Martinsyde
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Martinsyde was a British aircraft and motorcycle manufacturer active from 1908 to 1923, based in Woking (with premises also in Brooklands).
The company was first formed in 1908 as a partnership between H.P. Martin and George Handasyde and known as Martin & Handasyde. In 1912 they renamed the company Martinsyde Ltd. The company went into liquidation in 1923 following a disastrous fire in 1922. The aircraft division was taken over by Aircraft Disposal Company (ADC).
The company produced motorcycles from about 1919. The motorcycle division (the marque and existing spare parts) was purchased in 1923 by BAT Motor Manufacturing to become BAT-Martinsyde and continued limited production until 1926.[1]
[edit] Martinsyde aircraft
Martinsyde-designed aircraft included:
- Martinsyde S.1 single-seat scout, 1914
- G100 and G102 "Elephant" - scout aircraft 1915 onwards, 171
- Martinsyde RG
- Martinsyde F.1
- Martinsyde F.2
- Martinsyde F.3 - private venture design with the Rolls-Royce Falcon engine
- Martinsyde F.4 Buzzard - fighter, the F.3 with a Hispano-Suiza engine
A number of surplus Buzzard airframe were later built up with a new engine, the radial Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar, by the Aircraft Disposal Company (ADC) and sold as the "Martinsyde ADC.1" in 1924. A development of the F.4 was also made by the ADC: two "ADC Nimbus" were produced as prototypes.
The company also manufactured the BE.2c and SE.5A aircraft under sub-contract.
[edit] Martinsyde motorcycles
In 1922, Martinsyde produced two V-twin motorcycle designs:
- model B, 678cc (round-tank)
- model C, 498cc
[edit] References
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