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Came across this interesting article on the web:
The motorcycle industry did not commence in Birmingham but the city eventually became the centre of motorcycle manufacture.
Birmingham’s advantage was that it had a massive diverse engineering industry capable of making anything and it possessed many bicycle and tube making businesses. The city was ready for the motorcycle industry which was just the next step forward from the bicycle. The bicycle industry was also hit by massive over capacity as every man and his dog started to make bicycles. Many of course went to the wall but many converted to the manufacture of motorcycles or even cars. Some manufacturers carried on making bicycles and motorcycles together.
Notably early engine production came from outside Birmingham until the industry had matured. Levis was an exception and must have been an example to other Birmingham manufacturers. Once a few large manufacturers, such as BSA, ARIEL & VELOCETTE, had become established the volume of motorcycles produced within Birmingham far exceeded any other city.
To make a motorcycle first of all you need an engine! Rotary steam engines had been developed earlier and steam power on cycles had been tried as early as 1860 but steam was too heavy and awkward for practical use. An internal combustion engine running on light petroleum was perfected by Gottlieb Daimler and William Maybach in 1883 and with further development this was the catalyst that changed the bicycle maker to the motorcycle manufacturer.
Early pioneers of the motor bicycle were Edward Butler who built his petrol cycle in 1887 and J D Roots with his motorised tricycle in 1892. In 1880 the flamboyant Harry Lawson had patented a petrol driven tricycle and always contended that he was the first to motorise a cycle.
The first motorcycle produced on a commercial basis was in 1894 and Colonel H Capel Holden produced motorcycles from 1897. QUADRANT of Birmingham claimed to be the oldest motorcycle company and produced their first motorcycle in 1899 but Humphries and Dawes with their OK range also started in 1899.
Bard Cycle Manufacturing Company of Barn Street, Birmingham also produced a motor tricycle in 1899
By 1900 the infant motorcycle industry had been established with at least 14 manufacturers in Great Britain and at this time these companies were widespread within the UK.
As previously mentioned H & D (Humphreys and Dawes) started production in 1899 adopting the OK brand name but later changing it to OK Junior by 1910. Their first premises were in Hall Green. The 1914 range was produced using H & Ds own 269cc engine. They turned to war work in the first world war and in 1919 resumed motorcycle production at new premises in Bromley Street, Bordesley. Around this time the company became incorporated and changed their name to,’ OK Supreme Motors Limited’. They subsequently moved to premises in Warwick Road, Greet where production of motorcycles ceased on the outbreak of the second world war. After the First World War the company ceased motorcycle manufacture and continued with accessory manufacture.
The company of NORTON was established earlier in 1898 by James Lansdowne Norton in Bradford Street but they did not start motorcycle manufacture till 1901.
Gun makers since 1861 and bicycle manufacturers since 1880, BSA had produced motorcycle components since 1900 but did not build their own motorcycle till 1910.
Alldays & Onions, one of the oldest British engineering companies beginning business in 1650 in Birmingham. They were early cycle makers under the name Alldays Cycles and started making cars in Birmingham in 1898 and motorcycles in 1903 at their Great Western Works.
The JAMES cycle company started manufacturing bicycles in 1870 and produced its first motorcycle in 1902.
Charles Sangster started a company to make bicycle wheels called Components Ltd. This company eventually became ARIEL and they produced their first motorcycle in 1902. They also made bicycles.
NEW HUDSON was founded in 1903 at Summer Hill in Birmingham to make bicycles and started motorcycle manufacture in 1909.
The QUADRANT cycle company was established in 1890, in Sheepcote Street, to make Bicycles. In 1899 they produced a tricar called the Carette and Motorcycles from 1905 to their demise in 1930 They tried car production between 1906 – 1907.
The Minstrel & Rea cycle company was established around 1890 They experimented with car production in 1904 and production of motorcycles began in 1911, their brand name was CALTHORPE.
The Butterfield brothers set up business as engineers in 1906 in Stechford but unlike other Birmingham manufacturers they first concentrated on building their own engines. In 1910 William Butterfield introduced his own two stroke engine. Their first motorcycle, called a LEVIS, appeared in 1911.
FRANK E. BAKER Ltd, (Precision) Frank Baker was a prolific engine builder around 1908 and supplied engines to Haden, Hercules, and Sun (whom he bought frames off to make his own motorcycles) and many other manufacturers. Precision engine capacities were 247, 270, 347, 498 and 596cc. Precision operated from Moorsom Street which was close to the Aston Brook Street factory of Sun factory. Suns first motorcycle in 1911/12 was fitted with a Precision Engine. Frank Baker stopped motorcycle & engine production during the first world war.
