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Photo ou archives : F-M. Dumas
5910

Capacity : 350
Model :
Production : 1928 -
Category : (R) Street Bike

OEC

350 Villiers - 1928

Famously unorthodox

The little Osborn Engineering Company was founded in Gosport, Hampshire, in 1901 by former racing cyclist Frederick Osborn. He built motorcycles for Blackburne until 1914, and took over production of these machines under his own "OEC" trademark in 1920.

Duplex Steering

The firm was best-known for its unorthodox "duplex" steering, patented by Osborn's son John and Fred Wood in 1925 and put into production in 1927. Turning the handlebars caused a complex parallel-link frame, which carried the front wheel, to turn.

Record-Breaking

As early as 1922, Claude Temple set a record speed of 108.48 mph on an OEC-Anzani. In 1930, he tuned a supercharged 996cc OEC-JAP with which Joe Wright became the first motorcyclist to exceed 150 mph (though not with the duplex steering, since a sheared drive key meant that a conventional – Zenith – frame with an OEC tank was substituted at the last minute). Yet, the duplex fork was used on many models – even base models such as this 350cc tourer – with an external inertia flywheel and a lateral carburetor, though a conventional girder fork would have done just as well. Promoted as the "Modern Motor Cycle" in 1930, OEC's prototype combined duplex steering with the revolutionary Tinkler "Power Egg," an aluminium casting housing engine, radiator, gearbox and fuel tank. Financial problems prompted a move to a new factory in Portsmouth during the 1930s. Nevertheless, the firm continued on its unorthodox way for 20 more years.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 343cc (79x70mm) air-cooled Villiers single-cylinder

Power Rating: 9 hp @ 4,500 rpm

Valves: two-stroke

Fuel System: Amal carburetor

Transmission: 3-speed, chain final drive

Suspension: OEC Duplex forks incorporating enclosed helical springs (front); rigid (rear)

Brakes: drum (front & rear)

Wheels: 19 inch wire (front & rear)

Weight: 315 lb

Maximum Speed: 52 mph

Complex and expensive, the OEC Duplex forks used two pairs of vertical tubes connected by links on both top and bottom. The forward pair also contained the suspension springs.





Le fichier Moto Passion réalisé par François-Marie Dumas réunit près de deux mille photos accompagnées d'un historique très complet des machines présentées.
Il sera progressivement mis à jour ici et toute information complémentaire est la bienvenue sur info@moto-collection.org.

Cette documentation unique, qui constitue sans doute l'encyclopédie la plus exhaustive jamais écrite sur l'histoire de la moto, a été réalisée avec l'assistance de nombreux spécialistes dont principalement Didier Ganneau, Christophe Gaime, Mick Woollett, Jean Goyard, Bernard Salvat, Christian Rey, Yves Campion, Helmut Krackowizer, Michael Dregni, Michel Montange, etc. que je remercie ici.

Disponible sur demande :
- Les fiches originales sur papier
- Les photos et archives signées de mon nom en haute définition ou les documents originaux.
Me contacter sur info@moto-collection.org pour les conditions et droits d'utilisation.