Leonard Gundle Motor Co of 99, Hockley Street, Birmingham.
Other addresses: Moorgate, London EC2 (offices); Smith Street, Hockley, Birmingham.
LGC motorcycles were produced by the company from 1926 to 1931, and in 1949. The firm originally made butchers' cycles and ice-cream tricyles.
In 1926 Motorcycles were added to the list of products when the company built three JAP-engined models. These were of 300cc sv and 346cc ohv, and the latter came in single or twin form. All drove either an Albion or a Burman three-speed gearbox, had a diamond frame and girder forks.
That year Leonard Gundle won a silver medal competing on one of his LGC motor cycles in the London to Land’s End Trial, with three other riders also mounted on the Gundle machines. This proved excellent publicity for the new brand.
1929 A model fitted with a 247cc Villiers engine was added.
1930-1931 The small range continued, but then the company reverted to the production of bicycles.
1949 After the war, the name returned on a tricycle powered by a 197cc Villiers engine with a three-speed gearbox. It had a conventional rear half, but the front had two wheels the same size as the one at the rear, and a seat was fixed between forecar from the early days. A commercial body was also available.
Another of the Handymotor motorised carrier cycles was fitted with a 45cc Vincent Firefly two-stroke engine, and was advertised as the Gundle in the early 1950s.
Sources: Graces Guide, Tragatsch p194, et al.
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