Ascot-Pullin Motorcycles was a British motorcycle manufacturer founded by Cyril Pullin as the Ascot Motor & Manufacturing Co Ltd. at Letchworth, Hertfordshire in 1928.[1] An inventor and winner of the 1914 Isle of Man TT, Pullin had been developing ideas for motorcycle designs since 1920 with Stanley Groom, and had patented a two-stroke engine motorcycle with pressed sheet metal frame and forks. After leaving Douglas[clarification needed] the first time, Pullin worked with Groom again to refine his ideas and develop and patent the Ascot-Pullin motorcycle.[3] Fewer than 500 were built and sales were poor, resulting in the company's liquidation in 1930.[4]
Pullin was an innovator and the Ascot-Pullin 500OHVsingle had the engine horizontally mounted and enclosed with a pressed-steel frame.[2] As well as the first use of hydraulic brakes on a motorcycle, Pullin also designed a telescopic centre stand and an adjustable windshield with a windscreen wiper and rear-view mirror, as well as a fully enclosed chain and interchangeable wheels.[5][2]
Powerwheel
The Ascot-Pullin name was revived in 1951 by the Hercules Cycle and Motor Company, a
division of Tube Investments, who commissioned Pullin's new invention, the "Powerwheel", a 40 cc (2.4 cu in), 0.7 hp (0.52 kW), single-cylinder rotary engine. The prototypes were scrapped after the company decided not to proceed with production, but a sectionalised example survived together with most of the drawings, and an industrialised version was developed for the Ministry of Supply.[6]
