The Pre-1941 Triumph Motor Cycle Pages

Siegfried Bettmann, the founder of the Triumph Cycle Company, was not a cycling or motor cycling enthusiast. He was 'just' a very astute businessman. He wished to start a business of his own, rather than forever being the overseas representative for the White Sewing Machine Company, and he saw his opportunity with the introduction and growing popularity of the 'safety bicycle' (velocipede). He first sold other manufacturers' bicycles under his own name in 1887. After many failures he decided that the only way forward was to manufacture

for himself.

Thus, to cut a long story short (read my 'Triumph Story' booklets for the unabridged version), he purchased property in Coventry and having obtained a reputation for quality and

reliability he realised further potential with the introduction of the cycle with an engine.

Knowing nothing about internal combustion engines, and neither did his partner, Mauritz Schulte, despite what other books might tell you (he spent two months with cycle manufacturer William Andrews in order to learn how to assemble cycles), so the obvious way forward was to do as so many other early manufacturers did - use a well known engine (the Belgian Minerva) in a frame, which was something they did know how to do!
In fact, unsure of the requirements of a frame to support an engine and for a rider to be able to control it, he simply copied the motor bicycle which Minerva were selling under their

own name. (And also marketing as a kit of parts.)

No pictures exist of Triumph's first, 1902, motor bicycle (it was simply advertised by the name), although one actual machine has survived, but due to a fire very early in its existance it was rebuilt with later fuel tank, etcetera.

The picture of the 1902 Minerva above would have been very much as Bettmann's first Triumphs would have looked, and simply with a different name on the tank.

For 1903 Bettmann, most likely guided by his Workshop Manager, Charles Hathaway, added a JAP (J.A. Prestwick) engined model, while the Minerva-engined model became increased in capacity. (The 1903 Minerva-engined model pictured above is the picture declared in many Triumph books to be a 1902 machine, but as I've explained, no picture of a 1902 model exists.)

The Minerva engine was dropped for 1904. The JAP-engined model continued, but Triumph put another ¼ hp on it in their advertisements, and a German designed Fafnir engine was added to bring the choice back to two different models.