[Rovernet] FW: Rover trike

[Mike Maher]

This is the earliest surviving Rover "Forecar" built in 190/4.

I have abbreviated some ponts I found on the net regarding Rover 
Motorcycles.  The forecars were products of the motorcycle department of 
what was then the Rover Cycle Company, rather than the car department.

Rover produced motorcycles in 1899, from 1903 to 1906 and from 1910 to 1927. 
Having started in the cycle industry, the company first experimented with 
power and exhibited a machine at the Richmond Show.



They built a tricar in bath-chair form, with twin rear wheels and the driver 
and De Dion engine fitted between them. At the front was a single small 
wheel and a seat for the passenger.



·         1901 'Imperial Rover' motorcycles were produced.

·         1903 After a gap of a few years a well-designed machine appeared. 
This had a single 2.25hp engine with a mechanical inlet valve and spray 
carburettor. The frame had two down-tubes, to increase rigidity, and braced 
forks.

·         1904 The engine increased to 3hp and there was also a 4hp forecar 
with the option of a water-cooled engine. It had two-stage chain 
transmission and included a clutch.





·         1927 The last year of Rover motorcycle production.


By 1904, Rover were producing the 8hp car; this was more comfortable, not to 
say safer for the passenger, who on the forecar was rather close to the 
accident!  From the above detail, the forecar is a remarkably advanced 
vehicle with watercooling, a clutch and chain transmission, (most 
motorcycles at that time used a segmented  rubber belt for transmission and 
were air cooled.).   It clearly has motorcycle in its heritage and  has a 
motorcycle frame at the back, married to two wheels at the front, forming a 
tricycle with the seat between.

The forecar at the rally is the only one known and burst a seam in its 
radiator on saturday 29th June.  Remarkably this was removed and repaired at 
the house of a local enthusiast, who must have a great deal of skill 
applying solder and just the right amount of heat to cause it to run into 
the joint rather than to melt all over the place.

Hope tht this helps

Mike


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ben Saunders" <bsaunders at firstva.com>
To: "Rovernet" <rovernet at rovernet.org>
Sent: Friday, August 16, 2013 12:07 AM
Subject: [Rovernet] FW: Rover trike


>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dennis Gallacher [mailto:dennis at allk9.com.au]
> Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2013 9:49 AM
> To: bsaunders at firstva.com
> Subject: RE: Rover trike
>
> Ben send this email to the group as Im sure there are those there who will
> know more than I do buddy.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ben Saunders [mailto:bsaunders at firstva.com]
> Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2013 8:20 PM
> To: Dennis Gallacher
> Subject: Rover trike
>
> Hello Dennis,
> It is always a treat to see the photos of the RSR meet or for that matter
> any Rover meet. I wanted to know if you could find a way to get more
> information on the Rover Tricycle. This is the first time I have ever seen
> one and wanted to know more about it as to the year and how it was
> constructed. The photos show me a lot but I am not sure where the engine 
> is
> and how it is driven. Keep up the good work.
> Ben
>
> Ben & Cathy Saunders
> P O Box 846
> Columbia, Va. 23038
> (434) 842-3667
>
>
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