The Veloce factory built motorcycles from 1905, but their first models of inlet-over-exhaust engine construction were typical for the day, and produced in very small numbers. In 1913 they designed a 220cc two-stroke single of rare quality, called the Velocette, which the factory developed continuously through 1946! Veloce leaped to the forefront of motorcycle technology in 1925, introducing an overhead-camshaft (OHC) single-cylinder Model K, a 350cc machine of peerless handling and excellent performance. A factory-tuned Model K racer won the 1926 Isle of Man TT, which created huge demand for the roadster model. In 1928 another racing K took the one-hour speed record over the ‘ton’ at the Montlhéry Autodrome, with a 100.3mph average speed; this effort would be multiplied by 24 in 1960, when their pushrod Venom 500cc model took the ‘ton for a day’, also at Montlhéry.[Words: Dennis Quinlan and Paul d’Orléans]






Interestingly, in Das Motorrad of April 18, 1936, two photos of Ted Mellors’ Mk.VI KTT are included. The engine number is obscured, but the publication date of the magazine pre-dates the Mk.VI factory notations above. Mellors was occasionally engaged by Veloce to race their motorcycles, and the machine in these photos certainly looks like a factory racer, as the bevel box drain is not the same as a KSS Mk.2. The crankcases have the KTT’s characteristic ribs, though. The mystery deepens…






Thanks to Dennis Quinlan for his exhaustive primary research!

Have you ever talked to Ivan Rhodes on this matter.?
He is generally accepted as the Velo authority in the UK. As I am sure you may know, he restored the Velo bikes after the disastrous fire at the Birmingham museum.
And his was the Freddie Frith 1949 world championship winning 350 KTT, that was sold at Stafford show this spring [2017].
As a bonus, he too has a book on the subject.. “Excellence was expected”. But the real bonus is that he is the nicest, most approachable and welcoming man one is ever likely to meet. A jewel then.
As an aside, Billy Tiffen had the Velo/BSA dealership in my home town, and I used to attend ACU meetings with him in the later 1960’s where he sat as chairman. Another interesting character.
Thanks for this.. trust you are well and all is going well.
Regards
Bill FERRY
CARLISLE UK
I will try and add afilm for you, you may not be aware of. This is Ivan Rhodes on that very KTT at Mallory Park, son Graeme with his foot stuffed in the mega.!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf8l5Wsa1YU
Ivan Rhodes’ book is actually entitled ‘Velocette: Technical Excellence Exemplified’ – not an easy one to say or remember. It’s by far the best and most comprehensive work on Velocettes. He’s also the man who with his son reverse engineered the unique Roarer. He lives a few miles from me.
I’ve known Ivan for years, as has Dennis Quinlan. Dennis did the research on the Mk6 which revealed this story. I’ve been a member of the Velocette Owner’s Club of North America since 1987, and the President of the club 8 times, and have owned every ‘Mark’ of the KTT except, of course, the Mark 6! I still own 3 – a Mk1, Mk4, and Mk8.