A much sought after machine in England, this stovepipe black 1922 Humber was considered way ahead of its time. The pioneering Coventry based company was famous for its bicycles then its De Dion-engined three-wheeler, airplanes and popular Humber automobiles, and by 1913 was the second largest manufacturer of cars in the UK.

In 1896 its founder Thomas Humber was also credited with producing England’s first practical motorcycle. Then in 1911 a 340-cc Humber V-twin won the Isle of Man Junior TT. Their later machines, as seen here, featured horizontally opposed, longitudinally mounted side-valve twins in a variety of displacements.

This water-cooled 600-cc, 4.5-hp “flat twin” machine equipped with a three-speed gearbox earned a reputation as a high quality machine and fetched an equally high price when introduced in 1919. Its owners were rewarded with a machine of “reliability and grace” as well as a top speed of 70-mph. A quote from the Sept. 14, 1922 issue of The MotorCycle magazine stated: “Outstanding features of the Humber are silence of engine operation, accessibility and smooth running.”

From the Sigal Collection, this unusual and technically fascinating machine appears to be one of only three known to exist.