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| Dunelt
Founded by Dunford & Elliot of Sheffield
in 1919. In the early twenties they made 500cc single-cylinder
two - stroke with a double
diameter piston. They were built in Birmingham. In 1926
they made the model K, a 250cc two - stroke on the same concept.
1928 there were two models of the model K, Royal and Royal
deluxe. The first four - stroke was seen at the Olympic show
in the late 1928. They had 350cc Sturmey Archer engine and
they were called Majestic. The standard model were black and
had red tank panels, and there was a novel and most attractive
finish of both the two-stroke and four stroke shown, the tanks
being done in black `Krislac´ with a thin green lining,
the mud guards green and the wheels cream, called the Riviera
finish, which could be provided for an additional 30s.
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| 1930 there were three
new four-stroke models a 250cc face cam the model T and two
500cc model S and model SD, with dry sump. The model T was not
a success, for the valve gear was noisy, and by the time the
model reached the shops customers had they tired of waiting
and bought other marques. So the model T, along with the two-stroke
K, was dropped and four models with Sturmey-Archer engines were
listed for 1931. Two side valve engines a 297cc and a 598cc
and two other engines a 348 and a 496cc |
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In february 1931 Dunelt returned to the two-stroke
field but with a 346cc Villiers engine and the company closed
it´s Birmingham plant. Sheffield Dunelt was the new
name in the 1932, and they dropped the 297cc sv model and
another Villiers engined bike was born: a 148cc and a tuned
350cc S-A with upswept exhaust and foot change.
Most of the range remained for 1933, also the name Dunelt
was back. The V2 model changed it´s engine to one of
249cc instead of the 346cc, and there was a new model T special
with a Python (Rudge) engine which was of 248cc with upswept
exhaust and also the SA ohv models was offered with upswept
exhaust and foot change. 1933 was the last year with Sturmey-Archer
engine because Raleigh turned to build three-wheeler cars
and vans, so the motorcykle engines were no longer available.
So in 1934 there was four models left, two models with Python
engines a 248cc and a 499cc both with upswept exhaust and
the models with Villiers engines bikes ran on for 1935. On
the four stroke front the engines were changed to 245cc and
490 ohv JAP units and had also upswept exhaust and foot change.
1935 was the last season for Dunelt.
Sources; Roy Bacon, Bob Currie, Motor Cykling
Olympia Report and Annual sales catalouge.
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Need some answers.
Does anyone know what type of Dunelt have engines with the
letters VZ, F, OT and NW in the engine numbers?
Send a E-mail if you have information or questions.
lars-erik.slars@telia.com
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