VETERAN CYCLE GUIDE
hooks, but began production of tricycles in 1883, registering the Quadrant name. The company moved on to producing bicycles and in 1897 became the Quadrant Cycle Co., trading from Sheepcote Street in Birmingham. They introduced a chainless bicycle using a cross-roller gear in 1898 which continued in production well into the Edwardian period. The bicycle on this Run is a later safety bicycle from 1901 equipped with a conventional chain drive.
Raleigh Cycle Co. Ltd. The Raleigh Cycle Co. Ltd. entered the cycle trade in 1886, when the original machines were made by Angois Ellis and Woodhead in Raleigh Street, Nottingham. The company was purchased by Frank Bowden and, from the early 1890s, under his guidance became a major producer of bicycles particularly during the Edwardian period, when it decided to focus on cycle production rather than diversify into the motor trade. The marque is represented by one of the earliest surviving machines dating from 1890 and another, a Safety bicycle, dating from 1901.
St George’ s Engineering Co. Originally known as Newton, Wilson and Co. the company later became St George’ s Foundry Co. and, in 1884, St George’ s Engineering Co. The company marketed machines at home and overseas. The example in this year’ s Run is an Ordinary bicycle which dates from 1887, the same year that the company registered its‘ New Rapid’ trademark.
Singer and Co. Established by George Singer in Coventry in the early 1870s, Singer bicycles were high quality machines as well as being innovative throughout the era of the high bicycle in the 1870s and 1880s. On this Run we have three examples from this period: two high-wheeled bicycles, made in 1884 and 1886, accompanied by a solid-tyred“ Royal Roadster” Safety bicycle from 1890. The company’ s reputation for quality was maintained when they turned to making‘ safety’ bicycles in the late 1870s and later to motorcycles from 1901 and motor cars from 1905.
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 liquidation of the founding company in 1883 by the Coventry cycle firm Hillman Herbert and Cooper and re-established in Coventry as the Sparkbrook Manufacturing Company Ltd. The company focused on cycle manufacturing and only
1892 Sparkbrook.
turned its attention to motorcycles as late as 1912. The machine entered this year is a Gents Light Roadster dating from 1902.
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 second time. It dates from 1903 and has an early example of the two speed bottom bracket gear which was introduced in that year.
Swift Cycle Co. Ltd. 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 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. This ceased trading in 1932. The 1904 example on this Run is a fine original example of the marque.
66 The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run