Blackburne (motorcycles)

They were also a major supplier of engines to other motor cycle and light car makers and continued to make these until 1937.

The origins of the Blackburne motorcycle engine start with Geoffrey de Havilland, who had designed and built a motor cycle before he became interested in aviation.

In about 1905 he sold the designs and patterns to two student friends for £5 when he was short of money, and they went on to form the Blackburne engine company.

The Atlas works was 56,000 square feet by the end of the war, and is the subject of research by P. Taplee of the local history society.

[7] In the judges summary of the event they stated that the "Blackburne machines are also worthy of very favourable notice on account of their good engine design".

[9] Reporting back to the Motor Cycle later that year, Alec Burney had lost his machine when it was run over by the heavy artillery during the night.

The motorcycle was exhibited at the 1923 Olympia show, and the Vintage Motor Cycle Club library holds a copy of their promotional literature.

[citation needed] The 495cc engines were manufactured at the works of John Warrick & Co Ltd of Reading, Berkshire, though they are reported to have moved to Twyford and then to Shalford.

Around 1922, Blackburne first ran the Tomtit two-cylinder light aircraft engine based on the Lympne 696 cc V-twin.

The first engine design was of 1098 cc, consistent with the capacity limit imposed for the 1924 light aeroplane trials at Lympne.

The swift features two 65hp electric motors connected separately to the rear wheel via chain drives, giving a power output of 130hp at full throttle.