specIFICATION
Triumph Model H –AB8341
Reg Number: AB8341
Date of First Reg in UK: 10th January 1921
Engine Number: 60299
Frame Number: 4786MS
Gearbox Number: CS27234
Magneto Make and Number: M-L PMI 30507
The Model H was a big step forward for Triumph. The 1914 550cc Side Valve 4hp model had paved the way and shown that the extra power available required the introduction of a proper gearbox to replace what was only previously a souped up cycle hub. With the addition of the gearbox the whole frame was also made much more substantial than previous models. With the ModelH, Triumph motorcycles came of age and the frame and engine were to appear in Triumph catalogue’s for almost thirteen years.
The Model H is probably the best known model from the beltdrive era. Known for its sterling service with various armies during the First World War and for the sheer quantity produced and later used by so many classes of people; from trades people to ordinary ride to work owners and sportsmen and women!
The first model with a real gearbox (obtained from SturmeyArcher) made it attractive to more than just the two wheeled enthusiast. A kickstart made starting so much easier and it proved to be a reliable machine almost guaranteeing a return home at the end of the day.
This new machine was first intimated during a talk in October 1914 by Mauritz J Schulte, co-Managing Director and a pre-production model was pictured and described by ‘The Motor Cycle’ in December 1914 before the first machines became available in February 1915.
With almost total production going to satisfy military orders, the model was in short supply for the general public until the end of the war. It was not until 1919 that the Model H was again available in very small numbers for the civilian market. Following the Great War the War Department held surplus sales at Slough where many Model H’s were sold off.
Owners of genuine ex-military models should not be surprised if they are a mixture of frames, engines and gearboxes, they did not last long on the war front and were often sent back to workshops were usable parts were salvaged and assembled for reissue as a renovated machine. Triumph themselves continued this practice and many ex-Army machines which were overhauled by the factory for resale in 1919 through to 1921.
Having proven themselves in the appalling conditions of the fields of Flanders and elsewhere, Model H’s were obviously well suited to trial riding and had a number of competition successes. Marjorie Cottle rode a Model H for her big first national trial; the 1921 North Wales Open.
The Glamorgan Police allegedly had Model H’s for 1924 and one was used to escort Prime Minister Ramsay Macdonald around his Aberavon constituency.
It is not possible to be specific about the number of Model H’s manufactured as the build records were lost when the Coventry Works was destroyed on the night of 14th November 1940 during an air raid. Approximate production figures are circa 29,500 over the five year period 1915 to 1919.
This extremely rare unrestored Triumph Model H was purchased by the current owner from a deceased estate in 2019. It is showing one previous owner on the V5C. It had been kept covered up in a dry garage for a number of years and still retained its original registration number allocated in 1921 when due to a change in legislation all road going motorcycles had to be registered.
A full assessment of the machine took place with an eye to maintaining its originality and wonderful patina. A full service of the engine carried out, the fuel and oil tank was cleaned along with the carburettor. New beaded tyres and tubes were purchased from Vintage tyres along with one or two other components and the engine was soon running. Since then the machine has been used regularly very reliably and many country road miles have been covered at a leisurely pace with a huge grin on the owners face!
From the considerable research that has been carried out it appears that this machine could well have been an ex-military example, the frame has an unusual stamp MS following the frame number which normally indicates that it returned to the Machine Shop for post War repairs, The numbers match both on the headstock and at the base of the down tube. The gearbox appears to be of 1918 origin and the engine appears to be of 1919 origin so it could easily have seen action before being repaired. The gearchange mechanism is recognisable as pre 1920. It still retains its original acetylene lamps front and rear. The original leather tool boxes are fitted on both sides of the rear mudguard frame and the original spare belt carrier(still containing belt sections) is still fitted on the right hand side.
This is a great opportunity to purchase an unmolested example of this fabulous machine to be enjoyed either on rides or in acollection to be looked at.
