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Motorcycle Shops

Thanks Pete. The old grey cells ain`t what they were ! I spent hours in George Yeomans searching for bits to rebuild a 1934 BSA 250. C&D Autos and Vale Onslow were the preference for my 1951 BSA 125 Bantam D1. Len Vale Onslow was a great old man, full of knowledge and still riding his SOS bike in the 1980`s. Modern bike shops knew nothing about old bikes. I took the Bantam for MOT to a modern bike shop. After 2 minutes the young tester came to me and told me it had failed. `Why` said I .`Cos there is a hole in the silencer` says young tester. `Thats a manufacturers hole to let the oily residue out` says I. Shop Boss hears raised voices and comes into reception, I tell him what has gone on and he tells young tester not to be so `****ing stupid`and pass the bike ! Happy Days.
 
the pic posted by john is of eric hardy steves dad outside his shop on hamstead road handsworth...eric did a lot bike racing including many isle of man races...

lyn
 
Hi Lyn, great period picture. The bike at the back is obviously a DOT, the one in the foreground I thought was one of the early 60's AMC James/FB hybrids, but I don't recognize the duplex frame. If only Hampstead Rd could be now as it was then !
There were a myriad of small Motorcycle Shops around then. Not all sold bikes, some just sold parts, did engineering jobs, or had lots of MCA (Aston) or MCE (Digbeth) aftermarket bits on cards hung up. Most sold Oils and Solvol Autosol, Molyslip and Red Hermatite, (awful stuff!). Wassell Cables and various Spark plugs were another favourite selling line.All seemmed to have the black, oily floor and a particular smell......Oil, paraffin, Old Holborn, etc.,
 
Rickards of Station Road Erdington was one of my local spares shops. I can't say the service there was quick, if you didn't have an hour or two to spare best to go elseware. When you did get served it was just a quick "Yes" usually followed by a quick "No". However they did manage to re-bush a timing side crank bearing for me on my then 1954 BSA A10. Bike never ran better after that.
 
hi bikeral both of my sons use fred hanks on slade road quite a lot...still a small family run business but are always very helpful..

lyn
 
Hubby only rides, has his dream bike now, following a life threatening accident on M6 five years ago, a Suzuki Hayabusa, have to say it does look good. His work horse is a Honda X11, at 6'5", he has to go for bigger bikes - well that's his excuse anyway. He uses bketec at Doctors Piece, Willenhall, they have a vast array of parts!
Sue
 
Re: More Bike Shops?

Kings of Birmingham Bristol Rd at Monaco House & at Washford traffic lights, manager went on to open Solihull M/C Lode Lane, Terry with a green 911.
 
Correct Edmund. By 1981 Kings of B'ham was THE biggest multifranchise motorcycle dealer in the B'ham area. Very few machines didn't have a KoB Number plate on them ! Northern Motor Dealers DC Cookes arrived and took over some other firms shops, but made very little impact, and the once thriving Copes & Greys were in terminal decline. The economic position of the motorcycle buying public, mostly young men 16 - 25, were badly affected by the Thatcher Gov'ts decision to shut down so many national level businesses and to eradicate apprenticeship schemes. Thus by 1983, most of the long established Motorcycle shops had gone.

Many staff dissipated amongst those that remained. Yes Terry opened Solihull M/c, John Davies did the same at Ideal Garage - Bromford Bridge. Arthur at Sheldon M/c. Mechanics & Stores staff went to Frettons of Coventry or other smaller shops in B'ham. In the Monaco house set up, I went self-employed, Ian the Honda specialist went to Tucker Fasteners in Perry Barr, (He's about to retire). Ray the BMW mechanic, Les (the 'apprentice') the Laverda Mechanic, Johnny Hoskins, Chris Dumigan, Terry Smith, Big Steve (Stores) went off into other jobs. At the Fox & Goose Centre, the Office Staff, Colin Learoyd and Adrian (Van) Van der Molengraff went to other 'Bike shops, other 'Bike staff went off into the Car trade, etc.,

Despite what I can only, politely, describe as gross mismanagement that caused so many people a lot of hard times, despite a strange 6 month renaissance as 'Peel Meek' which failed once the VAT got hold of them, the King family just dissappeared without a backward glance.

That said, like many other people who worked in friendly environments in B'ham, (many recount their experiences on the BHF site), in the 70's & 80's we had a lot of fun, and rode many of the latest machines when brand new, for free, all day.
 
Purchased my 1961 BSA Shooting Star from Ken Sedgley's on Bristol Rd Longbridge in 1967. Shop was opposite Kalamazoo.
Used Vale Onslows for all of the spares, never a problem as all bits were always in stock. Used to hang around the "doss" which was the amusement arcade in Lickey Road next to Hare and Hounds pub. Other haunts included the Top Cat in Rubery and the island cafe in Cotteridge. Still have the BSA.
 
