Phil Vincent
Encyclopedia
Philip Conrad Vincent was a British motorcycle
designer and manufacturer. Founder of Vincent Motorcycles
, his designs influenced the development of motorcycles around the world.
on 14 March 1908. His mother, Ada Vincent, travelled back from Argentina to have her children in order to secure British citizenship. The family owned a cattle ranch between Monte Buey and Monte Maize, in the province of Córdoba
, Argentina
. His education began at St. George's, a British Preparatory School
in Quilmes
, a suburb of Buenos Aires
. He was sent back to England to live with his uncle, John Vincent, who was a veterinary surgeon and lived at High House, Horndon on the Hill
, Essex
. Phil's education was continued there together with his two sisters, Gwendoline & Marjorie, a cousin and four other local children. He spent a year at Downsend Preparatory School
, Leatherhead
. He was then accepted at Harrow School
which was where he first became interested in motorcycles.
Phil bought his first motorcycle
, a secondhand 350cc BSA
from Gamages
in Holborn
at Christmas 1924. He went to Cambridge University in October 1926 to read Mechanical Sciences at Kings College
. His real interest was in motorcycles and by the age of 18 he had a workshop and was designing and building his own machines. His father agreed that he could have a break from university to develop his first "Vincent Special". In 1928 he had registered a patent for his design of cantilever rear suspension and left Cambridge before graduating.
Philip formed his first company with Frank Walker, a family friend. Howard R Davies, founder of the HRD marque and winner of the 1924 Senior Isle of Man TT
was in financial difficulties and in 1928 with backing from his family and their cattle ranching business, Phil was able to acquire the trademark, goodwill and remaining HRD spares for £450. The company was promptly named Vincent HRD Co., Ltd., and the logo appeared with Vincent in very small letters over the top of the bold HRD. Vincent designed a brand new motorcycle with his own spring frame and marketed it as Vincent HRD, with a choice of either JAP
or Rudge
engines.
In 1928, the first Vincent-HRD motorcycle used a JAP
single-cylinder engine in a Vincent-designed cantilever frame. The earliest known example extant exists in Canberra
, Australia. Some early bikes used Rudge-Python engines. But after a disastrous 1934 Isle of Man TT
, with engine problems and all three entries failing to finish, Phil Vincent (with Phil Irving
) decided to build their own engines. In 1935 the first Vincent powered motorcycle, The 499 cc Comet
model was launched. It was quickly followed by the 998 cc Series A Rapide
in 1936. During the war motorcycle production ceased. At the cessation of hostilities Phil Vincent and Phil Irving
designed the Series B twin engine which powered the Series B Rapide
and went on to power the legendary Vincent Black Shadow
and Black Lightning
models. In 1949 the HRD logo was dropped to prevent confusion with the "HD" of Harley Davidson in the important American Market.
Phil Vincent also experimented with three wheeled vehicles, amphibious vehicles, and automobiles. In 1932 the first 3-wheeler, "The Vincent Bantam" appeared, powered by a 293 cc SV JAP
or 250 cc Villiers
engine. It was a 2.5 cwt
delivery van with a car seat and a steering wheel. The Bantam cost £57-10-0 and the windscreen and hood option cost £5-10-0. Production ceased in 1936.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
designer and manufacturer. Founder of Vincent Motorcycles
Vincent Motorcycles
Vincent Motorcycles was a British manufacturer of motorcycles from 1928 to 1955. Their 1948 Black Shadow was at the time the world's fastest production motorcycle...
, his designs influenced the development of motorcycles around the world.
Early life
Philip Conrad Vincent was born in Wilbraham Gardens, FulhamFulham
Fulham is an area of southwest London in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, SW6 located south west of Charing Cross. It lies on the left bank of the Thames, between Putney and Chelsea. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
on 14 March 1908. His mother, Ada Vincent, travelled back from Argentina to have her children in order to secure British citizenship. The family owned a cattle ranch between Monte Buey and Monte Maize, in the province of Córdoba
Córdoba, Argentina
Córdoba is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River, about northwest of Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province. Córdoba is the second-largest city in Argentina after the federal capital Buenos Aires, with...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. His education began at St. George's, a British Preparatory School
Preparatory school (UK)
In English language usage in the former British Empire, the present-day Commonwealth, a preparatory school is an independent school preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen for entry into fee-paying, secondary independent schools, some of which are known as public schools...
in Quilmes
Quilmes, Buenos Aires
Quilmes is a city in the . It is the capital of Quilmes Partido , and has a population of 230,810. It is located south of the capital of Argentina, the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires....
, a suburb of Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
. He was sent back to England to live with his uncle, John Vincent, who was a veterinary surgeon and lived at High House, Horndon on the Hill
Horndon-on-the-Hill
Horndon-on-the-Hill is a village and Church of England parish in the unitary authority of Thurrock. It is about a mile northwest of Stanford le Hope and about two miles northeast of Orsett - from 1894, it was part of the Orsett Rural District....
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
. Phil's education was continued there together with his two sisters, Gwendoline & Marjorie, a cousin and four other local children. He spent a year at Downsend Preparatory School
Downsend School
Downsend School is a private school located in Leatherhead, Surrey, UK. Founded in 1891 as a non-denominational preparatory school for boys since 1927 aged 8 to 13, it is now a school for boys and girls, and takes on pupils from 6 to 13 years of age. Unusually the school does not have charitable...
, Leatherhead
Leatherhead
Leatherhead is a town in the County of Surrey, England, on the River Mole, part of Mole Valley district. It is thought to be of Saxon origin...
. He was then accepted at Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
which was where he first became interested in motorcycles.
