392:
339:
232:(140 km) at about 30 mph (48 km/h). Tanks were pressurised before the Welbike went into action to save time. The Welbike was then packed into the parachute container with the rear wheel to the base of the parachute canister, which had a percussion head to minimise damage on landing. Once it hit the ground all that was needed was to twist the handlebars into position and lock them on spring-loaded pins. The saddle was pulled up and the footrests folded out ready to
296:
distance apart, rather defeating the purpose, and some were captured by enemy forces or lost before they could even be used. The low power and small wheels also meant that they struggled to cope adequately with the often rough battlefield roads so were often abandoned by troops who found it easier to continue on foot. Another problem for the
Welbike was that, by the time it was in mass production, much larger
32:
292:
the addition of the rear mudguard. The final batch of 1,340 was the Mark 2 Series 2 and had "saddle" fuel tanks with a splash shielding between them, and an improved filler cap replacing the original design which required the removal of the pressurisation pump which was found to be too time-consuming.
387:
There are surviving
Welbikes in countries around the world including the UK, US (where many were sold surplus after World War II) Canada, Australia, South Africa, India, the Netherlands, France and Belgium. Welbikes are quite rare and very few survive with the original War Department number intact as
291:
There were three production versions of the
Welbike. The first 1,200 were known as the Mark 1 and were a developed version of the original prototype with tuned engines and did not have a rear mudguard. 1,400 Mark 2 Series 1 Welbikes were produced which had a range of minor modifications, including
363:
of which he was
Managing Director, and had them produced as the Corgi by Brockhouse Engineering (Southport) Ltd., who had been manufacturing military trailers during the war. The Corgi scooter was powered by an Excelsior Spryt Autocycle engine and went into production in 1947. Most were initially
295:
In combat situations the
Welbike could prove a liability as paratroops needed to get under cover as quickly as possible and had to find the Welbike containers before they could start to assemble them. The difference in weight between a parachutist and a container meant that they often landed some
453:
Colin MacGregor
Stevens' (MVPA Member 954 since 1977) private collection in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, had three complete Welbikes Mark II: Frame Serial number 1253; Frame Serial number 3839, found in original condition in Ohio, USA; and Frame Serial number 2348, found in Australia,
231:
The fuel tank was as small as possible and, because its bottom feed point was located lower than the carburetor, had to be pressurised occasionally by a hand pump built into the tank. The range on maximum capacity of 6.5 imperial pints (3.7 L; 7.8 US pt) of fuel was 90 miles
145:(SOE). It has the distinction of being the smallest motorcycle ever used by the British Armed Forces. Between 1942 and 1943, 3,641 units (plus a prototype and some pilot models) were built and, although not much used by the SOE, some were issued to the British
388:
it was painted on. Many restorations have added a typical or estimated War
Department number when the original was missing. The only permanent identity of a Welbike is the frame serial number which is stamped on the front of the frame, above the fork.
271:
The simple design of the
Welbike meant that it was easy and quick to produce and from 1942 went into full production for issue to airborne forces. By 1943 it was also being widely used by ground assault forces, including the Commandos and the
204:– the standard parachute airdrop container 51 inches (130 cm) long, 15 inches (38 cm) high, and 12 inches (30 cm) wide. Once deployed, they were easily assembled and ready for use as quickly as possible. The name
371:
Corgi scooters were sometimes painted a military green but were not much used by the
British armed forces. A few were used by the Royal Navy. The concept continued to be developed by other manufacturers and led to the folding
267:
in
September 1942, including dropping them from aircraft to land by parachute. The Villiers engine was found to be seriously underpowered when ridden by a fully equipped soldier, so it was retuned to improve the power output.
358:
department store. The lack of a front brake meant that they could not legally be used on the road, so most were bought by farmers for off-road use. The originator John Dolphin developed his ideas further and set up the
315:
Pilot models Frame number 2 to 13. The Prototype and Pilot models are distinguished by teardrop-shaped saddle tanks. At least two of these early Welbikes have been saved (number 2 and one other).
228:. There was very limited space in the airborne equipment container, so the Welbike, which was carried in the container at an angle, had no suspension, no lights and just a single rear brake.
450:
Two of the Prototype/Pilot models have been preserved: Serial number 2 found in Oregon, restored and sold to a collector in the Netherlands, and another with an unknown number in the UK.