Desburnett said:
Purchased my 1961 BSA Shooting Star from Ken Sedgley's on Bristol Rd Longbridge in 1967. Shop was opposite Kalamazoo.
Used Vale Onslows for all of the spares, never a problem as all bits were always in stock. Used to hang around the "doss" which was the amusement arcade in Lickey Road next to Hare and Hounds pub. Other haunts included the Top Cat in Rubery and the island cafe in Cotteridge. Still have the BSA.
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Des, you've done extremely well to still be the owner of your Shooting Star. Looking back there are a number of bikes I have owned that I wished now I'd kept. Hind sight is a great thing. I bought a 1954 Gold Flash off my brother in 1957, this was the first big bike I owned, having cut my teeth and bike test on a 150cc Bantam. It was a great bike which made me go looking for another one some 20 years later. I found one that was in a box, most of the bits didn't belong to an A10, but some other nondescript bike, so the rebuild was a challenge. I did manage to get it all together in the end. I might add, I wasn't about to ride it like I was dressed in the photo, just posing for the camera. I know the mudguards weren't right for this bike, but it seemed a shame to paint a lovely chrome finish. They were off a Road Rocket of about the same era.img026.jpg
 
Not quite a motor bike, but I remember my late father buying a Cyclemaster from I believe Halfords situated on the very corner of Navigation St (just where the No 70/72 trams made a swift turn). This was a complete petrol engine built in a bicycle wheel and then inserted into the rear of an ordinary bike. It had ,of course, to have standard No plates and I believe this was KOP 340. This must have been about 1952. This machine served my father well for several years speeding him to his place of work from Weoley Hill to Kings Norton Factory Centre. He paid £25 for the device and sold it for the same! How things have changed!!!
 
brummie nick........To me that photograph of the gent riding with the aid of a Cyclemaster has not only brought back one memory but the Austin 8 Tourer behind him is similar to one I owned at the time. I know it isn't but it's almost like father and son. Many thanks.
 
image.jpgimage.jpgNice bike! I started riding age 14 on a hand me down Royal Enfield 150 ensign that my father gave me when he elevated to a Austin A35 van. Ken Sedgley gave me £9 part exchange against the BSA which was £99. Father had to stand guarantee and sign over a postage stamp on the HP document. The photo with the Royal Enfield was taken in 1965 on the field we used to ride round in Longbridge. It a housing estate now.
 
Just out of interest while comparing the two pictures, when did it become acceptable to go without a front number plate? They're never seen on bikes these days.
 
s photos 025.jpgs photos 026.jpgCouple of photos of my father in law. First one is on a Norton(?) the second one is the bike he has at the moment,Triumph Tiger Cub 250cc and was still riding until last year at the age of 93.
 
Jimbo - Re your Father In Law's Bikes. The older Picture is of a New Imperial, can't tell from here, but possibly the 150cc version, very popular as a commuter. New Imps were a very competitive B'ham make, several entered the TT races with 'works' riders on board.

Oisin - Number plates. During the great Anti-Motorcycle purge of 1973, when capacities were lowered, Helmets made compulsary, etc., it was decided the front number plates were acting like a knife in 'Bike vs Pedestrian, low speed. RTAs. Consequently they were declared unneccesary / illegal. Originaly fitted back in the 1900 - 1910 period, they were positioned in the headlamp beam to make side on recognition possible to the many Police Speed Traps then operating. The Vascar / Pursuit system of the 1950's onwards put more emphasis on rear number plates. Hence the rear faced photos of the GATSO type "Greed" Cameras that now criminalise anyone who goes 1 mile an hour over the speed limit !
 
Thanks for the explanation. I had a similar problem with the fixed Spirit of Ecstasy on my roller - had to get it changed for a retracting version. :blue:
 
Those interested may like to know that Ken Sedgley is still alive and kicking, saw him at our apprentice's reunion in April. He started off his working life as an apprentice at Birmetals.
 
Sorry its 10mths later, nice write up and acurate.My cousin worked at Washwood Heath & raced for Vale & Kings, Brian Edwards.
Went into the car trade (Colmore Depot)
September 1980 I bought Yamaha FS1E DM EON225V, £325 OVER 3yrs, I ran it into the ground in 18mths sold it siezed for 25quid. Dangourously slow. My mate Spud bought a new Suzuki X1 realy looked the part. Another chap bought a second hand DT175, Kings delivered a brand new DT, he rode around on it for a few days, fell off a few times, they realized their mistake and bought out the proper bike, taking away the not now new bike. I rode the Suzuki X1 home for my mate Alan Spud Taylor, indicators where cross wired front to rear, up with the saddle & sort it out on side of Warwick Rd Acocks Green. No thought to warranty or taking it back....or insurance.
Confession time- I took the FZZIE in for a repair charging fault, felt I was treated like a prat (which I probably was) walked out to my bike, turned around went back in and said "one of my wing mirrors is missing ! it had two when it came in" = free mirror. Shame I did that.
Great chippy next to Vale Onslow up Koyyts Lake Rd, did black pudding in batter.
CD Autos on Warwick Rd Acocks Green = 16yrs old me, walked in asked for a spark plug for Yam 50, man behind counter said "we dont sell jap parts" went back while later asked for an NGK B7HS, should have told him to shove it, ah well, never mind.
Many years later, greatfull for peace.
Best wishes
Edmund


Pete R said:
Correct Edmund. By 1981 Kings of B'ham was THE biggest multifranchise motorcycle dealer in the B'ham area. Very few machines didn't have a KoB Number plate on them ! Northern Motor Dealers DC Cookes arrived and took over some other firms shops, but made very little impact, and the once thriving Copes & Greys were in terminal decline. The economic position of the motorcycle buying public, mostly young men 16 - 25, were badly affected by the Thatcher Gov'ts decision to shut down so many national level businesses and to eradicate apprenticeship schemes. Thus by 1983, most of the long established Motorcycle shops had gone.

