The flask was bought by the Birmingham Motor Cycle Club for Rem Fowler after he won the first twin-cylinder race in 1907.

It was sold at Bonhams of Stafford as part of set which included period photographs, press cuttings, magazine articles and letters between Fowler, Harold Karslake, John Griffith, and James Lansdowne Norton.

The flask inscribing reads: ’Presented to H Rem Fowler by HG Parkes for the best performance by any member of the Birmingham MCC during the year 1907, winner of the A.C.C International Tourist Trophy Race, Twin Cylinder Class, May 28, 1907, Isle of Man.’

Fowler won the 10 lap twin-cylinder race on the St John’s course in a time of four hours, 21 minutes and 53 seconds with an average speed of 36.22mph and set the fastest lap of the race at 42.91mph.

However, the race was far from simple, Fowler, who calmed pre-race nerves with a brandy, and his main competitor Billy Wells had to deal with punctures, changing tyres and spark plugs.

Fowler almost gave up at one point before a spectator telling him he held a massive lead over Wells inspired him to keep going. He ended up finishing over half an hour in front.

After the race, Fowler argued with James Lansdowne Norton, who claimed that he was due half for supplying the winning machine.

However, Fowler said he had paid not only for all of his expenses but the actual bike as well.

He also claimed to never have held or even seen the trophy that was presented.

In an affidavit from July 1957, Fowler stated: ’I should like to say, definitely, that I never possessed, or even saw the trophy put up by Dr Hele-Shaw for the twin-cylinder class, in the first TT 1907. I had the cash prize of £25 and that’s all.’

The prize of £25 is worth about £2,920 in today’s money according to the Bank of England inflation calculator.

Fowler was a regular visitor to the TT until his death in 1963, aged 80.

While he never won another race in the island, Fowler’s place in history was secured alongside Charlie Collier as the first winners of the TT.
 

Manx National Heritage has paid £25,000 for a silver hip flask given to the first ever TT winner.

The flask was given to Rem Fowler in 1907 and was put up for sale at Bonhams in the UK.

It had previously been on display during the TT centenary in 2007, and MNH director Edmund Southworth says he was worried it might be sold and leave the British Isles.

But the organisation says it used reserve funds to buy it and bring it back to the Island, and could put it on display again in time for TT 2019