The 1927 Model W
The very popular and long produced two-stroke Model LW (Junior/ Baby) was outdated and had been discontinued. However, it had shown that there was a requirement for a lightweight small capacity machine in the Triumph range. Thus for the 1927 season the 277cc Model W de Luxe was announced. The 'de Luxe' was soon dropped (for aren't all Triumphs 'de Luxe'!) and it became known simply as the Model W.
The unusual 277cc, as opposed to the more common 250cc, came about due to a law at that time in Britain which gave a 30 shillings (£1-50) annual road tax for motor bicycles weighing under 200 pounds, and this was achieved with a larger than 250cc engine but limiting it to 277cc. (Without lighting the Model W weighed in at 195 pounds - but with lamps, horn, petrol and oil was 220 pounds - but someone must have forgotten to mention that to the authorities!)
As with the 1927 Model N an oil pump was built into the crankcase for 'semi-automatic' lubrication, but for those who did not trust this "new fangled" device a hand pump was fitted in the tank for manual lubrication. It wasn't really necessary but the hand pump was useful to 'prime' the crankcase when it was drained. Lubrication was still 'total loss' and the automatic crankcase pump simply drip fed oil to the crankcase to compensate for that lost via the inefficient leather oil seals or burnt off by getting past the piston rings into the combustion chamber.
Right up to date, the forks were of the Webb-style single spring and the rear brake was of internal twin-shoes. Also new on 1927 models were wired-on tyres.
