On Saturday our century old Dene single cylinder motorcycle fired into life on the second kick after some 11 years slumber in the Museum’s garage showroom display. Jonathan Hill is on the machine, with Ian Reavley alongside, both of whom were engaged on the work to recommission it. Dene is one of the myriad British motorcycle marques now long lost and more or less forgotten. The company was founded in 1903 and ceased cycle production in 1924. It was the brainchild of Jim Moore, who had previously worked for the Jesmond Cycle Company. The company remained active for many years after it ceased making motorcycles and many interior fittings were saved and now form the nucleus of the garage interior at Beamish.

<span >The Dene was purchased by Beamish in 2001 and is believed to be the only pre-WW1 example to survive. It is thought there are only half a dozen Denes in existence today, with one other example, the 1924 950cc example (with JAP V twin engine) also being on display at Beamish.

<span >The history of this machine is unknown from 1912 to 1945. After WW2 it was in the collection of Oliver Langron and later Jonas Butterfield. Later it was sold to Dr R Hill, an acknowledged expert on Dene and who carried out a full restoration of SV 7712 between 1977 and 1999. The engine (a replacement for that Dr Hill acquired it with) is a 598cc Baker ‘Precision’, developing 4 1/4 horse power! Since restoration the cycle has seen limited use with Dr Hill, and very little while at Beamish. It is therefore wonderful to be able to add it to the ranks of working vehicles in the collection and the 1912 Dene will be available for use at events and on the first weekend of the month added transport performance sessions. When not in use we will endeavor to keep it on display in the Town Garage whenever possible.

My thanks to Colin Slater from the Beamish Friends for coordinating the recommissioning work and taking the above photographs.