Wearwell , Wolf and Wulfruna Motorcycles

In 1868 Henry Clarke founded the 'Cogent Cycle Company' in Darlington Street, and was joined by his five sons; Tom, George, William, Jack, and Henry. It was very successful. Henry Clarke senior died in 1889 at the age of 52, and George, William, Jack, and Henry formed a new company, in new premises a little further down Darlington Street. The new business was called the Wearwell Cycle Company with William as Managing Director. The company soon became one of the most important cycle manufacturers in the town.

In 1899 William Clarke had the idea of producing powered vehicles. He formed the Wearwell Motor Carriage Company, and opened new premises in Pountney Street on the site that is now occupied by J. W. Braithwaite & Son Ltd, bookbinders. They produced a 4 wheeled, powered vehicle which had two Butler, two and a quarter h.p. engines, mounted side by side. It was not generally liked. William saw the early Stevens machines and realised that this was the way forward. The company already had links with the Stevens Motor Manufacturing Company, who supplied spokes and screws for the bicycles. An agreement was entered with Stevens and a contract drawn-up. Stevens agreed to supply a minimum number of engines each week, which were fitted to heavy duty bicycles. The new motorcycles were sold using the Wearwell-Stevens name. 

Mr. and Mrs. Albert Clarke with a 1901 Wearwell-Stevens motorcycle.  Photo courtesy of Geoff Stevens.

The first machine appeared in the spring of 1901. It was fitted with a two and a half horse power, air cooled, 4 stroke Stevens engine, with automatic inlet valve, and mechanically operated side exhaust valve. The engine was mounted above the front down tube, had accumulator ignition, a surface carburettor, and a twisted leather belt drive to the back wheel. It sold for 42 guineas. The machine was very popular and was shown at the 1902 National Cycle Show at Crystal Palace. A number of improvements were made, including a choice of surface or spray carburettor. Demonstrations were given at the exhibition, the price was reduced to £40, and orders poured in. In 1903 further changes were made. The rear wheel was now driven by a 'Lincona' vee belt, and the surface carburettors were discontinued in favour of the spray type.

The same year saw the introduction of the 'Motette' powered tricycle. It was a modified version of the two and a half horse power bicycle. The front wheel was replaced with a two wheeled axle, onto which an upholstered wicker seat was attached. The machine sold for 53 guineas, and a conversion for two wheeled machines was available for £16.5s.0d. Unfortunately both of these products proved to be unpopular.

A 'Motette' with Harry Stevens as passenger, and Fred Adey driver.   Photo courtesy of Geoff Stevens.

Photo courtesy of Geoff Stevens.

In 1905 a redesigned and sturdier model was launched using the 'Wolf' name. It was fitted with a three and a quarter horse power Stevens engine, which was vertically mounted near the bottom bracket. By 1906 there were more than a dozen models, and a wide range of engines to choose from. Prices ranged from 37 to 42 guineas.

Lightweight, heavy duty, and commercial versions of the powered tricycles were also produced. The lightweight version was like the original 'Motette' except that it included a four and a half horse power, or five horse power, water cooled, vertical twin engine. It had a two speed gearbox, a leather saddle, and sold for 75 guineas. The heavy duty version was more like a car. It had body panels, and was fitted with a steering wheel. It had a 7 or 8 h.p., water cooled, vertical twin engine, a three speed gearbox and clutch. The cheapest version sold for 100 guineas.

The cheapest machine was the 'Wolf' featherweight, which was similar to the earlier powered bicycles and sold for 19 guineas. Stevens also started to supply the company with frames, and the company sold the Stevens one and a half horse power motor set, complete with all parts for £14. The Stevens brothers also started to ride 'Wolf' machines in reliability trials and speed events with great success. The 'Wolf Grand' was launched in 1909, and sold for £35.10s.0d. 

Disaster struck in 1909 when it was discovered that the Company Secretary, Mr. King, had been using the company's money to gamble at pool in a local public house. A large sum of money had disappeared, which led to the company going into liquidation. Mr. King tried to commit suicide, but William Clarke did not bring any criminal charges against him, because he discovered that one of his brothers was also involved.

After the liquidation, William still wanted to continue producing Wearwell bicycles and so in 1911 he purchased the ailing Wulfruna Cycles from John Barratt. He attempted to revitalise the business and reintroduced the Wearwell and Wolf names at new premises in Brickkiln Street. The production of cheap machines continued, as a 2.5h.p. 'Wolf' was on sale in 1914 for just 22guineas.

The 2.5h.p. lightweight 'Model E', which sold for 38 guineas. Photo courtesy of Jim Boulton.

An advert for the 2.5h.p. 'Wulfruna' motorcycle, from their 1915 catalogue. A range of 'Wulfruna' machines was available until the early 1920's, after which the company concentrated on its 'Wolf' trademark.

William died in 1922, and in 1928 Theo Waine and his brother Mr. G. A.Waine, took over the Wearwell Cycle Co. Ltd. from the liquidators of the Wulfruna Engineering Co Ltd. The Waine Family were lock makers in Willenhall, and used to supply large numbers of locks to the far east. They also used to make steel heel tips for shoes, and supplied them to the army in the first world war. They used to import their steel from Belgium, and in those days it only cost £4 a ton.

The model 'F' lightweight Wolf machine that's on display at the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham. It has a 147c.c. Villiers 2 stroke engine, flywheel magneto, petrol lubrication, Amac carburettor and 2 speed gearbox. The selling price was £31.10s.0d.

In 1931 the factory was expanded, the production of 'Wolf' motor cycles commenced and a trade stand was taken at Olympia. Mr. H.V.Waine, a keen motor cyclist, was responsible for the design and production of both motor cycles and cycles, while Mr. T. A. Waine was responsible for sales. The first machines used Villiers engines. The 'Cub', which had a 98c.c. engine sold for only £15.15s.0d. The 'Wolf Silver Super Sports' was powered by a 196c.c. Villiers engine. This sold for only £34.

The Wolf stand at an exhibition in the 1930s. Courtesy of Jim Boulton.

View some of the company's products

'Wolf' motorcycles continued in production until the outbreak of world war 2. After the war the company decided to concentrate solely on the manufacture of pedal bicycles, and so no more motorcycles were produced.