In the early 1930s, Phil Vincent decided he wanted to build quality motorcycles, so he purchased the rights etc to the HRD brand, once owned by Howard R. Davies, already known for its high standards, the Vincent name was added to the tank decals etc with the initials HRD prominent and the company used bought in engines from several suppliers.
However, in 1934, after troubles at the TT, and I hate to admit this, with JAP engines, young Phil had designed his own motors, which were very successful.
The Vincent motor , as we know it, had it's origin, in 1936, in a chance transposition of two drawings of the new Vincent -HRD 500 single, into a V twin configuration, the designer of the singles, and of course the twins, was Aussie engineer and designer, Phil Irving, these series A V twins morphed into the B, C, and D series.
Post WW 2 ,the V twins became the "must have" motor for Aussie speedway outfits, and as some of them had the HRD logo prominent on the rocker covers, timing covers and tanks , they became known as Herds or Hirdy Girdys, in late 1949 the logo was changed to simply Vincent as is mostly seen today.
Foss
