Manufacturers and Merchants
ACCESSORIES & FITTINGS
CYCLES AND MOTOR CYCLES,
MOTOR CAR & COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
MATERIALS, TOOLS GARAGE and EQUIPMENT.
A Brief History of the Marque
40 Great Eastern Street, London
332 Coswell Rd., London E.C.
1896 The company was registered on 16 October, to take over the businesses of cycle fittings manufacturers of William Bransom and Co and the St Georges Cycle Co.
1901 Royal George motorcycle produced between 1901 and 1902 by Bransom, Kent and Co of Goswell Road, London. The machine was an early primitive based on a standard gents' bicycle. It had its 1.25hp engine inclined and hung from the downtube. It also had direct drive and rigid cycle forks.
There is also a listing for a Royal George driven by a 2hp Minerva engine with mechanical inlet valve, front rim brake, and Bowden motor brake at the rear.
1904 The BK was a very short-lived marque which derived its name the initials of Bransom, Kent and Co. The firm, of Goswell Road, London, had previously produced the Royal George motorcycle.
In 1904 they exhibited a motorcycle fitted with an upright 2.75hp Minerva engine at Crystal Palace. It did not enter production.
Motor - Minerva 1903, 2 h.p., with mechanically operated inlet valve, spray carburetter, and improved silencer. Built with long wheelbase, extra strong head with duplex front forks, weldless steel tubes throughout, back stays cranked top and bottom to give ample clearance for back driving rim. Extra wide mudguards with plated stays and special adjustable links, allowing wheels to be adjusted and mudguards to still follow the curve of the wheels. Wide flat handle-bars, parallel with top tube, and made with extra strong T lug. Finished best black and lined green and gold, and all usual parts best plated. Dunlop special motor tyres. Special front rim brake, with special Bowden back motor brake.
Report from the 1902 Stanley Show
A number of engines of various makes are on view, amongst which is a genuine De Dion motorcycle engine, which has only recently been put on the market. A very neat oblong metal case to carry a spare accumulator is shown, fitted with clips to attach it to the frame of the machine. A special motorcycle hub is shown, which should give great satisfaction. Several forms of new lubricators are on view, also spare petrol tanks, carburettors, and a small oval topped funnel which can be readily carried in the tool-bag.
Motor Cycling, 26th November 1902
Report from the 1903 Stanley Show
Stanley Show 1903
Bransom, Kent and Company will exhibit their novelties at the Stanley. The new Longuemare carburetter with automatic air regulator will be a strong line, and the firm are also showing an automatic air regulator that can easily be attached to existing carburetters. The BK auto-trembler for converting non-trembler coil to trembler is a speciality and also dead beat voltmeters will be shown.
Sources:Graces Guide, Motor Cycling magazine, The Motor magazine.
Tue Jan 31 2017
Pelsey at pt.lu
Branson Kent Royal George?
During the 1980s, I was given a set of engineering drawings dated around 1902, showing a beam engine powered motorcycle, with a lot of detail, from a company based in Great Eastern Street, East London. I remember giving these drawings away, to a classic enthusiast, with whom I have lost contact. This site shows that the company was probably Branson, Kent & Co. I can't remember the model, or cc, but your site insists that a model is identified.
Have you any link to a source which could confirm my memories?
Yours
Peter Elsey
Luxembourg
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