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Today in Motorcycle History

Aeolus Motorcycles

Aeolus were built by Motor Transport Co of Comeragh Road, London from 1903 to 1905.

1903-1905 Evelyn Hugh Owen designed and built the 492cc machine. The difference between this machine and most others was a shaft drive that incorporated a form of clutch. The machine was short lived - if it actually existed. An illustration of the machine displays a bevel drive which was unlikely to have survived a trip to the corner store.

The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile has doubts about Owen's claims to have ever manufactured cars, suggesting he may have been a fantasist "in the Walter Mitty mould".

The Aeolus name was trademarked by Bown in 1877, and according to Tragatsch Bown built Aeolus motorcycles powered by his own engines from 1914 to 1916. E.H. Owen had no relationship with Bown.

Sources: Tragatsch p69, Graces Guide

March 2022

Graham Clayton writes in Comments, "Edward Hugh Owen claimed to have built cars from 1901 up to the late 1920's, but none were ever seen - maybe the Aeolus was a similar figment of his imagination?"


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