Motorcycles

Olympic Motorcycles

Frank Parkyn, cyclemaker, started building motorcycles at his Granville Street factory in the early 1900's. He started producing Olympic bicycles in Green Lane in the early 1880's and moved to Granville Street in 1896. His motorcycles were powered by M.M.C. engines, but very few were made and production soon ended.

The 1920 Olympic. Photo courtesy of Jim Boulton.

Production started again in 1919, after the first world war. The first machine was powered by a Verus 268c.c., 2 stroke engine. It had a two speed gearbox, was fitted with a belt drive, and sold for £80. The 1920 Olympic was powered by a 2.86h.p., 261.5c.c., 2 stroke engine, and included an A.M.A.C. carburettor, Gosport spring forks and was finished in black enamel with gold lining.

The single speed version sold for £65 and the two speed version was priced at £77. A two speed machine with kick start was available for £84 and a three speed version with kick start cost £90.

An advert from 1921. Courtesy of Jim Boulton.

The 1922 Olympic, was offered with a wide range of engines and cheaper machines were also made under the resurrected 'New Courier' name. Sales were initially quite good, but soon suffered because of the general depression. Production ended in 1923.

Omega Motorcycles

The Omega motorcycle from the 1909 catalogue. Courtesy of Jim Boulton.

The company was started by Mr. S. Dawson, and Mr. R. S. Roberts, at their St. James' Square premises. The Omega was basically an ordinary bicycle, with the addition of a 1.5h.p.engine. It sold for 25 guineas, which was a good price. Sales were low and so only a few were made.

The ladies motorcycle from the 1909 catalogue.
Courtesy of Jim Boulton.

The Omega stand at the 1909 Stanley Show in London. Courtesy of Jim Boulton.

Orbit Motorcycles

The company was based in Sedgley Street and founded by Mr. Dorsett. He had previously been involved with the Dorsett, Ford & Mee Engineering Co.Ltd., which produced Diamond motorcycles. The first machine, launched in 1913, used a 250c.c., 2 stroke engine, of the company's own design. It was belt driven, and sold for £50. Initially it was only produced in small numbers, until 1919, when it was produced in quantity. In 1923, a 350c.c., oil cooled machine was developed, which sold for £60. The last model was the T.S.12, which was built in 1924, and sold for £45. Few were sold and the company closed before the end of the year.

The logo on the side of the 1921 2.75h.p. Orbit machine from the Marston Heritage Trust's collection, on display at the Black Country Living Museum, Dudley.

The 1921 2.75h.p. Orbit machine from the Marston Heritage Trust's collection.

A close-up of the engine in the 1921 2.75h.p. Orbit machine from the Marston Heritage Trust's collection.

The 1923 Two-Stroke Orbit from the Motor Cycle magazine, 16th November 1922. Courtesy of Jim Boulton.

The 1923 two stroke Orbit was powered by a 265c.c. engine. It had a three speed Burman gearbox with chain drive. It was also available with a 349c.c. overhead valve Blackburne engine or an oil cooled Bradshaw engine.

Pen Nib Motorcycles

The 1921, two stroke Pen Nib, photographed at Bill's Penn Road premises. Courtesy of Jim Boulton.

Mr H. W. 'Bill' Boulton, was the father of Jim Boulton, the famous transport writer. In 1919 he opened a garage on the Penn Road, next to the Rose and Crown. He later moved to larger premises at Lloyd Hill, where he made several motorcycles. He built two and four stroke versions, each having a petrol tank which was shaped to resemble a pen nib. The machines were built on an H.B. frame, were powered by a Royal Ruby engine and had an Albion gearbox. He sold the business in 1925, and no others were built.

Mr H. W. 'Bill' Boulton on a four stroke Pen Nib, from about 1924.

Photo courtesy of Jim Boulton.

Another view of the four stroke model.

Photo courtesy of Jim Boulton.

The sign above the middle petrol pump in the opposite photograph, is made from an old aircraft tailplane. The A.J.S. and Sunbeam testers used to meet here for coffee. This was one of the few garages in this part of town. At the time there were no ambulances in Swindon or Wombourne and Bill used to be called out to provide transport in an emergency.

Boulton's Garage at Lloyd Hill.
Photo courtesy of Jim Boulton.

Bill used to arrange occasional motorcycle road racing events, which started and ended at the garage. The route was from the garage, along the Penn Road towards town, up Church Hill to Upper Penn, down Vicarage Road, and back along Penn Road.

The photograph, courtesy of Jim Boulton, shows Bill outside the garage.

A corner of Bill's original garage at the junction of Penn Road and Church Hill. It shows some of the old cars that Bill purchased for overhaul and resale.

Courtesy of Jim Boulton.

Bill's Sunbeam 25-30 double Landaulette. Bill used it for his taxi service.

Courtesy of Jim Boulton.

Bill sold the garage and its contents on 13th November 1925. The photograph opposite (Courtesy of Jim Boulton), shows the front cover of the sale catalogue.

After the garage had been sold, Bill got a job with A.J.S. as a tester. Shortly before A.J.S. went into liquidation, Bill was out testing a machine on the Hermitage at Bridgnorth. He took a fall and hurt his arm and hand, which put an end to his testing career.