Dan Albone and ‘The Ivel’

In an example of the bizarre twists which govern our lives despite the best laid plans we may have, immediately after I’d answered Ralph Stephenson’s enquiry (see ‘The Bridge’), friend and tractor enthusiast Paul Abbott phoned to ask what I know of the Ivel motorcycle. And in many ways, other than detail, Ivel’s fledgling steps into motorcycle making are like those of The Bridge Cycle Co., Triumph, Singer et al in that all were cycle makers and in some cases shop proprietors.

In Ivel’s case, founder Daniel (Dan) Albone (1860-1906) of Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, was apprenticed as an engineer and in parallel was a cycling enthusiast who went on to race with great success. Mr Albone founded his cycle making business The Ivel Cycle Works, named in honour of The River Ivel which flows through his home town, in c1880. He developed and in some cases patented many differing cycles and components for such. By 1900, his extensive catalogue included – or had included – many forms of touring and racing cycles and tricycles for men and women, pony traps, prams and small horse-drawn carriages, while new introductions included a motor tricycle and a car.

Although one of Albone’s motor tricycle designs followed that of the leading De Dion Bouton, he also motorised his adult pedal tricycles with Belgian Minerva kits imported into the UK by David Citroen of London. The next logical step was to employ Minerva kits to motorise his sturdy touring cycles, creating the 1½hp Ivel Ladies Motor Bicycle and the identically powered Ivel Gents’ Motor Bicycle. And to accompany these, Dan Albone developed and offered The Ivel (passenger) Trailer, available for nine guineas. Albone’s catalogue copy stated: “This trailer is a safe and comfortable carriage for either lady or gentleman, and can be attached to either a Lady’s or Gentleman’s Motor Bicycle.”

Although seemingly Dan Albone developed more cars, he didn’t progress much further with motorcycle designs, other than build a few ‘one-offs’ as he was occupied in design and development of what was the first and best ‘modern’ small tractor of the early Edwardian period, with him first demonstrating his Ivel tractor to the press in September 1902. It is believed circa 500 were built and sold worldwide; a few survive with one example changing hands at a recent Cheffins auction for in excess of £300,000.

Tragically, Dan Albone succumbed to a stroke on October 30, 1906. Such was the regard for this racing cyclist, engineer and one-time motorcycle maker, obituaries were published in local and national press including The Daily Mail, The Autocar and The Motor Cycle.