Top Mountain Motorcycle Museum
Tragedy!
Top Mountain
Bowden of Gray's Inn Road, Holborn, London.
Report from the 1902 Stanley Show
A handy system of lubrication, which enables the rider to accurately measure the quantity of oil delivered to the crank chamber, is smart. It consists of a glass cylinder with a central rod or spindle having a valve at each end, and when screwed down the oil enters the chamber from the tank; when screwed up it shuts off the tank and opens the connection to the crank chamber. The action of applying the brake cuts off the current, and this can be graduated to suit the requirements of the rider.
Motor Cycling, 26th November 1902
1903 The engine, with coil ignition, was supported in a cradle and Bowden controls were fitted. Another version was fitted with a Belgian FN engine and some of the models were sold as the New Bowden. Also used his own engines. It was the name first used for the Bowden (1902 to 1905) using Simms and FN engines which were usually positioned behind the seat pillar with silent chain-drive including a clutch to the rear wheel. The use of the prefix to the name did not last long and the company went on to become better known for carburettors and control cables.
1932 Built commercial three-wheel vans under an agreement with the Stevens brothers.
1937 General light production engineers. "Bowdenex" Brake Cable Assemblies and "Bowdenite" Wire Mechanism and Fittings.
1961 Manufacturers of "Bowden" wire mechanisms and "Bowdenex" cable assemblies for vehicle handbrakes, "Bowdenflex" precision ball bearing remote control, high pressure flexible hydraulic hose units and fittings. 400 employees.
Note: There was further mention of the name in the early 1920s when there was a short-lived involvement with a lightweight motorcycle. It is thought that it was a method of promoting their existing product line as mentioned above.
Triumph, BMW, & Kawasaki Sales Spares & Repairs.
Established for over 40 years and run by expert motorcyclists.
Fully authorised workshop.