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 Phelon More Panther - 500 Prototype
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Phelon More Panther Prototype motocyclette motorrad motorcycle vintage classic classique scooter roller moto scooter
Photo ou archives : F-M. Dumas
6406

Capacity : 500
Model : Prototype
Production : 1923 - 1924
Category : (R) Street Bike

PHELON & MOORE (PANTHER)

500cc Prototype -1924

Too far ahead of his time

From his first ABC in 1913 to his final project in 1955, via his famous "oil-boiler" engines of the 1920s, engineer Granville Bradshaw was an often-visionary genius who was also very out of touch with reality.

Too Far Ahead of Their Time

His creations, too far ahead of their time and taking only the slightest notice of the difficulties involved in their realization, provoked ABC's failure and nearly brought the same fate to Panther - alias Phelon & Moore - for whom he designed, in 1926, the remarkable but over-ambitious Panthette V-twin.

A Fine Beginning

Bradshaw joined Panther in 1923 as chief of design. He created a model that perpetuated P & M's traditional image. Since 1901, P & M had been building motorcycles with a steeply-inclined single-cylinder that replaced the front downtube of the frame. Respecting the product brief for once, Bradshaw created a bike that was as modern as it was exceptional, launched at the 1924 London Show. The long-stroke engine was in the specified Panther position and - in those days of fully-exposed valve gear - innovated by concealing its pushrods in a large-diameter chromed tube that gave the impression that the bike had a shaft-driven overhead camshaft. The oil reservoir was incorporated in the crankcase beneath the engine, and the oddly angled intake manifold was intended to speed up gas flow into the combustion chamber. The latter touch was soon dropped by P & M (but later adopted by Norton). The Panther-Bradshaw became a British success

story. This model, modified over the years and bored out to 650cc, survived until the

marque vanished in 1966.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 499cc (84x90mm) air-cooled inclined single-cylinder four-stroke; magneto ignition

Valves: overhead

Fuel System: carburetor

Transmission: 3-speed hand-shift, chain final drive

Suspension: leading-link girder forks (front); rigid (rear)

Brakes: dummy belt rim (front & rear)

Wheels: wire clincher (front & rear)

 

This rare period photograph shows the prototype 1924 Panther at the P & M factory before its debut at the London Motorcycle Show.




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.