I’d owned a 1920’s James tricycle for many years, and also a James carrier bicycle of the same era. Various motorized James’s have come and gone over the years, including several autocycles. So I couldn’t resist buying this lovely old girl too when I saw her in 2010. She’s been through the workshop for a mechanical spruce-up and is fully functional. As the advert says, follow the James Girl…
I had a strong interest in Mercury cycles. So when I saw that James’s low-price model was named ‘Mercury’ – and realized that it looks very similar to this one – I decided that mine could well be a James Mercury No. 29 without the full chain-case illustrated in the catalogue. (The Gents models have no chain-case).
With such difficulties in precise identification, I’ve noticed a tendency among some vintage cycle enthusiasts and owners to identify or badge their bikes according to the ‘best information available.’ A museum set-up like this has an obligation to be more open about such attributes. So let’s say this bike serves to illustrate what the James Mercury would look like in the flesh, though it might just be a normal James model rather than the James Mercury.
The city of Birmingham is rightly proud of its transport heritage. I’ve owned many models manufactured in that city, and I enjoy browsing the excellent website
http://madeinbirmingham.org which has compiled histories of many of the marques.
Obviously, most of the more successful companies moved into motorcycle production, so the focus of their histories usually relates to motorized transport, with only passing mention of bicycle production. Nevertheless, as histories of bicycle manufacturers are not always available, I’ll include the company history in full. Here, below, with thanks to the authors of the above website, is the history of James Cycle Co Ltd.
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The James Cycle Company, as it names suggests, was originally a cycle manufacturer and was founded around 1883 – 1884 by Harold James (sometimes known as Henry James). Some authors show James as starting in 1870 but this is incorrect. (I thank Birmingham author Ray Shill for his research).
James were one of the earliest successful cycle manufactures in Birmingham and continued making bicycles into the 1950s.
Henry James first appears in the trades directory as a bicycle manufacturer around 1883-84 occupying premises at the rear of 121 Constitution Hill, a former bed making works. Later on the premises are shown occupied by one, Harold James, before the move to Sampson Road.
On May 22nd 1897 the company was incorporated, becoming the James Cycle Company Limited. It is believed that the company at this stage moved to Sampson Road North. Harold James retired from the company at its incorporation.
The first James motorcycle, which was designed by Frederick Kimberley was produced in 1900 and motorcycle production continued until 1904 and then was suspended, recommencing again in 1908.
The company moved to much enlarged works in Greet in 1907.
In 1911 James pioneered and introduced the all enclosed chain drive with countershaft gear.
The new works at Greet in 1908
During the First World War, James produced over 600 motorcycles for both the Belgian and Russian armies as well as supplying military pedal cycles for the British and Allied governments. James also still specialised in bicycles, tricycles, tandems and in later on in specially designed tradesmen carrier bicycles.
In 1930 James took over Frank E. Baker Motorcycles Ltd of Alvechurch Road, Northfield, Birmingham.
During The second World War the company was again pressed into war service, making 2600 lightweight military motorcycles. Additionally, two stroke autocycles were also made for the Allied Forces.
The works, which occupied half of Tomey Road, was badly damaged by an air raid in November 1940. Full production was not able to be resumed until 1943.
The manufacture of lightweight motorcycles during the war and possibly the air raid damage, seems to have changed the post war direction of the company, as they never produced a four stroke motorcycle again. Also post war production was changed to exclusively lightweight motorcycles.
James experienced financial difficulties in the early fifties and were taken over by Associated Motorcycles Ltd. (AMC) in 1951. Unfortunately for James, the AMC style of management was not to be its saviour.
In 1956 AMC made the key move that would be the start of the 10 year end for James. Unhappy about the supply of two stroke engines from Villiers and feeling that their engines could be improved upon, they decided to make their own engines which were designed by the Italian, Vincent Piatti. They spent three enormously expensive years developing the engines but they proved to be so troublesome that Villiers had to be employed to rectify them! It was typical of AMC management!
In 1961 it was becoming obvious that AMC were in serious financial trouble. In order to reduce overheads Francis Barnet production was transferred from Coventry to the James factory at Greet in 1962. Both marques continue to appear alongside each other. The range being integrated and similar. Only the colour and badges distinguished the difference between the two marques. (James was maroon and Francis Barnett was arden green)
On August 4th 1966 the end came for AMC and the James and Francis Barnett names disappeared for ever.
The James factory survives in Tomey and Gough Road, Greet.
This wonderful catalogue does much more than illustrate the models of its year. It takes us on a journey through James Cycle Co Ltd, to give us a feel for bicycles of an era that, within one year, would effectively be over.
It appears that James brought the name back again for their juvenile models, as I found these two James Mercury models in the 1932 catalogue.
