The Classic MotorCycle – September 2019

bearings.Thepistons in theECWare unusual in that the
bottom ismade ofcast iron ,while thetop half is made
of aluminium.Pistonrings arepresent and theyare
pretty standard.
Paul hasdone hisresearch ,but hehasonlyfound a
tantalisinglysmall amountofi nformation; hence the
subject and object of this article.HeapproachedThe
Vint ageMotor Cycle Club,but theyknewnothingand
neitherdid Brooklands.
So letmestartfromwhat we know, andwhat is on the
only document.Thebikehas alongwheelbase–Paul
hasridden it and says it is trulyhorrible.Itisan800cc
V-twinfrom 1926,most of which is original,butnot all of
it.Itisostensibly titledanECW,and thosethree letters
loom largeand bright on each side of the fuel/oiltank.
We areassumingitisBritish.
In thecourseofmyenquiries,Irangthe vintage
specialistsatVerralls.ProprietorIanHattonwas nice,
and explainedmanysmall gr oups or individualsmade
motorcycles duringthis period,addingthat themachine
hadmanyofthe hallmarks ofagiftedand talented
‘home’ engineer. Oh,and that the enginewas probably
earlier than 1926.Alsothe headfins didnot look tobe
typi cally designed for amotorcycle, butmaybe another
application –acyclecarperhaps? Mike Davies,fromthe
auction groupH&H, reckons theengine mightbeaJAP,
not of 800cc,but in fact 1000cc.
So wehave absolutely no idea what the lettersECW
stand for.Isitthe name of the companythat built it,
or theperson whorode it? And is thereanotherone
somewhereinthe world just lik eit, or is it unique?Who
designedthe engine, the girder forks,the magnificent
fuel andoil tank,and where wasitbuilt andused?
We arenow lookingtoyou guys tosearch your
person al databases (yourmemories) tofind outmore
aboutthis intriguingbike. Wheredid it comefrom?Who
mighthaveowned it? Andwhere and whomade it? If
you haveanyinformation, then pleasecontact us and
hopefullywe will be able tofinally tell thestoryof
this unusual motorcycle.

3:Thegirderforks

definitelyhavea

lookofWebbs

aboutthem.

4:Boschmagnetos

were onlyreally

fittedtoBritish

machinesuntilthe

FirstWorldWar.

End

Right:Thebespoke

toolboxesare

nicelytuckedin.

THE CLASSICMOTORCYCLE|SEPTEMBER 2019 43

|| -twin

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