Triumph Motorcycles Model Co 1929
In early October 1928 Triumph announced its first 350cc OHV model, the model CO.
Along with side valve models CN and CSD these were an entirely new range of machines and the first of Triumphs bikes to have a recirculating oil system (as opposed to the previous ‘total loss’ system). The oil was pumped from a tank mounted on the saddle down tube via a gear pump in the crankcase. It was not a high pressure system as we know today, but there was at least direct lubrication to the big end and elsewhere.
If anything these new models were over engineered, as the frames were very substantial and the wheels and mudguards quite wide. A 350cc OHV model could probably have done with a lighter frame, but needed to be strong enough for a side valve to haul a sidecar (common for the 3 base models built from the one frame etc).
The above text was taken from The Pre 1941 Triumph Motor Cycle Pages, put together by Peter Cornelius, the Triumph Marque specialist for Britain and now NZ, who now lives in Rangiora.
This bike was the last restoration project of the late Dave Philpot, a very highly respected mechanic who use to also work for Ken McIntosh.
This bike was purchased from a private collector in Auckland, who had brought it to NZ from the UK in 1996. It has been NZ road registered and VINed.