The World of Autojumbles at your FIngertips

out and about: A bit on the side – the early years

It is not recorded when a sidecar was first attached to a solo motorcycle. There had been tricycle forecars and passenger carrying trailers from the late 19th century but, following a cartoon in Motor Cycling in 1903, the sidecar idea was born.

The earliest versions were manufactured by Mills and Fulford that same year and, along with the pillion seat, has been the only passenger carrying method to stand the test of time. Many of these early models were made from basket-woven wicker sumptuously upholstered in leather.

They hadn’t been around too long before a snag was found. Whereas a solo could be wheeled down the passageway of a terraced house, a sidecar, no chance! What was the average family man to do?

Fortunately, a Mr Fred Watson came up with an idea that was probably the one thing that made sidecar ownership attractive to a far greater range of people. A folding sidecar! One that folded to just 2ft 8in – narrow enough to push along a passageway.

He built the first one for his own use, but soon went on to form the Patent Collapsible Sidecar Company Ltd in 1912. Perhaps the collapsible part of the name would not be such a good slogan these days, but it was good enough then to segue into Watsonian Sidecars, a name that is still with us today. By 1914 the company listed 11 models and the sidecar was well established in the transport world, this of course meant greater competition in the market place.

Many motorcycle manufacturers started building their own sidecars around this time and the major marques had their own dedicated models.

These were for passengers or goods, with many tradesmen relying on their trusty side-valve single and box sidecar, Watsonian provided sidecars for bicycles.

Then came the First World War and the outfit went to war, production began on specific wartime machines, culminating with the motorcycle machine gun platform built by Clyno.

By the end of the war Watsonian, which had built a sidecar ambulance during the conflict, emerged as the major British sidecar producer. By 1919 sporting chairs were appearing with Watsonian describing its wooden R34 model as “particularly suitable for the super speed man”.

The Monarch first appeared in that year and was to remain in the range for the next 30 years by which time a major change in manufacture was afoot.
More of that later!