Phelon & Moore

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Phelon & Moore

Fate
Founded	1904
Defunct	1967
Location
Industry	motorcylces
Products	Panther marque

Phelon & Moore manufactured motorcycles in Cleckheaton, Yorkshire, UK from 1904 to 1967 particularly those under the Panther marque. They became identified with one particular design of motorcycle which had a large sloping 45 degree single cylinder engine as a stressed front frame member. This design spanned the entire history of the company, starting with a 500 cc model and ending with a 645 cc model.^[1]

The sloping stressed member concept was patented in 1900 by Joah ("John") Carver Phelon and his nephew Harry Rayner.^[2] Phelon & Rayner made the first chain-driven motorcycle in 1900. They could not afford to put their first bike into production, so sold the design to Humber for royalties, and that design was produced by Humber till 1907. After Harry Rayner died in a car accident, Joah Phelon went into partnership with Richard Moore.^[3]

Phelon & Moore was established in 1904. A clutch and two speed gear with chain drive was standard on a P&M in 1906. P&M motorcycles competed in the first International Six Days Trial (ISDT) in 1913. ( Now called the International Six Days Enduro).^[4] The The Royal Flying Corp used P&M motorcycles in World War I, keeping P&M busy throughout the conflict.^[5] The P&M Panther was introduced in 1924. P&M’s big four stroke sidecar bikes were called the Heavyweights, and smaller solo machines were called Lightweights. There were two and four stroke Lightweights.

Contents 1 Panther motorcycles 1.1 Panther Model 100S 2 List of models 2.1 "Heavyweight" 2.2 Four-stroke lightweights 2.3 Two-stroke lightweights 3 Sources 4 External links

[edit] Panther motorcycles

The first Panther was launched in 1924, but the Phelon & Moore name was not dropped until somewhere around 1929.

In 1932 the Panther Model 100, an OHV 600 cc single, was launched and this was produced through to the sixties, ending its run as the 645 cc Model 120 of 1967. This line of Panthers was the most famous of all Phelon & Moores models.^[6]

These heavyweight big single cylinder "slopers" were often described as "firing once every lamp-post." due to their slow rpm. Promoted as "The Perfected Motorcycle" they were noted for innovation for most of their history. Panthers were often used for hauling sidecars; a role in which the high torque output of a high capacity single cylinder engine with its large flywheels was well suited, but the popularity of sidecar outfits eventually waned.

The combination of the advent of cheap cars and the collapse of the British motorcycle industry brought production to an end. They are simple and fairly robust machines which inspire enormous enthusiasm in their owners. These factors, combined with relatively low cost, have resulted in a fair number of Panthers being still in use.

[edit] Panther Model 100S

• Engine:
  • type: air-cooled 2-valve OHV pushrod single
• capacity: 598 cc
  • bore:87 mm
  • stroke:100 mm
  • Power: 23 bhp @ 5,300 rpm
• Weight: 193 kg (425 lb) dry
• Top speed: 68 mph (109 km/h)

Phelon & Moore also produced a range of lightweight machines, also generally carrying the name Panther or Red Panther, using their own four-stroke single engines and Villiers two-stroke engines. The Red Panther was famous for being the cheapest complete bike available in the thirties, priced at a fraction under 30 English Pounds.^[7] In 1934 a 250 cc Red Panther won the Maudes Trophy.

The early postwar models (both lightweight and heavyweight) were fitted with air/oil damped Dowty “Oleomatic” telescopic forks

In 1968, after Panther production had ceased, the company briefly imported Terrot mopeds and scooters from France.^[8]

[edit] List of models

[edit] "Heavyweight"

• Phelon & Rayner
• 1.7 hp Phelon & Rayner (Manufactured: 1901 - 1903)
• Humber
• 1.5/1.7 hp Humber

1901 – 1903

• 2.75 hp Humber

1902 – 1905

• 4.5 hp Humber
• Phelon & Moore
• 2.75 hp (1904 - )
• 3.5 hp (First real heavyweight) ( - 1911)
• 3.5 hp Standard (1912 -)
• 3.5 hp Colonial (1913- ) (heavier duty version)
• 3.5 hp RFC/[{Royal Air Force|RAF]] Model

military version produced during First World War

• 4.5 hp Model A (1921 - ) (555 cc, two speed gearbox and two speed primary with combination foot and hand gear change giving four gears.)
• Panther (1924 – 1929)
• Panther Standard (1927)
• Panther Cub (1927) (Stripped down version of Standard)
• Panther Model 1 (1928 ) (Introduction of Model numbers)
• Panther Model 1a (1928 ) (Twin exhaust port model)
• Panther Model 2 Standard (1928 )
• Panther Model 3 (1928 ) (598 cc)
• Panther Model 60

1929 – 1935

A renamed Model 3 and subsequently the origin of the Model 100

• Panther Model 50 (1930-1935) (498 cc)
• Panther Model 55 (1931-1935) (498 cc)
• Panther Model 55 (490 cc)
• Phelon & Moore Race Bikes
• 1925 TT Entrant
• 1926 TT Entrant
• 1926-1928 TT Replica
• 1928 TT Entrant (Model 4) (sumpless 490 cc engine with external pushrods and a P&M four-speed close ratio gearbox
• 1928 Cinder Track (185 lb dirt tracker)
• Panther
• Panther Model 90 Redwing

490 cc

1931 - 1938

• Panther Model 95

1938 – 1939

vertical engine – low production numbers

• Panther Model 100

598 cc

1932 – 1963

• Panther Model 120

1959 – 1966 (

645 cc, effectivly an enlarged Model 100)^[9]

[edit] Four-stroke lightweights

• Panther Panthette (1930) (250 cc unit construction transverse V-twin , unsuccessful, only Panther 4 stroke twin made, rare)
• Pre-war 250s include:
  • Model 30 (1932)
  • Model 40
  • Model 70 Redwing
  • Red Panther Standard
  • Red Panther Model 20 Deluxe
  • Red Panther Model 20
• Post-war 250s include:
  • Model 60
  • Model 65
• Pre-war 350s include:
  • Model 80 Redwing
  • Redwing 85
  • Red Panther Model 30
• Post-war 350s include:
  • Model 70
  • Model 75^[10]

[edit] Two-stroke lightweights

(Villiers motors)

• Model 10 (1956 - 1960) (197 cc)
• Model 45 (1959 - 1964) (324 cc twin )
• Model 35 (1958 to 1966) (249 cc twin)^[11]

[edit] Sources

[edit] External links

• The Panther Page
• Mythical Panthers