Manufactured 1898-1903 by the Coventry Motor Company, 61 Hertford Street, Coventry.
Used 2½ & 3½ h.p. engines based on a Leon Bollée design.
First announced in 1897, the Coventry Motette entered production in 1899. It was developed by the Coventry Motor Company and the Humber company and was produced at both plants. CEO of the operation was Charles McRobie Turrell, secretary to H.J. Lawson [1]. A modified version of the Bollée tricar, it had belt drive and its cylinder alongside the rear wheel, and the crank-shaft and reduction gear ahead of it. The passenger seat went between the front wheels and the driver sat behind.
The company also built a ladies' model that had the engine ahead of the rear wheel, which was driven by a wooden pulley pressed against the tyre. The rider was seated above the petrol tank and hot-tube ignition burner, but despite this, the machine travelled safely from Coventry to London.
It is believed that quite a number of these machines were manufactured and sold to the well-heeled.
Lawson also produced the Beeston motorcycle from 1896 to 1901.
N.B. 1. Harry J. Lawson had a dubious reputation. He was involved with Lawson tricars and other firms.
Sources: Graces Guide, wiki.transport-museum.com, Wikipedia.
This article delves further into the history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Coventry_Motor_Company
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