Grace's Guide
British Industrial History
Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 148,337 pages of information and 233,846 images on early companies, their products and the people who designed and built them.
New Beeston Cycle Co
From Graces Guide
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of Coventry, manufacturer of motorcycles.
1896 The New Beeston Cycle Co was formed by Harry Lawson; the first works to be taken over would be Quinton Cycle Co. In a P.S. to the announcement, Lawson said this was the last Cycle Co that he intended to be connected with[1]. First motorcycle produced by an English factory. Claimed that the British Motor Co had acquired 70 patents related to motor vehicles[2].
1896 Reynold's Newspaper pointed out that there was a boom in new companies asking for large amounts from the public but which received very much less in actual subscriptions; examples were given as the Great Horseless Carriage Co and New Beeston Cycle Co[3].
1896/7 Directory: Listed under cycles. More details
1897 W. Taylor covered 100 miles in three hours and 36 minutes on a motor safety bicycle. [4]
1897 EGM of New Beeston Cycle Co held with Rowland Hill, Chairman: company in voluntary liquidation for reconstruction; formation of 2 successor companies: Beeston Cycle Company, Limited, and the Beeston Motor Company, Limited[5]
Maker of cars from 1898 under the management of Samuel Gorton - see Beeston Motor Co. Made tricycles under a licence from De Dion-Bouton
1899 J. W. Roebuck gives talk to the Coventry Engineering Society.[6]
Traded to 1910.
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] MICMA Web Site
- Peck's Trades Directory of Birmingham, 1896-97: Cycles
- Coventry’s Motorcycle Heritage by Damien Kimberley. Published 2009. ISBN 978 0 7509 5125 9