Coping with Bedelia

Sir,

I noted with interest the inquiry made by Mr. E. D. Woolley for information in respect of the French Bedelia, an example of which he is in the process of renovating.

In 1913 I acquired a 1910/11 Bedelia fitted with a twin-cylinder air-cooled engine. It had tandem seating, the steering and driving controls were in the rear seat, the passenger occupying the front. This lay-out, I was assured, was as originally turned out by the manufacturer.

I didn’t keep it long because it was a most unreliable and, in my opinion, dangerous machine. The steering was laid out with cable and small pulleys, and gave much trouble. The engine very rarely completed even a short journey of 10 to 12 miles without one or more involuntary stops.

It had twin belt-drive outboard on each side of the body. When a belt broke—as it often did in those days —the machine would make a sudden dive towards the ditch on the side on which the remaining belt was still functioning, and unless the driver’s reactions were very quick the whole contraption finished up in the ditch.

I am. Yours. etc.,

Albert Braid – Colwyn Bay.