James' Cycles

[Richard Dye]

goes to show how the memory fails with age !!

Paul, I think crashes would be appropriate

 

[mw0njm.]

James Motor Cycles of Gough Road, Greet, Birmingham, produced motorcycles between 1902 and 1966. Harry William James founded the company in 1880 to build a Penny-Farthing bicycle. An early James bicycle is in the National Cycle Collection. 1890 The company moved to larger premises.
James Captain

197cc

Manufactured 1958

1958 James Captain 197 cc. . James had begun concentrating on the manufacture of two-stroke lightweights in the 1930s, and continued the policy after WW2. In 1951 the company became part of the Associated Motor Cycles group, joining Francis-Barnett, and from then on the two marque's model ranges became ever more similar until the transfer of Francis-Barnett production to the James factory in 1962 ushered in an era of unashamed 'badge engineering'. Villiers engines were used at first, though from 1957 many models were powered by AMC's own engine. James first adopted the 'Captain' name for its (nominally) 200cc model for 1950 and both the cycle parts and engine would be upgraded periodically as the years passed

James Cycle Co - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

James Captain Gallery - Classic Motorbikes

Year Bike Picture Description 1923 1923 James sidevalve single 1951 1951 james captain 197cc engine – villiers gears – 3 speed bore – 59mm stroke – 72 1954 1954 james captain k7 197cc villiers 8e engine. 1954 James Captain K7...

classic-motorbikes.net

 

[mw0njm.]

1958

OEC 198cc Villiers Engine c.1949​

used in most motor bikes etc

 

[mw0njm.]

for those intrested in villiers engines

History – Villiers Engineering

villiersengineering.com

 

[Dave M]

My Booklet, cover missing

 

[Roger Depper]

The James, Tomey Rd factory building is now used by a company making plastic guttering and all types of plastic products for house builders, the old Watsonian Sidecar factory is used by Slumber Dream Beds And Bedding Albion Road. Len.

Just discovered that my Grandfather Herbert Harry Else worked James Geet Birmingham. Visiting Birmingham next year 2025 would this be the factory in Tomey Road. Thank You.

 

[Lloyd]

The attached picture is the plastics works referred to above, and this page http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~pattle/nacc/arc0438.htm is a description of, with pictures, the works in the pre-war era.

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~pattle/nacc/arc0438.htm

 

[superdad3]

My first bike was a James Cavalier 175 in maroon with unusually a full fairing. And did I feel great with crash helmet and leather jacket at 17 years old! It was a great reliable bike but I always wanted a big Triumph............... Learn to ride in a large local car park, mind you traffic was so much lighter and slower in 1961! I still remember my registration number with affection - one of many but don't remember the others.

 

[Roger Depper]

The attached picture is the plastics works referred to above, and this page http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~pattle/nacc/arc0438.htm is a description of, with pictures, the works in the pre-war era.

View attachment 197018http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~pattle/nacc/arc0438.htm