VETERAN CYCLES & MOTORCYCLES an early 1890 ’ s safety bicycle and a pneumatic-tyred machine from 1899 all taking part .
Sparkbrook Manufacturing Co Ltd The company originated as the cycle manufacturing wing of the National Arms and Ammunition Co Ltd in Sparkbrook , Birmingham . The cycle manufacturing side of the business started in the early 1880s and was bought out of the liquidation of the founding company in 1883 by the Coventry cycle firm of Hillman Herbert and Cooper and re-established in Coventry as the Sparkbrook Manufacturing Company Ltd . The company focused on cycle manufacturing and only turned its attention to motorcycles as late as 1912 . The example on this year ’ s Run is an ‘ Upslope ’ frame from 1892 with its characteristic left-hand chain drive .
Sunbeam Made by John Marston Ltd . of Wolverhampton , Sunbeam bicycles were targeted at the luxury end of the market . Sunbeamland , Marston ’ s factory , was claimed to be ‘ where no second-class bicycles were made ’. Sunbeam diversified into motorcars as early as 1899 and established a reputation for high quality in that field . The machine entered is on the Run for the first time . It dates from 1903 and has an early example of the two speed bottom bracket gear which was introduced in that year .
Swift Formed in 1896 from the pioneering cycle company the Coventry Machinists Co Ltd , which had its roots in sewing machine production from 1859 and entered bicycle production in late 1868 . Swift was one of the largest bicycle manufacturers through the 1870s
1885 Ordinary Cycle .
and 1880s . It was also a pioneer in the motor trade , introducing a De Dion Bouton type tricycle to its range in 1898 , but later forming a separate company , The Swift Motor Co , in 1902 . Swift bicycles had a reputation for quality which gradually declined through the Edwardian period in favour of competitively-priced machines . The two companies were merged into a single company , Swift of Coventry Ltd , in 1918 , which ceased trading in 1932 . The 1904 example on this Run is a fine original example of the marque .
The Overman Wheel Co Founded by Albert H Overman , the Overman Wheel Co produced the Victor bicycle from its Boston , Massachusetts factory from 1885 and was a major competitor with the Pope Manufacturing Company . There are two examples of the make on the Run this year . A Victor Ordinary bicycle from 1888 and a Victor Sprung Fork model which was marketed between 1887 and 1894 .
MOTORCYCLES
1903 Minerva .
Minerva Minerva was the company that started the motorcycle movement . Initially it provided ‘ Motor Sets ’ – engine , tanks , coil and battery , etc – to convert a roadster bicycle into a motorcycle . Many cycle factories , such as Excelsior and Quadrant , used them as their way into motorcycling , and later they made and sold complete machines . -
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