Many staff dissipated amongst those that remained. Yes Terry opened Solihull M/c, John Davies did the same at Ideal Garage - Bromford Bridge. Arthur at Sheldon M/c. Mechanics & Stores staff went to Frettons of Coventry or other smaller shops in B'ham. In the Monaco house set up, I went self-employed, Ian the Honda specialist went to Tucker Fasteners in Perry Barr, (He's about to retire). Ray the BMW mechanic, Les (the 'apprentice') the Laverda Mechanic, Johnny Hoskins, Chris Dumigan, Terry Smith, Big Steve (Stores) went off into other jobs. At the Fox & Goose Centre, the Office Staff, Colin Learoyd and Adrian (Van) Van der Molengraff went to other 'Bike shops, other 'Bike staff went off into the Car trade, etc.,

Despite what I can only, politely, describe as gross mismanagement that caused so many people a lot of hard times, despite a strange 6 month renaissance as 'Peel Meek' which failed once the VAT got hold of them, the King family just dissappeared without a backward glance.

That said, like many other people who worked in friendly environments in B'ham, (many recount their experiences on the BHF site), in the 70's & 80's we had a lot of fun, and rode many of the latest machines when brand new, for free, all day.
Click to expand...
 
I was in the spares department at Coles in 1971. I worked with the late Stan Dilke and Mr Benny Coles. Coles was Reliant and motorcycles although the motorcycles were phased out. The stores sold off all the motorcycle stuff and I remember dealers buying van loads of the bike spares, especially Bobby Perkins who had a place in Stirchley. Imagine what those spares would be worth now!! Bobby Coles took on a Toyota agency and they were superb cars even then. I still remember the phone number of Toyota spares in Dover. Shepherdswell 266. Strange that remains in my memory because other than service parts I cannot remember us needing anything else.
 
vicfarlowe said:
I was in the spares department at Coles in 1971. I worked with the late Stan Dilke and Mr Benny Coles. Coles was Reliant and motorcycles although the motorcycles were phased out. The stores sold off all the motorcycle stuff and I remember dealers buying van loads of the bike spares, especially Bobby Perkins who had a place in Stirchley. Imagine what those spares would be worth now!! Bobby Coles took on a Toyota agency and they were superb cars even then. I still remember the phone number of Toyota spares in Dover. Shepherdswell 266. Strange that remains in my memory because other than service parts I cannot remember us needing anything else.
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i remember. i worked there in 71 repairing piggies and corolas. uderneath the arches. "NO I AM NOT SINGING" that is were the workshop was.lol:joy::laughing:
 
oldMohawk said:
I bought my 1st Scooter in 1959 from Chambers in Sutton.
It was a BSA Sunbeam 250cc 4 stroke like the one shown below, only mine was light blue.

Had some adventures with it - 75mph on the Chester Rd north.
A cow chewed most of it's seat off while I was flying a model aeroplane in Sutton Park, and the scooter was shortened by about 12 inches when I pulled up behind a car on Sutton Parade, and a car ran into the back of me.
I notice my licence says I'm still qualified to ride a motorbike ! Some hopes...:biggrin:

BSA_Sunbeam_Scooter.jpg
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i bought one of them from aston autos it was a 250 looked the same but mine had a screen. later i took the sides off. and pimped it. one day out side of dillans news shop i licked it to start it and it set on fire, i run in the shop,grabbed a bottle of pop and ran out squirting it on the fire. with a woman shouting thief thief. but shut up when she saw what was going on. i payed for the pop. took it home, repaired the damage and was off again.,later i got a bambino side car for it. becouse my other half was gettin too fat to sit on the back of the bike.
 
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mw0njm. said:
i remember. i worked there in 71 repairing piggies and corolas. uderneath the arches. "NO I AM NOT SINGING" that is were the workshop was.lol:joy::laughing:
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Were you the mechanic who had a modified Ford Anglia 105E? The engine was either hotted up or had a 1500 fitted. The front suspension had , I think, been modified. I was allowed to drive it around the block and even now after many cars, that Anglia was one of the best handling cars I've ever driven.
 
Bob Johnson said:
Where did you buy your motorcycles or spares from?

I can remember the following:

Vale-Onslow............ Stratford Road.

Grays Wellington Road,........... Coventry Road.

Aston Autos............. Aston Road North.

Copes................. Hagley Road.

Shovellbottams.............. Ladypool Road.

Kings Motorcycles............Gosta Green.


Must be lots more from the 60's/70's
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