Description
Scott 1920 3 ¾ HP Two Speed 532cc water-cooled two-stroke twin frame # 131 engine # TT 4836
Alfred Scott, a gifted Yorkshire engineering genius, started experimenting with twin cylinder two-stroke power around the year 1900, when he mounted his little air-cooled twin in front of the steering head of his Premier bicycle. He kept on refining his design and by 1910 the open-framed machine, so much different from standard motorcycle practice, was attracting more and more attention. In 1912 Frank Applebee led the Senior TT race from start to finish on his Scott, averaging almost 50 mph over the bad roads in the island. It was the first TT win by a two-stroke. This feat was repeated the next year when Tim Wood won on a Scott. From 1922 on Scotts would be available in several cubic capacities, but in 1919/20 only the 532 cc machine with bore and stroke of 73x 63.5 mm was available. A quote from the introduction to the 1919/1920 sales catalogue: “The Scott is in a class by itself. THE ONLY MOTOR BICYCLE FOR ALL PERSONS – FOR ALL PURPOSES. For example. As a SPEEDMOUNT, the Scott is notorious for its exceptional power on hills, and can more than hold its own with engines of the same capacity, as shown in the T.T. race when the Scott, with the smallest capacity on the list, made the two quickest laps in the race. FOR ALL WEATHER RIDING, its immunity from side slip, its protection from mud, and proved reliability, are all essential for serious winter work.”
In their day, Scotts were highly regarded and had an enviable record in the long distance reliability events that were so popular in the 1920’s, and today in vintage circles they are highly prized for their excellent handling and for their impressive turn of speed which would put to shame many a comparable machine of later vintage.
The machine we present here has been nicely restored in TT trim, with light and narrow mudguards, low-slung handlebars with magneto cutout and no chainguard. Magneto is BTH, carburettor Amac, Saddle XL-all.