Ariejan Bos is to be congratulated for sending in the right answer, but since he is a jury member he unfortunately does not qualify for a T-shirt prize. But he does give us another possible question. We were convinced our picture shows a 1914 Victor because it is the same as the picture from our Victor catalogue. But Ariejan points out the position of the petrol filler cap has moved. So perhaps the picture shows a late 1913 Dewcar – look at the advert in 1913 Grace’s Guide. The impressive editorial story about the new Victor Cyclecar works in the 15th June 1914 issue of The Light car & Cyclecar helps date the start of the Victor name, but we need more early issues to do more research.
But let’s share what we do know. The quiz picture clearly shows the starting handle shaft protruding from behind the offside front wheel, thus telling us it had the V-twin Precision motor rather than the 4 cylinder Nero unit fitted in 1915. Transmission was via chain to a 2-speed and reverse gearbox with belt drive to both wheels promoted to 3 speed with the 1915 Nero engine.
Direct action steering was described as “a constant pleasure even at the highest speeds”, helped by pivots giving a trailing action to the wheels. (Most cyclecars we’ve driven have a very lively behaviour with direct steering!). Rack and pinion was introduced in 1915. Footbrake was a metal-to-metal combination of large diameter acting on the countershaft and handbrake operated two large brake shoes acting on the belt-rims.
Ariejan asks if our photo was taken in Australia? The answer is yes, indicated by the registration 555, and we thank Richard Thompson for sending the picture which shows his (very young) father in the passenger seat. And it is from Australia that Warrick Hansted sent the only other reply and he deserves honourable mention for suggesting a very similar looking car - Newton Bennett.
One last detail worth sharing is the name of the agent supplying Victor cars, Tyler Apparatus Company Limited, and tucked inside our brochure is a well preserved letter from them dated November 1915 reminding us of the times in which they lived.