Kenilworth Motorcyclette saw bench

Latest to take up residence in the shed is a 1919 Kenilworth that for a while gave service as a saw bench. The Kenilworth is one of the crop of scooters that appeared in the immediate aftermath of World War 1. The craze was short lived but produced some innovative and unusual designs. The earlier scooters of this craze were literally motorized scooters and were paddled off by the feet and ridden standing up. This Kenilworth is one such device, later models had the luxury of a saddle.

The Kenilworth is fitted with a sweet little ohv 143cc motor made by Norman which drives a countershaft by belt and then the final drive is by chain. There is no clutch. Controls are just a front brake, decompressor and throttle.

This one will be a fairly long term project, there's a few parts to find or make. The appeal lies in the quirkiness of the device and that I was able to bring it home in a swap for a bulkier basket case project thus clearing some space in my over crowded garage.

By strange coincidence I saw a petrol tank for sale at the Great Dorset Steam Fair back in August. I looked at it and thought, lovely tank but who out there needs one of those.... If you were the chap selling it and still have it then please do get in touch.

Kenilworth off-side view. Engine hangs on one side of the
foot boards, magneto the other and flywheel in the middle.
The main bulk of the chassis is a pair of large plates with slots
for the rear wheel and countershaft. Headstock is plain bearing
and joined to the chassis by straight bolted up tubes.

Near-side view of the Kenilworth.

Little 143cc ohv Norman motor. Curiously overhead valves
were commonplace on early scooters whilst very unusual on
motorcycles. Several of the scooters were designed by aero
engineers so this could explain why.

This Kenilworth was manufactured by Booth
Brothers of Coventry and there is a transfer
on the rear mudguard to this effect.