Bicycle manufacturers in Birmingham

[geoffpw]

It has been a long time since I visited the Forum - goodness knows why?

I am very interested in old bicycles and have owned a few however I have very little knowledge of their history, hence the question.

Can anyone point me to a good source of answers to manufacturers in Birmingham and near surrounds?

 

[cookie273uk]

I worked at Hercules Cycles in Rocky Lane Aston Cross in 1945 (I packed disassembled cycles in wooden crates for export), I was 15 and left when I joined the RAF in 1948. Later on in years I remember a specialist cycle factory in Greet, I think the name was 'Dawes' and specialised in lightweight racing bikes. this would be in the 60's. I believe BSA made cycles about that time too. There was a company in either Pritchett St or Phillips St, Aston called Phillip's who made various bits and pieces for cycles such as pumps, saddles lamps etc.... Eric

 

[geoffpw]

Thanks for your reply, it's a good starting point for me...Geof

 

[brenda barr]

l may be wrong but what about the Sun cycles and Raleigh cycles were they Birmingham made.... brenda

 

[geoffpw]

I think Sun were but I am fairly sure Raleigh were only in Nottingham, but thanks for your help... Geoff

 

[farmerdave]

. There was a company in either Pritchett St or Phillips St, Aston called Phillip's who made various bits and pieces for cycles such as pumps, saddles lamps etc.... Eric

There is a thread on this Forum called "History of Phillips Bicycles of Birmingham". The first post was on 7th October 2007. Dave

 

[farmerdave]

There are also threads on this Forum for "Dawes Cycle Manufacturing"; "Hercules Cycles" and "Sun Cycles". Dave

 

[postie]

Try this link...https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=234

 

[devonjim]

https://bikemeet.net/?topic=6237.0
Ok this link is about motor cycles, but read on there is a lot in there about bicycles

 

[Astonian]

Hi cookie
the cycle lamps and accesories was made at Miller brothers and there huge factory had taken up part of phillip street
and Aston brook street which was there registered office and employees entrance it was there ground floorwork shops you could see on phillips street
and you would walk around the whole block of miller bros , it was a huge place with many floors above
at the time i was living in upper thomas street aston; and i was the electro and chrome plater of the works there was only two of us
operating at that company my astistant at the time was the works union man he was there years before me he was a great guy
speakng of great guys the old guy of the bussiness mr miller every year at christmas he would thank us all
he would have all machines closed down at 12 oclock and the factory loud speakers would come on the air
and he would make a long speech and thaking us all as his humble employees before we all went home ,we never got a chrismas box
like other companies did in those days and the railie bikes was at park lane on the border of handsworth and west bromwich
its the park lane facing the Albion foot ball club way back in time best wishes Astonian;;;

 

[geoffpw]

Yes thanks I have seen nearly all the big ones, I need more detail about the smaller ones. I appreciated all help...Geoff

 

[horsencart]

Have you had a look through a Kelly's directory it will list many of the local firms large and small that were involved with the Cycle industry

 

[Astonian]

Hi Geofffw
Way back in the fortys and fifties and sixtys there was the bike ;manufactors of saddles makers called walker and woods limited
Just around the corner from clays music stores in lionell street and just off constitution hill they made bike sasdles for alot of companies
and the sun cycle makers way back in the old days was up lozzells road and it wa replaced by bainess bakery many years later
and i met a very old lady whom became disabled in her youth and it was her family whom was the manufactory of sun cycles
in there early years this lady whom was in her eightys when i met her at her house in castle bromwich way back in the early seventys
and she told me then of her company shares in the famly bussiness there and then of the sun cycle manufacting they founded and made them
A Little note i would like to mention regarding dawes cycle in which it backed on to the speedwell pub along the cannal
that way back in the early seventys that most of the young kids from the haymills area ; speedwell road and george rd and redhil rd
hay mills was one week end riding around on there spankng brand new bikes from there
a couple of the rough older kids came across a hole in the wall along the cannal belonging to dawes cycles factory
and they all took it upon themselves to nip through the hole in the wall and help themselves to a bike free [ nicked ]
by tuesday morning the acocks green old bill wwas driving around and picking them up from around hay mills
it was amasement to se all these kids of the same riding around happy smiling but the smile soon went and the culprits was charged for theft
best wishes Astonian;;; Alan;;;

 

[geoffpw]

