P&M and Panther Motorcycles – the history

Phelon & Moore began making bicycles before the turn of the century and were destined to become a household name by producing ‘The Perfected Motorcycle’. P&M developed a range of Pantherbranded single-cylinder motorcycles at its Cleckheaton factory during the early 1920s. The company became renowned for the design and manufacture of its ‘sloper’ style, large capacity, single cylinder motorcycles.

P&M also experimented with a V-twin prototype as early as 1914. Unfortunately, at the outbreak of war the factory was forced into producing solo motorcycles for the war effort. The V-twin was subsequently shelved, only to be withdrawn later.

The first Panther was launched in

1921, but it was the mid-1930s Model 100 (600cc) and later 1960s Model 120 (650cc) that brought fame and success. Panthers were renowned as excellent and reliable workhorses, best tasked to pulling a family sidecar.

The Panther won admirers with its unusually low tick-over, often described as ‘firing once every lamp post’. This was largely credited to the engine’s massive flywheels and quality engineering. Simple and robust motorcycles, they were hugely popular due to their distinctive looks and colossal OHV inclined engines. Being of excellent design, cheap to run, and exceptionally simple to service, Panthers soon attracted a loyal following. It is no small wonder that many of the later highcapacity bikes are still in use.

Phelon & Moore became generally known as Panther Motorcycles in about 1930. In 1932 the company launched a range of popular lightweight 250cc (Model 40) and 350cc (Model 45) motorcycles, which became generally known as the Red Panther range. Improved models followed and a team of P&M riders on competition 250cc models competed successfully at the Scottish Six Day Trials. In 1934 a Model 40 won the Maudes Trophy, which resulted in The Stroud, a full-on competition trials machine.

During the postwar 1950s, P&M developed a successful 197cc (Villiers engine) lightweight in two guises: the Model 10/3 and Model 10/4. These were simply three-speed and four-speed versions of the same machine and enjoyed a production run of six years.

During the scooter craze of the 1950s and 1960s, Panther imported a scooter from French manufacturer Terrot. However, this became responsible for countless warranty claims and damaged Panther’s reputation. Although Panther went on to develop its own scooter, known as the Panther Princess, it was a costly exercise and suffered from poor sales. The venture failed and the arrival of the cheap family car helped bring about the demise of P&M as a motorcycle manufacturer. Motorcycle production limped on until 1966, before P&M was forced into receivership and closed.

Strength and endurance

Pioneering motorcyclists Florence Blenkiron and Teresa Wallach rode a 1934 Model 100 combination on an epic trans-African crossing from Algiers to Cape Town – thus the Panther became the first motorcycle to cross the Sahara desert.

In February 1939, as an official demonstration of British engineering and reliability, the muchpublicised ACU test of Turner’s new Triumph twin took place. Not to be outdone, P&M picked up the gauntlet...

In a similar publicity stunt, P&M devised a test of ‘Unparalleled Endurance and Severity’ for its Panther singles. In association with ACU officials, a Panther 100 was chosen from the production line and methodically checked. The chosen single would then be ridden from London to Leeds and back, continuously, day and night, for 10,000 miles. ACU official riders devised a relay system and set off from London at 6am on March 23, 1939.

Although the test Panther suffered some minor faults, it successfully completed the endurance test. According to a euphoric motorcycling press, even gales, hail and snow failed to hamper the Panther’s progress. The ACU reported that the 600cc Panther 100 Model travelled a total of 10,017 miles in 209 hours and 49 minutes at an average speed of 40mph, consuming fuel at a rate of 56.88mpg. It was declared as an amazing feat for a prewar motorcycle!

A short production run

Based on its 600cc Panther 100 Model, P&M introduced the 500cc Model 95 single in January 1938. Designed as a solo machine, the new 95 received the Model 85 diamond lightweight (350cc) frame – into which it was possible for P&M engineers to squeeze a 500cc sloper engine. The Model 100’s larger fuel tank was also added.

The Model 95 benefitted from Enfield’s better-performing hubs and brake drums. As with the other large-capacity Panther singles, the new 95 had the Redwing logo cast into its timing cover, along with a restyled model identification number.

Several key differences in the Model 95 engine (compared to previous models) were that Panther departed from its longestablished practice of utilising the engine as a ‘stressed member’ and developed a single port rather than the twin port cylinder head of the time.

The 95’s change to a ‘spigot-flange’ cylinder barrel departed with the longestablished practice of holding down the head and barrel by means of four long through studs that extended all the way from inside the crankcases to the top of the cylinder head. Other changes included a redesigned cast iron cylinder head and rocker box with a polished alloy rocker cover.

The combination of the significantly lighter frame and a free-revving 500cc engine (i.e., 25hp @ 6000rpm as opposed to the 600cc Model 100’s 25hp @ 5000rpm) resulted in better handling and a more ‘sporting’ ride.

Unfortunately, the 95’s production run lasted only two years, with less than a few hundred leaving the factory.