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Levis Leviss HEC motorcycles compressors Stechford

dwilly

dwilly

master brummie
..... As a lad I remember there used to be a run round the Outer Circle and bikes used to pull up at various points. I remember they used to stop in Stechford, just down the hill past the railway station. At the time I thought it was just a convenient place to stop but then when I moved to Stechford I discovered it was the site of the old Levis motorcycle company. All that’s left now is an industrial park which may or may not carry the name on.

Who knows maybe one day the outer circle run might return and they can visit these old sites. Think the tester’s run comes close to some of these sites.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi Ray,

I don't remember the power cycles, but HEC also made compressors..
Incidentally, Levis changed the spelling of their name to Leviss, - I think
possibly in the 1970s, and having noticed the change to their sign, I asked
why, and the chap told me that it was because their company name was
getting confused with Levi's, and they were getting inundated with calls
about jeans!

Kind regards

Dave
 
Thanks, Dave,

It would be nice to find a picture of the Levis Factory from street level. There being one on Britain from Above, all be it part of a more general view .

That list I believe was put together by Jon Price, one time organiser of the Tester Run.

Ray Shill
 
its nice to see levis has made a comeback.:)

below is
The H.E.C Power Cycle, was fitted with an 80cc deflector-top two-stroke engine made by Levis. The machine made its debut at the Earls Court Show in November 1938 and went on sale in 1939, with a LEVIS badge on the engine. The engine was updated later that year, ready for the 1940 season, and the Levis badge on the engine was replaced with an H.E.C badge (as on this particular machine).

However, sales were short-lived. With the outbreak of war, the company relocated to Birmingham. But, on 3rd May, 1940, the HEC factory in Thorpe St, Birmingham was bombed. No more autocycles were built, and Levis and HEC merged to manufacture air-compressors. Very few Levis/H.E.C autocycles were manufactured, and even fewer of the H.E.C badged examples survive.
1656317238302.png 1656317045921.png
 
It seems now that there is a website for Levis based in Norwich. It would be of interest to know if they intend to make new vehicles, or if they have done so. The images on the website for the new bikes are similar to the new Ariels made.

The Levis Works at Stechford included a flat roof main building. This section of a view from Britain from Above shows this building. I was told that Levis bikes were tested on the roof.

Levis 1939.jpg
 
Hi Heartland,

I lived for 15 years in Frederick Road, just off Albert Road,
and knew an old chap who had lived there since before World War 1.
He had owned a Levis motorcycle himself, and obviously knew a lot about them.

He told me that Levis used the circuit formed by Albert Road , Station Road ,
Old Station Road and Northcote Road as their test track. I guess there wouldn't have
been too much traffic around in those days!

Kind regards
Dave
 
No not then I suppose, but now it is quite busy with not all vehicles obeying the speed limit. But to use public roads as a test track may have needed permission from Birmingham Corporation I suspect, unless it was unofficial usage. Levis bikes being made in 1911 would have placed the factory in Birmingham.

With the demolition of the factory and the creation of the Trading Estate left a long building facing Albert Road which lasted longer. It had various uses and was first used as Malthouse.
 
Hi Heartland,

Yes, it was pretty busy when I was there in the 50s and 60s, and not helped a great deal by
the previous brick arch type bridge, which was not properly aligned with the road, resulting
in you having to be pretty close before you got a decent view through it. It wasn't very wide either.

I can't see what test driving could possibly be done on that flat roof, -even if it was practicable to
get a bike up there. No balustrade either! I would think that the testing my friend referred to would
have just been literally, "a few turns around the block" at normal road speeds.

Kind regards
Dave
 
I do not remember the brick arch bridge in Albert Road, It would be of use to see if anybody has a picture of it, and the Laundry also. Of course, Northcote Road junction is south of this bridge. The modern bridge has the No 1 on it indicating that it is the start of the Branch Railway to Aston. As the hill starts at this bridge the narrower bridge must have been tasking for road users. I gather this bridge was replaced after the Stechford Train Crash. Beyond the Bridge looking up to the Northcote Road on the left was the Criterion Works which was associated with the Photographic Trade.
 