​Thanks very much for the info and interesting story.....Geoff

Hi Geofffw
Way back in the fortys and fifties and sixtys there was the bike ;manufactors of saddles makers called walker and woods limited
Just around the corner from clays music stores in lionell street and just off constitution hill they made bike sasdles for alot of companies
and the sun cycle makers way back in the old days was up lozzells road and it wa replaced by bainess bakery many years later
and i met a very old lady whom became disabled in her youth and it was her family whom was the manufactory of sun cycles
in there early years this lady whom was in her eightys when i met her at her house in castle bromwich way back in the early seventys
and she told me then of her company shares in the famly bussiness there and then of the sun cycle manufacting they founded and made them
A Little note i would like to mention regarding dawes cycle in which it backed on to the speedwell pub along the cannal
that way back in the early seventys that most of the young kids from the haymills area ; speedwell road and george rd and redhil rd
hay mills was one week end riding around on there spankng brand new bikes from there
a couple of the rough older kids came across a hole in the wall along the cannal belonging to dawes cycles factory
and they all took it upon themselves to nip through the hole in the wall and help themselves to a bike free [ nicked ]
by tuesday morning the acocks green old bill wwas driving around and picking them up from around hay mills
it was amasement to se all these kids of the same riding around happy smiling but the smile soon went and the culprits was charged for theft
best wishes Astonian;;; Alan;;;

 

[oldbrit]

There where many small builders of bike frames and forks. One that I did a lot of business with was Bill Gameson. He build for many local bicycle shops. Brum in the late 40s and 1950s was the hub of the bicycle trade. John Crump

 

[geoffpw]

Thanks Old Brit, That's really good info.....Geoff

 

[oldbrit]

The Faceboo page Birmingham History Group has posted in the past photos of workers in the Hercules Factory John Crump

 

[Astoness]

The Faceboo page Birmingham History Group has posted in the past photos of workers in the Hercules Factory John Crump

thanks john...not everyone is a member of this facebook group or facebook in general but maybe someone from there may like to share those photos with us

all the best

lyn

 

[tim eborn]

Don't know the name of the builder of The Stormy Petrel bikes but he operated from a shop on Stratford Rd on the opposite side to and in the area of The Piccadilly Cinema. The frames had extra lug braces which I believed were called "Jug Handled Frames".
This was in the 1950's and my mentor Kenny Evans saved for quite a long time to have one built for himself.
He was quite a talented and strong cyclelist and favoured the French Handlebars to the Maes Bends.
He was invited to join The Solihull Wheelers (I think that was the name!) but on condition that he change his bars.
He started courting and I discovered an interest in the opposite sex so we lost touch.
Cheers Tim

 

[Radiorails]

The Co-OP (CWS) made bicycles at their Tyseley works. I seems they also made motor cycles. Prams and toys were also part of their production.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sludgeulper/8377916873/in/photostream/
Within this link are many of the former products and trade names used by the CWS. I am sure many will recall them.

https://vintagemotorcyclecwsfederal1922.wordpress.com/tag/tyseley/

 

[devonjim]

Was the CWS cycle works on the corner of Redfern Rd and Kings Rd?

 

[oldbrit]

Don't know the name of the builder of The Stormy Petrel bikes but he operated from a shop on Stratford Rd on the opposite side to and in the area of The Piccadilly Cinema. The frames had extra lug braces which I believed were called "Jug Handled Frames".
This was in the 1950's and my mentor Kenny Evans saved for quite a long time to have one built for himself.
He was quite a talented and strong cyclelist and favoured the French Handlebars to the Maes Bends.
He was invited to join The Solihull Wheelers (I think that was the name!) but on condition that he change his bars.
He started courting and I discovered an interest in the opposite sex so we lost touch.
Cheers Tim

What club did you belong to in the 1950s I raced for the Midland C&AC The Solihull Cycling Club rivals. My photo was taken at the old Butts Track in Coventry. One of our members still has a Petrel bike in his shed. John Crump

 

[oldbrit]

Don't know the name of the builder of The Stormy Petrel bikes but he operated from a shop on Stratford Rd on the opposite side to and in the area of The Piccadilly Cinema. The frames had extra lug braces which I believed were called "Jug Handled Frames".
This was in the 1950's and my mentor Kenny Evans saved for quite a long time to have one built for himself.
He was quite a talented and strong cyclelist and favoured the French Handlebars to the Maes Bends.
He was invited to join The Solihull Wheelers (I think that was the name!) but on condition that he change his bars.
He started courting and I discovered an interest in the opposite sex so we lost touch.
Cheers Tim

JOE COOKE was the builder of Petrel bikes

 

[tim eborn]

Hi John, thanks for the pictures, bring back memories.
No club for me have never been competitive and a bit of a loner.
Cheers Tim

 

[oldbrit]

Your welcome Tim. Do you collect bikes now?

 

[Phil]

Sorry

I know nothing about bikes never having owned a new bike in my life, but as you are discussing this shop I thought you might like to see this photo.

 

[oldbrit]

I remember it well great photo of a great shop thanks. Do you have a photo of Billy Gamesons shop by chance

 

[Eddie 14]

John, you are being very modest here as many people do not know your history as I do as regards cycles and who you raced with.
Have you still got your cycle site on the net?
Dave

 

[Eddie 14]

I missed your birthday again, sorry my old mate!!

 

[oldbrit]

John, you are being very modest here as many people do not know your history as I do as regards cycles and who you raced with.
Have you still got your cycle site on the net?
Dave

Thanks Dave I am on Facebook BOOOO! But Google my name