Is this a Triumph & if so what sort?

[Giacomo Fosscati]

Here is a picture of my Uncle Richard on what I think is a Triumph. It was taken in India during WW2.  I reckon looks a bit like an old 1920s or early 30s Triumph but I'm not sure of the model. I've got good pics of a 1923 Type R Fast Roadster and a  1923 Model SD but they don't quite match the one in the attached picture.
I'd like to know the model and the engine capacity etc and whatever else anyone can tell me.
Any help greatly appreciated.

[R]

I think your uncle is on a mid 1920s Triumph Model P.

If we take stock of what is in the pic, the engine is a sidevalve (angle of exhaust pipe), the tank is between the frame rails, magneto low mounted in front of engine, the forks are sidespring trapezoidal, mudguards are plain curved c-section,  front brake is small internal expanding, primary chain cover appears to be alloy, the rear wheel has a belt drive style of brake band, but no sign of a belt (chain drive was on the other side). And the tank has a Triumph style of paint and lining, although the emblem is not as standout as you would expect.

This all adds up to be a circa 1925 or 1926 Model P. Don't know my Triumphs well enough to be certain of year, maybe someone can confirm this or correct me - or totally shoot this down.. The Model P was introduced as an absolute price cutting model, 42 quid or thereabouts got you a very capable 500cc sidevalve tourer. That alloy primary cover must have cost nearly that to produce however, and electric lighting was a reasonably expensive addition. If it was still in service in WW2, obviously it survived quite well.

http://motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/classic_bikes/triumph-model-p.jpg
1926. Couldn't readily find a pic of t'other side, sure to be about.

Opethiselps - great pic.

[Giacomo Fosscati]

Thanks so much for that info. I've just spoken to my Uncle who (89 years old tomorrow) and he thinks it was a 1922 Triumph - he's not dead certain because of his age but he bought it off someone in India during the war. Were there Model Ps made in 1922?

[Giacomo Fosscati]

I think your uncle is on a mid 1920s Triumph Model P.

If we take stock of what is in the pic, the engine is a sidevalve (angle of exhaust pipe), the tank is between the frame rails, magneto low mounted in front of engine, the forks are sidespring trapezoidal, mudguards are plain curved c-section,  front brake is small internal expanding, primary chain cover appears to be alloy, the rear wheel has a belt drive style of brake band, but no sign of a belt (chain drive was on the other side). And the tank has a Triumph style of paint and lining, although the emblem is not as standout as you would expect.

I reckon you are right R because I looked through the other possible candidates and the model P has the same front mudguard as the subject one shown in the above picture. The other candidates like the model SD has a wide lower front mudguard although the N and W all seem to have the uniform width front mudguard like the one in the picture.  The front light must have been a later addition because most of the pics of Model Ps I've looked at have old style acetylene type lamps with a hooded peak over the lens although the one in this attached picture has a front light almost identical to my Uncle's Triumph.  I notice all triumphs seemed to have that peculiar shaped front numberplate holder with a rounded bit at the rear, presumably for the tax disc.  My uncle's bike hasn't got one of the rounded thingys at the rear of his number plate maybe because it was registered in India, albeit British India.

[TriSpec]

Yes, as suggested, a late 1925/26 494cc Model P.

No, the Model P wasn't made earlier - and the primary chaincover was pressed out of tin.

Peter C.
(VMCC Triumph Specialist)