Standard Twin Two Wheeled Tractor, 1935
generously on loan from the Pallot family, Pallot Steam Museum
This year we are celebrating our centenary as a family business! Bel Royal Motors has been a family owned garage from day one in 1926 when, instead of going into his father’s business, Philip Le Marquand, the shoemaker’s son, took the brave decision to move into the motor trade at just 23 years old. His father told him “It’s a passing fad! Very soon motor cars will be finished but people will always want shoes.”
After completing his mechanical apprenticeship at Barnes Garage, New Street, Philip bought Perkins’ Forge here at Bel Royal and established a garage and general engineering workshop. In the 1930’s Philip started importing the hugely successful Standard Twin Tractors from America, seen here on display. This was the beginning of importing and selling powered wheeled machines here at Bel Royal Motors.
This Standard Twin is a two-wheeled tractor featuring an all iron two-cylinder petrol engine reporting an approximate 5hp.
Known for it’s durability it was primarily a walk-behind tractor with a sturdy and compact frame designed for manoeuvring in tight spaces that made it so popular for Jersey’s small working fields.
Early models had wooden handles whilst later models like this used steel.
Early Standard Twins had no governors or brakes but utilised engine speed to control, which kept the user busy when ploughing short rows. Later models had brakes as an optional feature.
The Standard Twin was sold with a range of attachments including mowers, trailers or ploughs, like this one, making the Standard Twin a highly popular and versatile machine.
