Phelon & Rayner 1.75 hp (1900)

family tree. It had a 1.75 h.p., 260 cc. engine with 66 x 76 mm bore and stroke fitted in a standard bicycle type 28" frame. It was fitted with a surface carburettor, single speed friction disc transmission, a 9 pint combined oil and fuel tank, bicycle pattern front forks and 28" x 2" wheels. The colour scheme of later production machines was black frame and mudguards with an aluminium enameled fuel tank with coach lining."The Panther Story" by Barry M Jones, Panther Publishing Ltd.]

The prototype was built in 1900 based on a patented design [ GB Patent No. 3516, "Improvements in Motor Vehicles, Tricycles and Similar Vehicles", Joah Carver Phelon] . The key innovation was to replace the frame's front down-tube with a four rod frame that held a small de Dion type engine. This 'Sloper' engine was the hallmark of P&M / Panther motorcycles until the last Model 120 more than sixty years later. Production machines of the same design as this prototype were hand-built in 1901 through to 1903. This prototype machine also featured a further patented innovation [ GB Patent No. 8937, May 1901, Joah Carver Phelon] : a half compression device to make starting easier. This featured on all future heavyweight P&M / Panther motorcycles.

Technical Information

Carburettor Surface Carb

Ignition Accumulator and trembler coil

Fuel Tank 9 pint (combined fuel and oil tank)

Wheels 28" x 2", rims nickel plated and coachlined

ources

External links

* [http://www.pantherownersclub.com/PantherPage/p-m-hw-pr.html Phelon & Rayner 1.75 hp at The Panther Page]