Bicycle manufacturers in Birmingham

[mikejee]

On the c1905 map, the nearest factory marked as manufacturing cycles is the Saltley Mill, though there are likely to be other smaller factories not marked as doing this. The position of the mill and the road are marked in red on the map below

 

[Peter John]

Sure do remember Cliff Peters...…...used to hang or there. they used to let me buy parts a little at a time!

I fondly remember Cliff Peters shop around 1960. Usually it was Dad or Mum you would find in the shop. Cliff could build a wheel by hand - no jigs, tight and true, few others could. He was a superb cycle mechanic but a lousy business man; he did too many favours, let people have stuff they never paid for and eventually went bust I understand- very sad. Cliff's was the place you went if you wanted advice or bits and pieces - the best stuff - Campag, Mafak, etc. Powells in Birchfield was just a 'cycle shop'. The nearest I got to a Cliff Peters bike was having my frame resprayed in bright lime green- fab!
I got my first bike for my 15th birthday. It was 'shop soiled' I guess but I SO valued it - cost my Dad at least a weeks wages! I kept it for 20 years.

 

[Richard Dye]

I fondly remember Cliff Peters shop around 1960. Usually it was Dad or Mum you would find in the shop. Cliff could build a wheel by hand - no jigs, tight and true, few others could. He was a superb cycle mechanic but a lousy business man; he did too many favours, let people have stuff they never paid for and eventually went bust I understand- very sad. Cliff's was the place you went if you wanted advice or bits and pieces - the best stuff - Campag, Mafak, etc. Powells in Birchfield was just a 'cycle shop'. The nearest I got to a Cliff Peters bike was having my frame resprayed in bright lime green- fab!
I got my first bike for my 15th birthday. It was 'shop soiled' I guess but I SO valued it - cost my Dad at least a weeks wages! I kept it for 20 years.

Peter John,

That is exactly Cliff Peters and his mom and dad were always there.
I brought a set of Campag wheels there that I paid for over time when I had the money. They said I could take them before but I was afraid.
Mr Powell was not Cliff Peters but was a gentleman and I brought my Severn Valley from him with my own money and he was always straight and fair with me.

 

[izzy eckerslike]

If near surrounds includes Redditch then you should include Royal Enfield bicycles. Even after the closure of the Redditch factory, the name was perpetuated on bicycles made in Birmingham under the Royal Enfield name.


PS. A Royal Enfield is where the queen keeps her Chickens

 

[gingerjon]

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

I worked in the packing department straight from 1953 they where packing cases then

 

[Brookfields Lad]

One day in Parker, last year in June 2019 in Parker, Colorado. USA I saw this chap sleeping in a hammock at a rest stop on the bike path trails, that we have (I can ride on paths for over 100 miles from my house) when he awoke I talked to him he was riding across America on his bike. I looked at his bike and its wa a DUNELT made in the 1970s in BIRMINGHAM ENGLAND what a testimony to BRUM bike industry, his Dad purchased the bike new in BRUM in 1970 then gave it to him for college in Oregon said it rides View attachment 138954great!!!!

Dunelt Motorcycles - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Banjo]

On my 12th birthday my Dad bought me a Coventry Eagle bicycle from a cycle shop on Lichfield Rd (just along from the Vine pub). I had a few bikes in my teens but this is my current mode of self propelled transport which is used at various 1940s events.

 

[AnnS]

Here's a photograph of an old Birmingham firm trading on Newtown Row.View attachment 154729View attachment 154729

 

[mikejee]

Ann
I cannot seem to see your attachment

 

[Richard Dye]

Ann
I cannot seem to see your attachment

Me either.

 

[izzy eckerslike]

I found some more info on the Redditch Royal Enfield bicycle history. The rights to the use the name were sold to a Birmingham bicycle maker called Kirk and Merifield, 113 Bradford Street. Bikes produced in Redditch had 'Royal Enfield Redditch' on the badge, those made by K&M had Birmingham on the badge. K&M also bought the Swift brand in 1931

 

[mikejee]

There is a photo I took of the Kirk & Merrifield factory in post 11 at https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/for...de-in-birmingham-but-where.14078/#post-103491

 

[AnnS]

Seems i haven't attached image properly..

