1919 A.B.C. Skootamota, 125cc. Registration number BS 9085 (...

Hammer

£2,800

1919 A.B.C. Skootamota, 125cc. Registration number BS 9085 (non transferrable), frame number 3428. Engine number 3135.
Although the American-made Motoped of 1915 and Autoped of 1917 are acknowledged as the first recognisable motor scooters, they were soon followed by the British-made Skootamota. Introduced in 1919, the Skootamota was the work of engineering genius Granville Bradshaw, creator of the advanced ABC flat-twin motorcycle. Although designed and introduced while Bradshaw was working for ABC, the Skootamota was manufactured and marketed by Gilbert Campling Ltd of London W1. Granville Bradshaw’s clever design for the Skootamota featured a simple tubular steel frame with a flat platform and a rear brake pedal. Small spoked wheels were fitted front and back, adjustable height handlebars had controls for the throttle and the front brake (and exhaust valve), and an adjustable height seat was fitted with a sprung saddle to compensate for the lack of suspension. The single-cylinder engine was mounted horizontally over the rear wheel, with a fuel tank above it to gravity feed the carburettor. The motor has a capacity of 123cc, early engines were intake-over-exhaust with later models using overhead valve engines.
This left plenty of space for women to ride regardless of what they were wearing, many men preferred them too as they were a little more comfortable than a traditional motorcycle, and less likely to crumple their suits. Hailed by its maker as 'the dependable little motor-machine that will take you anywhere you want to go in comfort, at little cost and with safety – anywhere, anytime,' the runaway success of the design led to a slew of copycat designs, as a result the Skootamota was only sold from 1919 to 1922 when production ceased due to overwhelming competition.
BS was re-registered with DVLA in October 1983 and by 1991 was with Lawrence Bell of Whitby, our vendor buying it in 2004. It has a dealers sticker for L.T. Richardson of Newcastle and appears to be in unrestored condition. Unused whilst being on display in his private museum it should not be too hard to get this rare and early machine on the road.
Sold with the V5C, an original instruction booklet envelope, photocopy of the contents and a display board.