Assembled at 41 to 43 Fleet Street and 124 & 125 Pritchett Street in Birmingham the Raynal was a typical English lightweight motor cycle of its time being constructed by a long-established bicycle company from bought-in parts. The example shown has a late version of the Mk. 1V 269cc Villiers 2-stroke engine fitted with a Senspray carburettor. Early models of the Mk. 4 retained the separate chain-driven magneto, but the last ones made were the first Villiers engine to have the luxury of an enclosed flywheel with a (patented) built-in magneto ignition system. Primary drive was by chain to a 2-speed Sturmey-Archer gearbox and clutch and then by belt to the rear wheel - a smooth-driving system known as "chain-cum-belt". Sturmey-Archer provided not only the gearbox and clutch, but also the hand-change lever, its linkage and the necessary frame clamp.
Being sprung both vertically and horizontally the front fork was of a more expensive type than normally employed on this class of machine and made for reasonable comfort on the poor roads of the time.
Unlike the very similar but better-known Sparkbrook, also made by a bicycle manufacturer, the Raynal Manufacturing Co. Ltd. appear to have produced just this one model (and then only in very limited numbers), from around 1914 to 1922. Although describing themselves as: "General manufacturers of fittings, frames, complete cycles, accessories, motor cycles and sidecars" and "Cycle and Motor Material Merchants", one may search contemporary motorcycle magazines and lists of exhibitors at exhibitions, but nowhere can any mention of them be found, their publicity efforts being as low-key as their motorcycles.  However, someone must have had an affection for the marque (possibly A.B. Jackson) for in 1937 the name was revived for use on a utilitarian, pedal-assisted auto-cycle. This model joined Cyc-Auto and Excelsior as Britain's only manufactures of this vehicle type during the 1930s. After around 8000 Raynals had been produced a halt was finally called in 1951.
A.B.Jackson went on to produce his own 98cc Villiers-engined motorcycle, the ABJ, from 1949 to around 1954 - when the company reverted to being a bicycle manufacturer.