Phil bought his first motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
, a secondhand 350cc BSA
Birmingham Small Arms Company
This article is not about Gamo subsidiary BSA Guns Limited of Armoury Road, Small Heath, Birmingham B11 2PP or BSA Company or its successors....
from Gamages
Gamages
Gamages was a department store in Central London. It began in 1878 in a rented watch repair shop and, after quickly becoming a success amongst its customers, was established as a London institution. In time it was to grow large enough to take up most of the block on which it was situated...
in Holborn
Holborn
Holborn is an area of Central London. Holborn is also the name of the area's principal east-west street, running as High Holborn from St Giles's High Street to Gray's Inn Road and then on to Holborn Viaduct...
at Christmas 1924. He went to Cambridge University in October 1926 to read Mechanical Sciences at Kings College
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
. His real interest was in motorcycles and by the age of 18 he had a workshop and was designing and building his own machines. His father agreed that he could have a break from university to develop his first "Vincent Special". In 1928 he had registered a patent for his design of cantilever rear suspension and left Cambridge before graduating.
Business
Isle of Man TT
The International Isle of Man TT Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man and was for many years the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world...
was in financial difficulties and in 1928 with backing from his family and their cattle ranching business, Phil was able to acquire the trademark, goodwill and remaining HRD spares for £450. The company was promptly named Vincent HRD Co., Ltd., and the logo appeared with Vincent in very small letters over the top of the bold HRD. Vincent designed a brand new motorcycle with his own spring frame and marketed it as Vincent HRD, with a choice of either JAP
JA Prestwich Industries Ltd
JA Prestwich Industries, was an English engineering company named after founder John Alfred Prestwich, which produced cinematographic equipment, internal combustion engines , and other examples of precision engineering.-History:J. A...
or Rudge
Rudge
Rudge may refer to:*Rudge Cup*Rudge-Whitworth, a motorcycle manufacturer*Barnaby Rudge: A Tale of the Riots of 'Eighty, a novel by Charles Dickens-People:*Dale Rudge, English footballer*Daniel Rudge , English engineer...
engines.
In 1928, the first Vincent-HRD motorcycle used a JAP
JA Prestwich Industries Ltd
JA Prestwich Industries, was an English engineering company named after founder John Alfred Prestwich, which produced cinematographic equipment, internal combustion engines , and other examples of precision engineering.-History:J. A...
single-cylinder engine in a Vincent-designed cantilever frame. The earliest known example extant exists in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, Australia. Some early bikes used Rudge-Python engines. But after a disastrous 1934 Isle of Man TT
Isle of Man TT
The International Isle of Man TT Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man and was for many years the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world...
, with engine problems and all three entries failing to finish, Phil Vincent (with Phil Irving
Phil Irving
Philip Edward Irving OBE, C.Eng., M.I.Mech.E., M.S.A.E., was an Australian engineer and author, most famous for the Repco-Brabham Formula One and Vincent motorcycle engines...
) decided to build their own engines. In 1935 the first Vincent powered motorcycle, The 499 cc Comet
Vincent Comet
The Vincent Comet was designed and built at the Vincent works in Great North Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England]. Developed from the Vincent Rapide by Australian engineer Phil Irving in 1935, it was one of four 499 cc single models...
model was launched. It was quickly followed by the 998 cc Series A Rapide
Vincent Rapide
The Vincent Rapide was a motorcycle designed and built at the Vincent works in Great North Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire UK during the war and released to the press before end of hostilities. The prototype was the Series A 47.5° V-twin launched in 1936. With 6.8:1 compression, it produced...
in 1936. During the war motorcycle production ceased. At the cessation of hostilities Phil Vincent and Phil Irving
Phil Irving
Philip Edward Irving OBE, C.Eng., M.I.Mech.E., M.S.A.E., was an Australian engineer and author, most famous for the Repco-Brabham Formula One and Vincent motorcycle engines...
designed the Series B twin engine which powered the Series B Rapide
Vincent Rapide
The Vincent Rapide was a motorcycle designed and built at the Vincent works in Great North Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire UK during the war and released to the press before end of hostilities. The prototype was the Series A 47.5° V-twin launched in 1936. With 6.8:1 compression, it produced...
and went on to power the legendary Vincent Black Shadow
Vincent Black Shadow
The Vincent Black Shadow was a hand-built motorcycle produced by Vincent HRD from 1948. The series "C" which was introduced in 1949 had a 50 degree OHV V-twin engine running a 7.3:1 compression ratio.-Model history:...
and Black Lightning
Vincent Black Lightning
The Black Lightning was a Vincent motorcycle designed and built in September 1948 at the Vincent works in Great North Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, UK, and produced from 1948 to 1952...
models. In 1949 the HRD logo was dropped to prevent confusion with the "HD" of Harley Davidson in the important American Market.
Phil Vincent also experimented with three wheeled vehicles, amphibious vehicles, and automobiles. In 1932 the first 3-wheeler, "The Vincent Bantam" appeared, powered by a 293 cc SV JAP
JA Prestwich Industries Ltd
JA Prestwich Industries, was an English engineering company named after founder John Alfred Prestwich, which produced cinematographic equipment, internal combustion engines , and other examples of precision engineering.-History:J. A...
or 250 cc Villiers
Villiers Engineering
Villiers Engineering was a manufacturer of motorcycles and cycle parts, and an engineering company based in Villiers Street, Wolverhampton, England....
engine. It was a 2.5 cwt
Hundredweight
The hundredweight or centum weight is a unit of mass defined in terms of the pound . The definition used in Britain differs from that used in North America. The two are distinguished by the terms long hundredweight and short hundredweight:* The long hundredweight is defined as 112 lb, which...
delivery van with a car seat and a steering wheel. The Bantam cost £57-10-0 and the windscreen and hood option cost £5-10-0. Production ceased in 1936.