In 1919 Baker was able to obtain financial backing via what was seemingly a merger with the very large Glasgow ship builders William Beardmore (famous for later producing London Taxis) and this lead to production of the Beardmore Precison Motorcycle. The new company operated from a factory in Kings Norton. The Beardmore shipbuilding concern ran into serious financial difficulties within a few years and the motorcycle venture had failed by 1924/25 with the Kings Norton factory later being taken over by Triplex Safety Glass. Frank Baker however continued motorcycle production from new premses in nearby Alvechurch Road producing Villiers engined machines between 147 and 342cc. By 1930 he had sold out to James in Tomey Road, Greet. Frank Baker became a James employee and they used his designs well into the 30s.
The Beardmore Precision motorcycle had an integral fuel tank which was part of the frame and proved that Frank Baker was an exceptional engineer for the period.
The Sun Cycle & Fittings Company Ltd were established in 1885, by the Parkes family who were established brassfounders within the city, to produce cycle accessories for other companies. The first SUN motorcycle was a Precision engined machine produced in 1912.
E.A. Radnall formed in 1895 to manufacture cycle components using the name RADCO. They later produced motorcycles. Production halted in 1932 when they concentrated on bicycle components.
The Rover Cycle Company moved to Tyseley, Birmingham, in 1921.
Velocette started as Veloce Ltd. in 1904, making bicycles in Fleet Street later moving to York Road, Hall Green, manufacturing their VELOCETTE Motorcycles and they continued until voluntarily liquidation in 1971.
All in all there have been just over a 100 manufactures of motorised bicycles or motorcycles within Birmingham. Some only lasted a very short time, but only a handful lasted until the last days of the British motorcycle industry. None exist today but some of the companies exist in other forms e.g. BSA Guns and BSA Tools but motorcycle manufacture in Birmingham is dead, the last motorcycle being produced on Christmas Eve at BSA, Small Heath in 1975.
There were around 100 manufactures of motorcycles within Birmingham, below is a list of the more significant marques, some have their own pages.
Some motorcycle manufuactures like Leopard were small ventures who did not last long
If you worked in the Birmingham Motorcycle Industry please contact us with your memories.
Abingdon King Dick AKD
ABJ
Alldays
Ariel
Baker
BSA
Calthorpe
Carfield Smethwick
Connaught
Dunelt Smethwick
Excelsior
Federal
Forward
Heldun
Henley
Hercules
Ivy
Ixion
James
JES
Levis
LGC
Lloyd
Metro
Mercury
New Comet
New Hudson
New Imperial
New Ryder
Norton
OK
Phillips Smethwick
Quadrant
Radco
Raynal
Rolfe Smethwick
Scott
Sirrah
SOS
SUN
Sunbeam
Trump
Velocette
Walco
After the First World War it was boom time for Birmingham motorcycle manufacturers but it was short lived with many makers only lasting a year as they competed in a very crowded market. The depression years of the 30s saw many go out of business. Many depression survivors that turned to war work in 1939 never returned to motorcycle manufacture.
In 1931 a significant development was the acqisition of AJS motorcycles by Colliers, the owners of Matchless motorcycles of London. In 1938 they acquired Sunbeam and the group reformed as AMC, (Associated Motorcycles Ltd.) Other acquisitions came, Francis Barnett in 1947, James in 1952, Norton in 1953 and Brockhouse Engineering 1959.
There was a resurgence of interest in lightweight motorcycle, mopeds and scooters in the 50s in reaction to imported Vespa and Lambretta scooters. However this was the first signs that British motorcycle manufacturer’s management neither understood their market, or their customers. British products lacked Italian panache and style and the Italians easily captured the scooter market, it helped that their scooters were actually reliable too!. In the 60s there were just 10 national motorcycle manufactures left and the Japanese gave them the final lesson on how to build products in keeping with peoples wants rather than boardroom politics. The British motorcycle industry failed to see the threat of the Mini Car and of the Japanese talent for continuous improvement.
By the 70s the motorcycle was no longer just transport for work, it was a leisure tool. Sidecars had all but dissapeared and the sports motorcycle was becoming the new cool motorcycle.
The final nail in the coffin was the Triumph Co-operative at Meriden who must be this countries greatest example of stupid and pointless unionism. They single handedly destroyed what was left of the industry with their militant, defiant attitude supported by goverment minister, Tony Benn. The co-operative also destroyed BSA causing the closure of the Small Heath plant and swallowing up large amounts of tax payers money. The co-operative finally went bankrupt in 1983. bringing about a shameful end to a once great industry. The assets were bought by Coventry businessman John Bloor and Triumph lives on today, sadly the more deserving BSA is just a memory. Today there is no manufacture of motorcycles within Birmingham.
Let us all hope that what happened to the British motorcycle industry will remain a management and union lesson for future generations but unfortunately the old saying that history shows that we do not learn from history will probably be said again many times!
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