A new project is being funded by mechanical and electrical engineering firm HE Barnes, with the aim to completely restore an old Sheffield-made motorbike. The bike is thought to be one of only two left in existence, and enthusiast Chris Rogers, along with a group of volunteers will be returning it to its former glory and putting it on display in the city.
The Dunelt motorbike was re-discovered on a farm in the North of Sweden. It’s been speculated that the bike has been there since before the beginning of World War Two. The 1932 V5 with a Sturmey-Archer 600cc side-valve engine and gearbox is though to be such a rare model, that many collectors and classic motorbike enthusiasts have never even heard of it.
The model also sports electric miller lights and a chrome tank, with a striking two-tone paint job. It was designed to be ideal for sidecars and was the largest capacity motorcycle made by Dunelt. The award-winning but now defunct British motorcycle and bicycle manufacturer was founded in 1919 by Steelmakers Dunford & Elliott founded Dunelt.
Motorcycle production from the manufacturer started to decline dramatically over the course of a couple of years, starting from 1931, when the factory was moved to Sheffield from the city of Birmingham. The last few motorcycles produced by the firm rolled off the production line just four years later. Many of their motorbikes were exported to Sweden, as Dunford & Elliott imported a lot of Swedish iron ore for steelmaking.
Only one other similar model is thought to still be in existence and now Chris Rogers, who has previously restored dozens of rare motorcycles, has what’s thought to be the most complete model of the two remaining Sheffield motorbikes.
Chris lives close to Sheffield, in Derbyshire, and has made it his mission to ensure the motorbike will be displayed in the city where it was made, as a tangible piece of its history. Many volunteers and other business have also now got involved with the project, offering their time, as well as essential equipment and parts.
The entire restoration project could take up to 12 months, with the idea being to get the bike in full working order again, and bring it all the way back to the factory where it was made. A remnant of the original Attercliffe Dunelt factory is actually still standing, the small section used to be the machine and assembly shop.