236:
the two stroke engine and ride into action. The aim was that a paratrooper could remove the Welbike from its special green container (which was marked in white lettering with the words
318:
1. Contract 294/23/S.789 dated 26 August 1942 for 1,000 (changed to 1,200) Welbikes Frame number 14 to 1214, War Department number C4658444 to C4659673. Received 15 October 1942.
321:
2. Contract 294/23/S.1649 dated 19 November 1942 for 1,400 Welbikes Frame number 1214 to 2613, War Department number C5152014 to C5153413. Received Feb 1943 to 14 March 1943.
327:
4. Contract 294/23/S.3662 dated 21 June 1943 for 7,778 (reduced to 1,241 then reduced to 0) Frame number 3955 to 5195 War Department number C5367454 to C5368694. CANCELLED.
1047:
240:) and its easily identified coloured parachute, and be on the road within 11 seconds. The prototype survived extensive drop testing at the Special Operations School at
324:
3. Contract 294/23/S.1946 dated 27 December 1942 for 1,341 (reduced to 1,241) Welbikes Frame number 2614 to 3954 War Department number C5153414 to C5154654.
1287:
1083:
1078:
364:
exported to North America branded as the "Indian Papoose" and not sold in the UK until early 1948, with some 27,050 being manufactured. The single-speed
920:
368:
proved too slow, and despite the high post war demand for transport, lack of power and reliability problems meant it was discontinued in October 1954.
549:
424:
396:
910:
330:
It appears that only the Mark II Welbikes had a contract number dataplate. This was brass and was attached to the frame below the seat post.
354:
Many of the later models never saw action and were disposed of at the end of the war, mostly exported to the U.S. where they were sold by a
1302:
1175:
1030:
874:
255:
for further development. A number of pre-production "pilot" machines were built for further testing and experimental modifications at the
1073:
1062:
1014:
1277:
773:
256:
1025:
111:
841:
150:
146:
1292:
846:
694:
527:
654:
176:, the Commanding Officer of Station IX, the secret Inter-Services Military Research Establishment based in a mansion called
836:
803:
164:
The Italians, Germans and Americans also developed small motorcycles for their airborne forces during World War II.
1168:
867:
487:
482:
1307:
1009:
444:
852:
347:
1282:
284:. The small size of the Welbike meant that it also proved very useful as a general airfield transport by the
406:
1099:
557:
410:
142:
172:
The original prototype was designed by SOE motor cycle enthusiast Harry Lester, from an idea developed by
1225:
1161:
860:
288:
and aircrews based in the large Far East airfields would "stow away" a Welbike if they could find one.
391:
439:
360:
252:
158:
97:
87:
42:
731:
612:
80:
133:
was a British single-seat folding motorcycle produced during World War II at the direction of
756:
260:
781:
588:
1057:
953:
193:
8:
1137:
1132:
1040:
710:
434:
418:
301:
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138:
1052:
892:
690:
523:
365:
300:
had been developed that could carry bigger and more powerful motorcycles such as the
76:
72:
66:
454:
apparently one of the 302 Welbikes boxed for export and delivered on 16 March 1943.
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963:
945:
935:
884:
208:
comes from the custom that all the clandestine equipment devised at Station IX in
658:
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882:
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466:
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338:
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1035:
355:
273:
189:
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Some Mk. II Welbikes had a contract dataplate on the frame, below the seat.
180:(latterly owned by the pharmaceutical company GSK) an hour's drive north of
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201:
173:
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414:
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1199:
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930:
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The Welbike's folding motorcycle design inspired the Japanese-made
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192:, which had been taken over for the war effort. Powered by a
196:
98 cm (6.0 cu in) single-cylinder two-stroke
200:(gasoline) engine, the Welbike was designed to fit into a
123:
3.7 litres (0.81 imp gal; 0.98 US gal)
31:
556:. Canadian Airborne Regiment. p. 42. Archived from
16:
British folding motorcycle produced during World War II
768:
766:
763:
517:
276:Commando units, particularly for beach landings at
248:where it was demonstrated to the commando forces.
