of Coventry,
Initially produced tubing and bicycles. Allard built motorcycles from 1897 to 1902.
1889 Frederick W. Allard and George Pilkington set up Allard and Co
1890 Allard left the partnership. '...Benjamin Done, Frederick William Allard, and George Pilkington, carrying on business as Cycle Makers, at Earlsdon Cycle Works, Coventry, in the county of Warwick, under the style or firm of Allard and Co., has been this day dissolved, so far as regards the said Frederick William Allard, by mutual consent. The business will be continued under the same style or firm by the said Benjamin Done and George Pilkington...'[1]
1896/7 Directory: Listed under cycles. More details
1898 Produced a car and a motorised tricycle that was exhibited at Crystal Palace.
1899-1 Car manufacturer in Coventry[2]
1899 They produced a car and a De Dion style tricycle fitted with their own 2.25hp engine.
1900 A four-wheeled car, of "Rapid" type, was involved in an early fatal road accident. The car was of light construction, with two seats facing each other.
1901 A motorcycle was produced that was built entirely at their own works. The 1.75hp engine was mounted in an aluminium cradle fixed to the frame tubes. The machine was offered in kit form to the trade. Soon the engine was enlarged to 2.hp.
1902 The inclined engine was replaced by a vertical one.
1901/2 The company merged with the Birmingham Motor Manufacturing and Supply Co and was re-named as Rex Motor Manufacturing Co and the products were then marketed by that name.
Notes
- See Allard Motor Co for information on the Allard company that produced cars from 1936.
See Also
Sources of Information
- Peck's Trades Directory of Birmingham, 1896-97: Cycles
- Coventry’s Motorcycle Heritage by Damien Kimberley. Published 2009. ISBN 978 0 7509 5125 9
- 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