Mystery forecar

Sir,
I think I can identify the mystery forecar (picture number 3, page 32, January issue) as a Century Tandem. This was produced from 1899 to 1904 by the Century Engineering and Motor Company, and an early example took part in the Automobile Club’s 1,000mile trial of 1900. Century were originally based at Altrincham, Cheshire, but later opened larger works at Willesden, London, where the Century Tandem was supplemented by a range of four-wheel cars. The works closed in about 1907. The original Altrincham premises were used from about 1901 by the Eagle Cycle Company, but it seems likely that this was in fact a Century subsidiary, because the Eagle Tandem emanating from Altrincham was identical in design to the Century. Early versions of both makes were steered by means of a long lever on the right, but this was superseded by wheel steering from around 1903. The mystery vehicle would therefore seem to be a 1903 or 1904 example.

Birmingham, Bob Currie, Midland Editor, Motor Cycle