Story: Motorcycles

Triumph (1st of 6)

Triumph

Triumph was a major supplier of motorcycles to the British forces in the First World War. The 1915 Triumph Model H pictured here – probably in the Whanganui area, around the time of the war – had a 550-cc engine. It was driven by a belt to the back wheel. The Model H was so successful it earned the company the nickname ‘Trusty Triumph’, but the belt drive was dropped in favour of a chain drive in the 1920s.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Tesla Studios Collection (PAColl-3046)
Reference: 1/2-017330; G

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Carl Walrond, 'Motorcycles - History of motorcycles', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/20688/triumph (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Carl Walrond, published 11 Mar 2010