Gough Brothers
Joseph and Thomas Gough traded as Gough Brothers from
works that were located at the junction of Wolverhampton Street and
Wellington Road, Bilston. The company started trading in 1892 and closed
in 1903. They produced a range of bicycles including the 'Midland Mail'.
They also built a number of powered machines, and in 1901 produced the
'Minerva Motor' which had a top speed of 30m.p.h., and sold for
£38.7s.6d. There was also the 'Components' motor tricycle which had a
2.25h.p. engine, and sold for £75. A motorised quadricycle version was
also produced which sold for £105. The machines were very expensive and
not many were produced. Joseph Gough was born in 1868, and died in 1941.
He was a prominent member of the Bilston Bicycle Cub.
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The 'Components' Motor
Quadricycle. |
H.B. Motorcycles
| H.B. motorcycles
were produced by Hill Brothers of Walsall Street. The company
was founded in 1914 by Walter Hill, Tom Hill and Roland Hill.
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| Their first model,
using a 2.75h.p., side-valve, 'Blackburne' engine was launched
in 1919, and sold for £73.10s.0d. At this time there was a high
rate of inflation and so by 1921 the price had increased to
£99.15s.0d.
Although sales were poor, the
company increased its product range to five models in 1922.
Sales didn't improve and production ceased in 1923. |
An advert from the March, 1920 edition of
the Motor Cycle. Courtesy of Jim Boulton. |
The H.B. 2.75h.p. two speed solo mount,
medium-weight machine from the Motor Cycle magazine of 4th
September 1919. Courtesy of Jim Boulton. |
The 2.75h.p. medium-weight machine that was
launched in 1919. The engine was a 2.75h.p., 350c.c. Blackburne
and the drive consisted of a 0.25inch Coventry chain to the
gearbox and a 0.75inch Dunlop belt to the rear wheel. It had a
kick starter and a hand-operated Ferodo lined clutch. The saddle
was made by Brooks and the machine was finished in black, and
lined in gold. |
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An H.B. machine from 1921.
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| The photograph on the right is of Roland Hill who
rode in the 1922 T.T. on a 350c.c. H.B. machine. He averaged a
speed of 50m.p.h.on the 27 mile course and had high hopes of
winning the race. Unfortunately a change of tyres 24 hours
before the race led to his downfall. H.B. machines originally
had a chain and belt drive until 1921, when an all-chain drive
version was designed. |
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