New Henley
Henley were motorcycles produced in Birmingham from 1920 to 1926, firstly in Spring Hill, and then Doe Street.
1920 The firm started out with their first model. This was powered by the usual 269cc Villiers two-stroke engine, and was available in two forms. One was single speed and the other two-speed through a Sturmey-Archer gearbox. Both had belt drive.
1921 By now those two lightweights had been joined by machines with 293cc and 677cc sv JAP engines, also with belt final-drive.
1922 By the middle of that year the firm was concentrating on a single model range that used a 348cc sv Blackburne engine. The company was so successful that they moved to larger premises in Doe Street, where they remained for the next four years. That autumn the 350cc progressed to ohv power, from the oil-cooled Bradshaw engine, a three-speed gearbox, all-chain drive and internal expanding brakes. A sleek appearance was achieved by the use of a sporting frame layout, with sloping top tube. That model was successfully used for competition and also in an Isle of Man TT race.
1923-1925 New models appeared, with 249cc, 348cc ohv and 545cc sv Blackburne powered engines. Some in De Luxe or Super Sports versions, others as complete sidecar outfits.
1926 The original company was sold on to new owners that year, and the trading name was changed to New Henley.
- Note: Under its new name, the make continued until 1931.
See Also
Sources of Information
- The British Motorcycle Directory - Over 1,100 Marques from 1888 - by Roy Bacon and Ken Hallworth. Pub: The Crowood Press 2004 ISBN 1 86126 674 X
- The Encyclopedia of the Motorcycle by Peter Henshaw. Published 2007. ISBN 978 1 8401 3967 9