A Brief History of the Marque
Percy Herbert Cecil Sandham established Ascot Motor Co. of London as a bicycle firm in 1899 and produced motorcycles from 1901 or 1902 to 1905 using Minerva and Antoine engines, and built sidecars into the 1930s.
Ascot produced motorcycles from 1902 to 1905*.
1904 The firm was based in Pentonville Road, London. The machines were typical of the era - fitted with a single cam 2 ¾ hp engine usually Minerva or Antoine types, and a band brake to the front wheel. They listed a forecar as well as a solo.
1905 Power increased to 3hp and magneto ignition was an option. Also listed was a 1hp French import, which had a belt-driven engine hung from the downtube and braced forks.
1906 Nothing more was heard of Ascot motorcycles after 1905, but the company continued to built bicycles.
Percy Sandham established Sandham Engineering which built sidecars branded "Sandum" from at least 1919 into the 1930s, and possibly post-war. These were supplied to the AA and as many as 10,000 units are thought to have been produced.
Their address in 1925 was 336 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1.
The name of the sidecar business in 1931 had been changed to Sandum Manufacturing Co., of 165 Pentonville Rd., Kings Cross, London.
For those who fancy a two-seated sidecar the Art should be of special interest. It is manufactured by the Sandham Engineering Co., Ltd., and is sold by the Art Motor Cycle and Sidecar Co., 18, Walbrook, London, E.G. The body is most roomy, is provided with a comfortable hood and screen, and in future models the former will be designed to fasten down on to the latter, thus doing away with the necessity of straps. The body is hung on threequarter-elliptical car-type springs, while the sidecar wheel is on half-elliptical springs provided with long shackles which are hinged together. Strength for the side-car axle is obtained by having this composed of three tubes instead of one single one. A load of up to forty stone may be carried.
Olympia Show. The Motor Cycle, December 9th, 1920.
Sandum touring model with the maker's V-fronted screen
Capacious luggage accommodation is provided on the Sandum.
Double-Seater Models.
Sandham Eng. Co., Ltd., 336, Gray's Inn Road, London, W.C.1.
One of the most enterprising of sidecar manufacturing firms, the Sandham Eng. Co., offers for the forthcoming year a range embracing every conceivable type. Interesting details in the way of windscreening are numerous, showing that this important item has been studied from actual use of the sidecar, and not from the drawing office. The Sandum Sociable, for instance, was evolved after numerous experiments in body building which cost the firm £250, but the results pay for the trouble entailed, for this model is unquestionably one of the best ever produced of its kind. There is ample room for an adult and child in the rear seat, whilst another child can be accommodated easily in front, tandem fashion. This has been accomplished without sacrificing the compact design of the body or widening the chassis. The price is £30.
For dual purposes the tandem-seater is shown with various detail improvements. This model, the rear portion of which falls back and forms an additional seat, permits both passengers to enter by the door; the back rest of the forward seat being easily removable for this purpose. The special feature of the design is that the rear portion folds forward, converting the body into a single-seater. There is a streamline Junior at £14.
Olympia Show 1922, The Motor Cycle November 30th 1922, page 865.
Notes.
Sources vary on dates of motorcycle manufacture. A post on go-faster.com gives good references indicating 1901/02 to 1905 as the most likely years of production.
There is no relationship with the much later Ascot Pullin of Letchworth.
Sources: Tragatsch p78, Graces Guide, go-faster.com, wikipedia, The Motor Cycle
