Thursday, January 30, 2014

The Pouncy Motor Cycle brochure 1931 - Dorset's motorcycle

The Pouncy was one of two motorcycle manufacturers based in Dorset. The Pouncy works were at Owermoigne, between Dorchester and Wareham. I believe this brochure dates from 1931 when there was just one model in the range, the 250cc Villiers powered 'Sports Cob'. Production continued until 1936 with several different models coming and going along the way, all Villiers powered. The last model, the 'Pal', was offered with OEC sliding pillar rear suspension as an option.

There was one other Dorset based Motorcycle manufacturer - AJW. The brand was originally based in Exeter and was purchased by Jack Ball of Bournemouth shortly after the war. AJW only stayed for a short while in Bournemouth before moving to Wimborne (still under the ownership of Jack Ball as far as I know). Production was very limited from these locations, there was a 125cc JAP two stroke engined machine, the Fox Cub, with cantilever rear suspension. The two stroke had a big brother with a 500cc ohv JAP engine that was only made as a prototype. AJW was also a producer of JAP engined speedway machines. The JAP two stroke road bike was short lived and in the late fifties AJW turned over to importing Italian 50cc bikes and rebranding them as their own.

I'm not sure if there are any Pouncy survivors out there but if you have one or a lead on one please get in touch. 

Pouncy Motor Cycle brochure page 1.

Pouncy Motor Cycle brochure page 2.

Pouncy Motor Cycle brochure page 3.

Pouncy Motor Cycle brochure page 4.

Pouncy Motor Cycle brochure page 5.

Pouncy Motor Cycle brochure page 6.

8 comments:

  1. a relative of John Pouncy lives in Blackpool , had the pleasure of making his aquaintance today , he says he believes there to be 3 remaining Pouncy motorbikes , one in a museum , a second with a private collector and one with a cousin of his , his one regret is not having one himself , also he says that the Pouncy was a revelutionary bikd for it's time as the frame was made specially for it and cost a 3rd of the price of a frame in them days and that production stopped due to WW2

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    1. Hi there. Many thanks for the info. Good to know that there are a small number of survivors out there. Best wishes, Richard

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  2. Hi, Jack Poncy is my great granfather! My dad told me about him so I decided to look him up and here I am

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    1. That's some great family history. Glad you found it!
      Best wishes, Richard

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  3. Hi I met Me Ball in 1972-3 I have a AJW Foxcub built by him from new and 2nd hand parts in 1970 .I bought a few bits off him at his bungalow in Wimborne and still have the receipt and the bike !

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    1. Hi there. He was a bit of a local legend. Great to have had the same bike since 1970 and to have met the man! Your comment spurred me on to look at the AJW history more. I stumbled upon the AJW website, I'm sure you have seen it, but just in case not: http://ajwmotorcycles.uk/
      Best wishes, Richard

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  4. Working for Dorset Specialist Vintage and Classic vehicle auctioneers I was delighted to see a 1962 Dot has been entered in our sale on September 9th. This brings back happy memories of accompanying my late wife's uncle Jack Pouncy on his annual exploits at the MCC trials using his Pouncy Dot combination. Jack entered them all from 1928 until he was passed his 80th birthday. My job was to follow in the van and pickup what was left of men and machine. I guess the outfit passed to one of his daughters in the Three Legged Cross/Wimborne area

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    1. Thanks for the comment. I've checked out the DOT - nice machine. Have you come across Jack's biog - Jack's Memories of Wheels?

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