featured rear suspension, a bucket seat and fuel tank incorporated into the rear fender. A steering wheel was an option. The designers weren't finished; in 1911, they introduced the TMC (Touring Motor Cycle), now with an 850cc watercooled inline side valve engine. In the next few years, the engine grew again, this time to 996cc and the brand came under control of the Ogden Motor company who shut down production around the beginning of WW1.
BTW, the last Sidecar Sunday post subject was also a Wilkinson, no wonder it wasn't easily recognizable!
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| Being tested at Brooklands. |
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| Pioneer Run 1996 (The Classic Motor Cycle Aug 1996) |
3 comments:
A touring motorcycle with a machine gun sounds like a great idea!
For mowing down tourists?
I like the test bike front fender and the red velvet tuck-n-roll chair seat, mhm.
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