Of Belgian design, it was originally manufactured in Germany.
The Belgian designers London address is 26, Albany Street, N. W. l, but the manufacture. so far, has been carried out in Germany. The Motor Cycle, August 17th 1922.
1922 By the middle of that year, the Clement was brought to the British market. It was a miniature with open frame and four-stroke ohv engine fitted in front of the frame downtube and the pedalling bracket. Because the weight was carried low, the Clement was workmanlike and stable. The tiny engine was 63cc maximum, and was in-unit with a reduction drive gear of eight to one. It had an outside flywheel and carried its magneto upturned under the rear of the unit. It had chain transmission and a special butterfly-choke carburettor.
1923 A sports model was listed and a miniature was entered for its class in the Grand Prix de l'Auto, at the Parc de Princes, Paris.
1924 During that year there was a dispute over the British manufacture of the design, when there was an announcement that it would be built by Jennen Engineering of High Holborn, London, under the name of Wren. Clement contested the claim and managed to retain his interest, so the Clement continued under that name. Retailing went to James Grose, a large retail outfit on Euston Road, London, (who also retailed the Grose-Spur) and the firm began to trade as The Clement Motor Company. Different options were introduced and there was talk of increased engine capacity, but the marque quietly disappeared.
CLEMENT. (Stand 181.)
Only 43 c.c. Capacity.
¾ H.P. Model.
35x45 mm. (43 c.c); single cyl. four-stroke; overhead valves; splash lubrication; gear-driven mag.; single-sp.; chain drive; 28xl¾in. tyres. Price £24 3s.
A. Clement, 26, Albany Street, London, N.W.1.
The smallest engine in the Show is fitted to this motorised bicycle, a Belgian design assembled in this country. The cylinder is an exact model of that on the Gnome aeroplane engine, and is a special attraction to model-makers. The machine itself is little more than a pedal cycle with a fork employing a leaf spring. That the engine is of the high-speed type may be judged from the fact that the gear ratio is 12 to 1, with which it is capable of maintaining an average speed of 24.56 m.p.h. The makers hold an A.C.U. certificate showing that on an observed test covering 59 miles this speed was accomplished, and also that the machine, with a 159 lb. rider, ascended Hindhead without pedal assistance. "Ten miles a penny" is one of the claims made by the manufacturers. A lady's model is also shown, and is priced at one guinea extra. A special racing model is also on view, with dropped handlebars and wooden rims. Its weight complete is but 38½ lb.
Olympia Show 1922
The Motor Cycle, November 30th, 1922. Page 845
Of German origin, this pedal cycle serves to show how the Clement unit is attached and also a wmd scoop which is recommended as an aid to cooling.
Careful detail design is apparent on the Clement 43 c.c. unit - probably the smallest i.e. road vehicle engine in the world.
OVERHEAD VALVES ON A 43 c c. ENGINE.
Cleverly Designed Miniature Power Unit for Attachment to Pedal Cycles.
WE are becoming accustomed nowadays to astonishing performances from tiny engines, but by "tiny" we generally limit ourselves to units between 150 c.c. - 250 c.c. With the advent on the British market of the 45 c.c. Clement engine our scale of descriptive adjectives will have to undergo modification.
Quite apart from its size - or lack of size - the Clement is quite a remarkable design, embodying as it does a steel cylinder, overhead valves, and an 8 to 1 reduction gear in the crankcase. Turned out of a solid steel bar, the cylinder is screwed into the crankcase, being held by a locking ring as on some aero engines. Ball bearings are employed for the main shaft and rollers almost everywhere else. There is an outside flywheel.
The carburetter has been designed specially for its task and consists of a float chamber and float enclosing a central jet, air being admitted through a gauze right above, and, if required, through an adjustable extra inlet; a butterfly valve throttle operates in the choke tube. The size of the sparking plug and the tension of the valve springs are to scale with the overall dimensions of the engine, and the bevel driven under-hung magneto is unobtrusive to the vanishing point.
For £17 the engine will be despatched to the customer by parcel post !
It is intended to be attached in front of the bottom bracket lug of an ordinary pedal cycle, and a rear sprocket and petrol tank have been evolved to fit. An oil-tank is unnecessary, the crankcase sump acting as a reservoir.
All the so-called minor details have received considerably more careful attention than one would expect on such a unit : for example, two petrol filters are provided.
The Belgian designer's London address is 26. Albany Street, N.W.I, but the manufacture, so far, has been carried out in Germany.
The Motor Cycle, August 17th, 1922. Page 238
Source: Graces Guide
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