137:— the "Inter Services Research Bureau" — based at
1183:
425:South African National Museum of Military History
397:South African National Museum of Military History
1269:
607:
605:
1169:
883:British Commonwealth utility vehicles of the
868:
680:
678:
676:
732:"Memories of Inter Services Research Bureau"
602:
1288:World War II vehicles of the United Kingdom
757:"Welbike - The National Motor Museum Trust"
1176:
1162:
875:
861:
684:
673:
548:Stevens, Colin MacGregor (November 1985).
257:Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment
30:
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626:
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543:
541:
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511:
509:
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505:
503:
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568:– via Colin Stevens - Home Page.
547:
1270:
1157:
856:
849:Saint-Côme-du-Mont, France (Archived)
575:
536:
518:Orchard, C. J.; Madden S. J. (1997).
500:
847:D-Day Paratroopers Historical Center
837:Welbike - Colin Stevens 2011 archive
1303:Motorcycles introduced in the 1940s
13:
586:
520:British Forces Motorcycles 1925–45
431:, South Africa: WD Number C4659131
71:98 cc (6.0 cu in),
14:
1319:
1278:Motorcycles of the United Kingdom
830:
469:folding motorcycle that fit into
488:List of motorcycles of the 1950s
483:List of motorcycles of the 1940s
333:
1105:Car, Heavy Utility 4×2 Ford C11
796:
749:
445:National Motor Museum, Beaulieu
251:The prototype was then sent to
724:
703:
634:"Special Operations Executive"
407:RAF Harrington Aviation Museum
348:Royal Air Force Museum Cosford
167:
110:32 kg (71 lb) (
1:
685:Kemp, Andrew; De Cet (2004).
550:"Airborne wheels the Welbike"
493:
307:
1293:Special Operations Executive
1110:Car, Light Utility ("Tilly")
382:
143:Special Operations Executive
7:
1226:Motorised Submersible Canoe
476:
10:
1324:
954:Diamond T tank transporter
312:Prototype Frame number 1.
1249:
1218:
1192:
1118:
1092:
972:
944:
891:
522:. Sutton Publishing Ltd.
471:1st generation Honda City
460:
119:
106:
96:
86:
65:
57:
49:
38:
29:
361:Corgi Motorcycle Co Ltd.
212:had names starting with
174:Lt. Colonel John Dolphin
778:Colin MacGregor Stevens
689:. Mirco. Bookmart Ltd.
613:"British Army Officers"
589:"From Welbike to Corgi"
159:Operation Market Garden
43:Excelsior Motor Company
1308:Two-stroke motorcycles
399:
351:
342:A Corgi scooter and a
153:and some were used at
151:6th Airborne Divisions
687:Classic British Bikes
394:
341:
261:RAF Sherburn-in-Elmet
1283:Military motorcycles
814:on 30 September 2011
736:BBC WW2 People's War
184:near the village of
1184:Devices created at
1138:Royal Enfield WD/RE
1133:Harley-Davidson WLA
435:Imperial War Museum
346:, displayed at the
302:Royal Enfield WD/RE
26:
1084:Thornycroft Tartar
1079:Thornycroft Nubian
1022:1, 2, 3, 6 & 8
973:Trucks and lorries
893:Artillery tractors
570:image scan of page
402:Examples include:
400:
352:
24:
21:Type of motorcycle
1265:
1264:
1151:
1150:
1100:Car, 4-Seater 4×2
1053:Leyland Retriever
1044:
946:Tank transporters
808:30 September 2011
711:"Welbike Scooter"
696:978-1-86147-136-9
529:978-0-7509-1445-1
366:two-stroke engine
141:, UK, for use by
127:
126:
25:Excelsior Welbike
1315:
1241:Welman submarine
1178:
1171:
1164:
1155:
1154:
1093:Utility and cars
1038:
964:Scammell Pioneer
936:Scammell Pioneer
921:Guy Quad-Ant FAT
885:Second World War
877:
870:
863:
854:
853:
824:
823:
821:
819:
810:. Archived from
800:
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789:
780:. Archived from
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753:
747:
746:
744:
742:
728:
722:
721:
719:
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671:
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657:. Archived from
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440:Musée de l'Armée
395:C4659131 at the
34:
27:
23:
1323:
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784:on 3 March 2012
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730:
729:
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655:"WWII Welbikes"
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587:Miller, Peter.
