New Hudson (company)

The New Hudson Cycle Co. was originally started in 1890 by George Patterson, and manufactured 'safety' bicycles in Birmingham.

[4] New Hudson supported the riders achieving records, and benefitted as a result, and this perspective was to be seen later with their motorcycles.

New Hudson Cycle Co. launched their motorised bicycles at the annual Stanley Show in November 1902.

The show report notes that "New Hudson Cycle Co were one of the first firms to fit, as standard, three-speed gears to motorcycles".

[9] At the 1921 Olympia show New Hudson unveiled their first 4-stroke since the war, a 4.5HP single cylinder sidecar outfit.

On 13 August 1926 Bert le Vack got a world record at Brooklands on his 3.5HP New Hudson for the standing start 50 miles, at an average speed of 94.45 mph.

Bert Le Vack, on a New Hudson, was also the first rider to complete a lap at over 100 mph on a 500cc machine at Brooklands.

[12] Production ceased during WW1, but in 1920 New Hudson launched their new three-wheel cyclecar complete with a new powerful engine of their own manufacture.

[13] The new engine was an air-cooled 50 degree V-twin, with a bore of 85mm and a stroke of 110mm giving 1250cc, it had overhead valves and was attached via a single-plate Ferodo clutch to a 3-speed (and reverse) gearbox.