1939 592 cc Levis 600

“Far removed from the Levis company's vintage image as makers of small two-strokes, the 1939 '600* was a rugged and very sporty machine.

The last Levis motorcycles were built in 1939, production ceasing on the outbreak of war. However, the company is still in existence at the familiar old address at Stechford, Birmingham Today they add an extra 's' to the name, and are known as Leviss Ltd to avoid confusion with the clothing manufacturer and to emphasise to their Middle Eastern customers that they have no Israeli connection. (In fact, the Levis name comes from the Latin, the company's motto being Levis et Celer, "Light and Swift'.”

Classic British motorcycles of over 500cc from the National Motorcycle Museum. Bob Currie.

6D481808-D8F5-4853-8061-4256C79306F0.jpeg


82EE22CF-FBCE-4F48-BA04-7E0FB30559B4.jpeg
 
Dave89 said:
Hi Ray,

I don't remember the power cycles, but HEC also made compressors..
Incidentally, Levis changed the spelling of their name to Leviss, - I think
possibly in the 1970s, and having noticed the change to their sign, I asked
why, and the chap told me that it was because their company name was
getting confused with Levi's, and they were getting inundated with calls
about jeans!

Kind regards

Dave
Click to expand...
Hi there, I'm new to all this so apologies if things go wrong as I'm not at all good with computers.
I have been doing some research into Levis Motorcycles which were in Stechford. Until about 1991 I was not aware of Levis Motorcycles until I bought a second hand air compressor from a garage business near Kings Heath. I happened to be living in Stechford at the time, and as the compressor came with some of the original paperwork from when it was bought new, I was interested to read that this compressor had been made by a company called Leviss, and which was only about 200 yards from where I was living! As the compressor had been powering all the air tools etc for many years in the garage where I had bought it from, the pump was showing signs of wear and needed overhaul. As someone had told me that the company still existed, I went looking in the hope that they may be able to help, and there it was at the back of the small industrial estate just at the bottom of the hill from Stechford train station. They were very helpful as some of the people there had worked there for many years and really knew their stuff, and they stocked a full range of spares for my machine. I left the pump with them and by the next day they had renewed the bearings and piston rings all for about £65. 34 years later, I still have this compressor which is still going strong and has served me well in all the vehicle restoration projects I have carried out over the years. I am just replacing the original motor at present as it has far exceeded it's service life already but I intend to keep it for ever more as it's such a robust piece of equipment which is possible to be kept fully serviced as all the parts are basic components which can still be obtained or even made. It's interesting, as I have never come across another Leviss compressor and it has raised quite a bit of curiosity among classic motorcycle enthusiasts who I've have told about it, as it represents a period of the company's history which has culminated in the revival of the motorcycle brand which I have just been reading about with interest!
Kind regards, Chris.
 
This thread now deals exclusively with the Levis company, the listing of Birmingham motorcycle manufacturers is now here:

dwilly

Thread 'Birmingham motorcycle manufacturers'

Some time ago I had a thought of putting together a list of all the old motorcycle manufactures that were in Birmingham. The idea never got further than in my head. It maybe something that this forum could now help with. Thinking could list the manufactures with the head office address, maybe a photograph or etching of the old factory. Then could add, via goggle maps or something similar a picture of what’s there now. Think there is some way of loading this info onto Google maps.

The idea started because as a lad I remember there used to be a run round the Outer Circle...
 
Vivienne14 said:
This thread now deals exclusively with the Levis company, the listing of Birmingham motorcycle manufacturers is now here:

dwilly

Thread 'Birmingham motorcycle manufacturers'

Some time ago I had a thought of putting together a list of all the old motorcycle manufactures that were in Birmingham. The idea never got further than in my head. It maybe something that this forum could now help with. Thinking could list the manufactures with the head office address, maybe a photograph or etching of the old factory. Then could add, via goggle maps or something similar a picture of what’s there now. Think there is some way of loading this info onto Google maps.

The idea started because as a lad I remember there used to be a run round the Outer Circle...
Click to expand...
thanks for sorting it out our Viv
 
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