Is there a 'how to' somewhere on the forum?

 

[izzy eckerslike]

There is a photo I took of the Kirk & Merrifield factory in post 11 at https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/for...de-in-birmingham-but-where.14078/#post-103491

Excellent, I wonder how many Royal Enfields they produced there, it would have been in the 1960's

 

[NOTSHARP]

Let us not forget : https://hadland.wordpress.com/2012/07/01/moorson-cycles/

Norman was, many years ago, my father-in-law. I watched him building frames, wheels, etc., in his workshop.


Steve.

 

[AnnS]

I have tried to re-size the picture, which was of G Luckmans shop on Newtown row from the 19c.

Unfortunately it was over 1mb and i now seem to have lost the image completely from my laptop.

 

[Richard Dye]

Let us not forget : https://hadland.wordpress.com/2012/07/01/moorson-cycles/

Norman was, many years ago, my father-in-law. I watched him building frames, wheels, etc., in his workshop.


Steve.

NOTSHARP, thank you so much for sharing this article! It was a wonderful read and great piece of history!

 

[Enel]

Let us not forget : https://hadland.wordpress.com/2012/07/01/moorson-cycles/

Norman was, many years ago, my father-in-law. I watched him building frames, wheels, etc., in his workshop.


Steve.

I ordered a frame from Norman Moore in 1974, but this was a Major Nichols. I don’t think that I ever managed to get in and out of the shop in much under an hour - he loved to chat.

 

[mw0njm.]

Unique and Unity Cycle Co - Graces Guide​

 

[Pedrocut]

January 1977, Birmingham Post. Meriden Co-operative…

 

[Heartland]

The Meriden factory was motor cycle making part of the long history of Triumph.

 

[Pedrocut]

Birmingham Post, August 1977

 

[Richard Dye]

Let us not forget : https://hadland.wordpress.com/2012/07/01/moorson-cycles/

Norman was, many years ago, my father-in-law. I watched him building frames, wheels, etc., in his workshop.


Steve.

Steve, I just read this article, what a tenacious group they were. It seems they had great ideas and work ethic but were never able to take to the next level in today’s terms.
Thank you!

 

[Pedrocut]

From Vivienne’s post for Stockland Green there may, on the modern Google picture, be a ghost sign for Rudge. This leads to Rudge and Whitworth and to Whitworth Cycles......Grace Guide...

Whitworth Cycle Co - Graces Guide

Not only cycles…

 

[jmadone]

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

Some early advertising posters coming up for auction for Hercules cycles.



Together with these for Phillips



and these for BSA

One for New Hudson

and finally this one


There's also this one but I'm not sure if it was made in Birmingham as were all the above.

 

[Richard Dye]

Some early advertising posters coming up for auction for Hercules cycles.

View attachment 165488View attachment 165489View attachment 165490

Together with these for Phillips

View attachment 165491View attachment 165492

and these for BSA
View attachment 165493View attachment 165494
One for New Hudson
View attachment 165495
and finally this one
View attachment 165496

There's also this one but I'm not sure if it was made in Birmingham as were all the above.
View attachment 165497

I put one of those Miller light sets (or dynamo as we called them) on my Phillips Sport bike. The headlight was SO bright!

 

[jmadone]

Came across this advertising sign

I don't know if it was a cycle shop or what date is but it was located here

 

[mikejee]

Rudge-whitworth were cycle makers, with their "depot" at Victoria Square and the works in Rea St south. In the 1900 their "depot" is listed at 8 Stephenson place (Victoria Square not listed, so presumably only named that after her death). but they are in Victoria Square in the 1903 edition. By the 1921 edition it was part of a Lyons Cafe

 

[Richard Dye]

Came across this advertising sign
View attachment 169726
I don't know if it was a cycle shop or what date is but it was located here
View attachment 169727

My Dad had one of those, very old even in the late ‘40a. He never rode it or would he let me when I got older. Never understood that. When he passed away my mother threw it out!

 

[DorsetB]

Just found out that my Great Grandad was a Cycle Enameller at Lindalls ,Lombard St. Birmingham.1921
If thats any help.