585:
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563:
561:
560:on 21 July 2011
546:
537:
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479:
467:Honda Motocompo
463:
421:Number C5152111
385:
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286:Royal Air Force
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1058:Mack EH series
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831:External links
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661:on 6 June 2017
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498:
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478:
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384:
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379:of the 1960s.
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1036:Leyland Hippo
1034:
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1021:
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932:
931:Morris C8 FAT
929:
927:
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398:
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349:
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334:Corgi scooter
331:
328:
325:
322:
319:
316:
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305:
303:
299:
293:
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274:Royal Marines
269:
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253:Excelsior Ltd
249:
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229:
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190:Hertfordshire
187:
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122:
120:Fuel capacity
118:
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99:
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91:
89:
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82:
78:
74:
70:
68:
64:
60:
56:
52:
48:
45:of Birmingham
44:
41:
37:
33:
28:
19:
1236:Welfreighter
1230:
1142:
1048:Leyland Lynx
1039:(Mk I &
911:Albion FT15N
906:Albion CX22S
818:18 September
816:. Retrieved
812:the original
807:
798:
788:18 September
786:. Retrieved
782:the original
777:
751:
739:. Retrieved
735:
726:
714:. Retrieved
705:
686:
663:. Retrieved
659:the original
649:
637:. Retrieved
628:
616:. Retrieved
592:. Retrieved
569:
562:. Retrieved
558:the original
554:Maroon Beret
553:
519:
464:
456:
452:
449:
429:Johannesburg
401:
386:
370:
353:
344:CLE Canister
329:
326:
323:
320:
317:
314:
311:
294:
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270:
250:
237:
230:
223:
217:
213:
209:
205:
202:CLE Canister
171:
163:
130:
128:
92:Single-speed
88:Transmission
39:Manufacturer
18:
1120:Motorcycles
1020:Fordson WOT
1000:Bedford OXD
995:Bedford OYD
980:Austin K2/Y
926:Morris CDSW
901:AEC Matador
842:SOE Welbike
415:Northampton
377:Monkey bike
238:Motor Cycle
168:Development
1272:Categories
1200:Sleeve gun
1186:Station IX
1068:Morris CS8
1031:Karrier K6
1005:Bedford QL
990:Bedford MW
494:References
411:Harrington
308:Production
234:push start
178:The Frythe
135:Station IX
98:Suspension
77:air cooled
73:two-stroke
50:Production
1298:Minibikes
1074:Morris C9
1063:Morris PU
1015:Commer Q2
1010:CMP Truck
985:Austin K5
959:Mack EXBX
804:"Welbike"
473:in 1981.
383:Survivors
58:Successor
53:1942–1945
1219:Vehicles
774:"My MVs"
741:25 April
716:24 April
665:22 April
639:23 April
618:23 April
594:24 April
564:22 April
477:See also
356:New York
282:Normandy
246:Scotland
216:, e.g.,
194:Villiers
61:Corgi 50
1231:Welbike
1193:Weapons
1143:Welbike
1128:BSA M20
1070:(15cwt)
1026:Guy Ant
916:CMP FAT
298:gliders
242:Arisaig
206:Welbike
157:during
131:Welbike
1257:Welbum
1210:Welgun
1205:Welrod
693:
526:
461:Legacy
417:, UK:
350:(2010)
225:Welrod
219:Welman
210:Welwyn
198:petrol
186:Welwyn
182:London
155:Arnhem
139:Welwyn
107:Weight
81:single
67:Engine
1250:Other
1041:Mk II
374:Honda
278:Anzio
265:Leeds
263:near
820:2018
790:2018
743:2009
718:2009
691:ISBN
667:2009
641:2009
620:2009
596:2009
566:2009
524:ISBN
280:and
149:and
129:The
102:None
259:at
244:in
214:Wel
188:in
147:1st
112:dry
1274::
806:.
776:.
765:^
734:.
675:^
604:^
577:^
552:.
538:^
502:^
427:,
419:WD
413:,
409:,
304:.
222:,
161:.
79:,
75:,
1177:e
1170:t
1163:v
1043:)
876:e
869:t
862:v
822:.
792:.
759:.
745:.
720:.
699:.
669:.
643:.
622:.
598:.
532:.
114:)
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