James Cycle Co
{{Short description|British bicycle and motorcycle manufacturer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox company
| logo = File:James Cycle logo.png
| name = James Cycle Co.
| founded = 1884
| founder = Harold James
| successor = Associated Motor Cycles
| defunct = 1966
| hq_location_city = Birmingham
}}
File:James Superswift Sports 250 - Flickr - mick - Lumix.jpg
The James Cycle Co Ltd., Greet, Birmingham, England, was one of many British cycle and motorcycle makers based in the English Midlands, particularly Birmingham. Most of their light motorcycles, often with the characteristic maroon finish, used Villiers and, later, AMC two-stroke engines.
James were prolific bicycle and motorcycle manufacturers from 1884 to 1966. The company was taken over by Associated Motor Cycles in 1951 and combined with Francis-Barnett in 1957. In 1966 the company became one of the many British motorcycle companies forced out of business by Japanese competition.
File:Flickr - ronsaunders47 - JAMES CAPTAIN. 197cc SINGLE TWO STROKE..jpg
History
In 1884,{{cite news |title=James Cycle Company, Limited |work=The Statist |page=884 |date=5 June 1897 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x4lPAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA884}} Harold "Harry" James founded The James Cycle Company in Birmingham to manufacture bicycles. The first works were at 121 Constitution Hill. In 1890, the company relocated to a new factory at Sampson Road North in Sparkbrook. James Cycle was converted to a public limited company in May 1897. Harry James retired in 1898, and his partner Charles Hyde took over. Hyde introduced a freewheel mechanism that proved very popular.{{cite book |title=The Famous James Military Lightweight |first=Peter |last=Miller |publisher=Amberley Publishing |date=April 15, 2016 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k00dDAAAQBAJ |isbn=9781445653983}}
In 1902, the company introduced its first motorcycles under the leadership of Fred Kimberley. The first machine was a moped that had foot pedals and a Werner engine powering the rear wheel through a friction roller. In 1908 the first "James Safety Model" was introduced, which used an engine designed by the James company and the first saddle fuel tank on a motorcycle.
Models
{{main|List of James motorcycles}}
James produced the 98 cc Autocycle, 98cc Comet, Commodore, also 1954/55 Colonel 225cc Villiers single cylinder, several Captains as well as trials and scrambles bikes. In 1956 they produced the Captain 200 K7, Cotswold 200 K7C, and Commando 200 K7T, all 197 cc.
References
{{reflist}}
- [http://www.simplywizard.co.uk/index.htm James Motorcycles Information Website]
- [http://james-motorcycles.com/ James Motorcycle Website - resources and manuals]
{{British motorcycle manufacturers}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Defunct motorcycle manufacturers of the United Kingdom
Category:Defunct cycle manufacturers of England
Category:1884 establishments in England
Category:1966 disestablishments in England
Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of England
Category:Defunct companies based in Birmingham, West Midlands
Category:Manufacturing companies based in Birmingham, West Midlands
Category:British companies disestablished in 1966
Category:British companies established in 1884
{{Motorcycle-stub}}
{{UK-company-stub}}