Solved : DAR 208 : 1903 Ormonde Motorcycle

[D-type]

What is this PC's means of transport?  And when was it?

[D-type]

Experts?

[Lavrakas]

This is the Kelecom-engined Ormonde police bike, BY 30, registered December 1903 in Croydon. A distant ancestor of the Velocette, although no discernable common DNA.

[D-type]

Spot on!

I'm afraid I've lost the unmarked copy of thephoto, but here's what it said on the site I found it on:

""BY 30" CROYDON REGISTERED ORMONDE MOTORCYCLE 1903

Policeman with his new motorcycle, 'BY 30', registered in Croydon in December, 1903.
The motorcycle is an Ormonde.

The Ormonde Cycle Co started as 'West London Cycle Stores' and were the London agent for the Ivel Cycle Co of Biggleswade.

Between 1900 and 1904 the company built motorcycles, and was then taken over by Taylor & Gue, who had been building their frames, to become Veloce Ltd. As maker of the Velocette, one of Britain's leading motorcycles, Veloce Ltd existed until February, 1971 "

And here's a couple more photos

[Lavrakas]

Thank you! Forty guineas was a lot of money in those days.

[D-type]

After your comment I looked it up on the web.  It's equivalent to £6700 today, which is more than I thought.