Monopole Cycle Co
Monopole Cycle Co of Foleshill, Coventry
Monopole were motorcycles produced from 1902 to 1903; from 1912 to 1914; and in 1927.
1890 Company founded in Great Heath, Coventry as cycle and carriage manufacturers
1896 Advertising for staff. Monopole Cycle Company Ltd, near tram depot, Foleshill'[1]
Early persons involved with this company are Thomas Law Husselby, Joseph Bush, Joseph William Maude, John Clough and Rochester Illingworth[2]
1902 The name first appeared late that year, when a motorcycle was exhibited at the Stanley show by the Monopole Cycle Co It was a very primitive affair with a 2.25 hp Dorman engine and a single-lever control. The name did not appear again for several years.
1912 The name surfaced once more at the Olympia Show as the Monopole Cycle and Carriage Co of Foleshill, Coventry. Two models were exhibited, similar in type, with 2.5 hp and 3.5 hp Precision engines. They both had Saxon forks and direct-belt drive, the larger to a Sturmey-Archer three-speed hub gear. The design and finish were of high quality although the specification was conventional.
1912 Listed in Spennell's directory of Coventry as Cycle Manufacturers. [3]
1913 Company to be wound up. 'In the Matter of the Monopole Cycle and Carriage Co.....by reason of its liabilities, continue its business, and that it is advisable to wind up the same, and accordingly that the same be wound up voluntarily;...J. R. Norman Waters, Chairman.'[4]
1914 Sale of premises and equipment. '...certain freehold premises known as the Works of the Monopole Cycle and Carriage Company Limited, situate at Little Heath, Foleshill, near Coventry, in the county of Warwick; and at the said works, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 31st day of March, and 1st April, 1914, to commence at 11 in the morning of the two said days, the plant, machinery, fittings, etc., on the said works...'[5]
1913-1917 For a list of the models and prices of motorcycles see the 1917 Red Book
1913-1914 Those two models continued, with little change.
1914 Court enforced sale of their premises and equipment. '...freehold premises known as the Works of the Monopole Cycle and Carriage Company Limited, situate at Little Heath, Foleshill, near Coventry, in the county of Warwick; and at the said works, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 31st day of March, and 1st April, 1914, to commence at 11 in the morning of the two said days, the plant, machinery, fittings, etc., on the said works...'[6]
1915 Nothing was listed for that year.
1916 One model was listed with a 269cc Villiers engine, a Jardine two-speed gearbox and belt final-drive. A single-speed version was also available.
1917 Herbert J. Skipp mentioned as manager and secretary of the Monopole Cycle and Motor Co [7]
Post-war. The two-stroke ran on and was joined by four-stroke models with Abingdon and JAP engines and a choice of transmissions. Some sports versions had all-chain drive as standard.
1924 Only the 292cc and 346cc JAP remained and then venture came to an end.
1927 The make made another brief appearance when a 147cc lightweight with an Aza two-stroke engine went on the market for one season.
1934 Names as Monopole Cycle and Motor Co [8]
1936 Selling bicycles and carrier cycles at Little Park Street. The director at this time was Herbert J. Skipp
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Coventry Evening Telegraph - Wednesday 07 October 1896
- ↑ * Coventry’s Motorcar Heritage by Damien Kimberley. 2012. ISBN 978 0 7524 5448 1
- ↑ Spennell's Annual Directory of Coventry and District, 1912-13
- ↑ [1] [2] Gazette Issue 28762 published on the 7 October 1913. Page 34 of 82
- ↑ [3] Gazette Issue 28810 published on the 6 March 1914. Page 45 of 90
- ↑ [4] Gazette Issue 28810 published on the 6 March 1914. Page 45 of 90
- ↑ Coventry Evening Telegraph - Wednesday 03 January 1917
- ↑ Derby Daily Telegraph - Saturday 17 March 1934
- 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
- MICMA Web Site [5] (Made in Coventry Motoring Association)
- Coventry’s Motorcycle Heritage by Damien Kimberley. Published 2009. ISBN 978 0 7509 5125 9