Brief History of the Marque: Raynal
Assembled at 41 to 43 Fleet Street in Birmingham the Raynal was the
quintessential English lightweight motor cycle of the period being constructed
by a virtually unknown company from bought-in parts including, in the case
of the example below, a Mk. 1V 269cc Villiers
2-stroke engine fitted with a Senspray carburettor. The Mk. 1V was the
first Villiers engine to have the luxury of an enclosed flywheel with a
(patented) built-in magneto ignition system. Drive was by chain-cum-belt
through a 2-speed Sturmey-Archer gearbox and clutch. Being sprung both
vertically and horizontally the front fork was of a more expensive type
than normally employed on this class of machine and made for reasonable
comfort on the poor roads of the time. Unlike the very similar but better-known
Sparkbrook, made by a long-established bicycle manufacturer, Raynal appear
to have made just this one model (and then only in very limited numbers),
from around 1914 to 1922. One may search contemporary motorcycle magazines
and lists of exhibitors at exhibitions, but nowhere can any mention of
Raynal be found, their publicity efforts being as low-key as their bikes.
However, someone must have had an affection for the marque (possibly A.B.
Jackson) for in 1937 the name was revived for use on a utilitarian, pedal-assisted
auto-cycle. This model joined Cyc-Auto and Excelsior as Britain's only
manufactures of this vehicle type during the 1930s. After around 8000 Raynals
had been produced a halt was finally called in 1951.
A.B.Jackson went on to produce his own 98cc Villiers-engined motorcycle,
the ABJ, from 1949 to around 1954 - when the company reverted to being
a bicycle manufacturer.
Information courtesy http://www.lathes.co.uk/raynal
Thu Sep 06 2007
tony<at>lathes.co.uk
Vintage Villiers
Mk.1 to Mk. V 1914 to 1923
Hello, I'd like to find both a Mk. 1V and a Mk. V engine from the early
1920s. If anyone has, one, or any spares, I'd be interested to know. It's
to help with a project connected with a Raynal Motorcycle that can be seen
here:
http://www.lathes.co.uk/raynal
Tony Griffiths
Buxton England
If you have a query about Raynal Motorcycles, or wish to share some
information about these classic British machines, please contact
us!
