Southey and Co
Southey of Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.
They produced motorcycles from 1905 to 1922.
This small firm produced frames for others. They also produced complete machines, probably for local customers and built to order. These would have used a variety of engines and transmissions, as required.
After the end of World War I they built lightweights. These had a sloping top-tube to the frame and had a wedge-shaped tank. Powered by a 259cc Villiers engine, it had a two- or three-speed Sturmey-Archer gearbox, chain-cum-belt transmission and Druid forks. They also produced a model with a 346cc sv Blackburne engine.
Production was small-scale and, to save on costs and keep the selling price down, the company advertised directly to the public. This practice meant that their market was very limited and the machines were only built until 1922.
1904 Advertisement. C. E. Southey and Co, 165 High Street, Berkhampsted. Motor Engineers and Repairers.[1]
1914 Messrs. Southey, motor engineers, Berkhampstead.[2]
1922 Advertisement. "SOUTHEY" 2.5 h.p. 2-stroke Moto Cycle; Sturmey-Archer Gear, Clutch and Kick Starter; complete with lamps, horn and tools, £60. Southey & Co., Berkhamsted.[3]
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