Any idea what this is ?

[Steven MH]

Hi All

I have been given the opportunity of restore this bike but not sure what it is maybe an old 1912 Rex.
If you know I would really appreciate you're help .

[R]

Make an interesting and very pretty old banger !
Suggest you contact Howard, he knows his veterans.
Its notes somewhere there he has a watercooled cylinder for this.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/flattank_motorcycles/6142926538/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/flattank_motorcycles/6142371419/

Not entirely sure you have a 1912 model, looks earlier ?
Rex had watercooled engines from 1906...

[Steven MH]

Great,
           Thanks for that. Any info is greatly appreciated 

[john.k]

It has a magneto,if original,must be around 1912.The mainshaft looks broken off,maybe why it was laid up.Regards John.

[R]

Magnetos appeared circa 1906.
The belt pulley goes on the mainshaft - there is probably a keyway there someplace.
Although I wondered about the lack of thread to hold things on.

[P.V. Motorcycles]

Seems a reasonable guess.

Having a look through some stuff now - send a PM if you like and I'll send such info as I turn up.

EDIT: tempted to push it back into (late?) 1911. An announcement in November 1911 from Rex stated that they would be casting the model year into parts for the new season. I've certainly seen mag chaincases and silencer boxes with 'REX 1913' cast in, so in theory a 1912 model would have REX 1912 somewhere about.

The 1911 stuff had gear-driven magnetos, but for 1912, all models are described as having chain driven magnetos for the first time.
The water-cooled single was noted as having been enlarged from 499cc for 1912, and other internal mods were noted.

The sealed Bsoch ZE1 is probably on the cusp of 1911/12 (will have to look and check the announcement of the new model).

The outfits seemed to be marketed as the Rex 'Sidette'. I didn't really look at the picture of the wicker chair, but that's what they came with, rather than a coach-built one, if the advertising's to be believed.

Fascinating stuff.

[R]

Rex announced the gear driven magneto for 1910.
Can't find a pic of one...

[P.V. Motorcycles]

A look a bit further back into 1911 suggests that the watercooled engine was at the 'experimental' stage in early June of that year.
They had one ready for the TT of that year - it was noted as a 'new pattern' engine in the reports.

I don't know that they made a water-cooled engine prior to that, so maybe that is the cut-off in terms of the earliest build date.

[R]

I don't know that they made a water-cooled engine prior to that,

Rex had watercooled engines quite early on.
http://www.classiccar4you.com/classic-cars-gallery/?album=729&gallery=1201

Finding pictures and details will involve some more intensive searching.
Old magazines, etc. (some are online these days).

[P.V. Motorcycles]

A good shout - a mate has the makings of a Rex forecar.
The article linked doesn't seem to indicate any earlier water-cooled motorcycle engines though.

The late 1910 article on the 1911 Rex range makes no mention of the single being water-cooled. Rather, mentions of water-cooled engines start to appear a few months into 1911 as a coming 'fad' - Green, Scott and the Australian Lewis were pioneers.

No mention of Rex in this regard until just before the 1911 TT.
The first version was an 85 x 88 499cc/3.5 hp version - for 1912, it went to 84.5 x 95, or 532cc/4 hp - interesting to see what the capacity of the one 'upstream' is: in theory, the smaller version was only in production for 6 months or so.

[R]

"For the 1911 season, Rex took another bold step by dispensing with pedalling gear on all models".
On Two Wheels Volume 5 Part 71 circa 1978.

Mentions also that Rex used magnetos from 1908.

Pics of that gear drive magneto motor seem to be somewhat elusive ?

[murdo]

I don't know that they made a water-cooled engine prior to that,

Rex had watercooled engines quite early on.
http://www.classiccar4you.com/classic-cars-gallery/?album=729&gallery=1201

Finding pictures and details will involve some more intensive searching.
Old magazines, etc. (some are online these days).

Wow, 900cc single and 2400cc twin (1200 per pot).

[R]

Wow, 900cc single and 2400cc twin (1200 per pot).

To put this into context, engines back then didn't rev much and compressions were low,
so to get any serious torque (for heavier vehicles) the cylinder capacities were somewhat enlarged.
In the car world, the 60hp early FIAT was 10 litres in a 4 cylinder car.
And early Rolls were quoted as 3:1 compression.

All started with a crank handle ?
Or pedalling gear if motorcycle related...

Engine efficiencies rapidly increased from there, particularly from motorcycle developments.
So engine sizes in larger vehicles generally decreased, while motorcyclists often opined for
more power from smaller lighter engines.
We wander slightly from Rex motorcycles though.

[cardan]

Hi Steve,

The 1911 and 1912 models were very similar; the illustration below is 1912. Among the new features were foot boards replacing the 1911 footrests. Also the waterproof Bosch ZE1 magneto was new for 1912 models. The Vintage MCC in the UK likely has a Rex marque specialist who may be able to date the machine based on engine and frame numbers.

By the way, the Rex Sidette was an "integrated" motorcycle and sidecar machine, with a special frame and the steering of the bike linked with the sidecar wheel. You machine is a Rex motorcycle fitted with a sidecar, and not a Sidette.

Cheers

Leon

[cardan]

Just re-looking at your photos.

"Gard Bros" on the tank refers to the Rex agent in Adelaide, South Australia. The attached photo shows the firm c1906 with an earlier Rex motorcycle in the front window and another in the gutter. Gard Bros were later agents for Douglas. By the way there is an increasing movement these days towards bikes in "original paint", so don't be too hasty removing what's left of the paint, on the tank particularly.

Also be careful with the cane sidecar body, which looks to be original. Make sure you don't have things inside the body or leaning on it, as it will slowly but surely go out of shape.

Leon