MAKERS: SUNBEAM (Marston Cycle Co)

1914 Sunbeam Golden

John Marston (born 1836) was apprenticed to Edward Perry, Son & Co, of Wolverhampton in 1851 as a tin plate worker and japanner (sheet metal with baked enamel finish). On completion of his apprenticeship in 1859, he purchased the business of Daniel Lester and set up on his own. When Edward Perry died in 1871 he purchased that business too.
In 1887 the works foreman, William Newill, supervised the production of their first bicycle. After a second machine was made, the decision was taken to commence production at Jeddo Works in Wolverhampton. The name ‘Sunbeam’ was registered on 9 January 1888.

In 1889 Sunbeam cycles appeared at the London Stanley Show with three on view. One of the Sunbeam safeties featured a special eccentric crank bracket for adjusting the chain. This was the first bicycle part to be patented by the company.

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Items in this Collection

raleigh_dates_frame_numbers1

1. Bicycle Frame / Serial No Dating

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1897-THE-SUNBEAM-60

1897 ‘The Special Sunbeam’

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sunbeam-bicycle-museum-1

1900 The Ladies’ Golden Sunbeam

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1901_royal_sunbeam_01

1901 Royal Sunbeam for Ladies

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1901_Sunbeam_

1901 Sunbeam Gent’s ‘Design OK’

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1902 Sunbeam 05

1902 Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen. 27″ Frame & Villiers Two-Speed

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1902_sunbeam_gents_12

1902 Royal Sunbeam for Gentlemen

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1903_Sunbeam_Madeira_Lift_02

1903 Sunbeam ‘Royal FB’ Gents Roadster

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1903 Ladies Sunbeam 05

1903 Sunbeam Ladies’ Model

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1904-Sunbeam-01

1904 Gentlemen’s Royal Sunbeam

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1905 Sunbeam Tricycle 05

1905 All-Black Royal Sunbeam Tricycle

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1905_Sunbeam_03

1905 Royal Sunbeam for Gentlemen ‘Six-Speed’ Roadster

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1907_Golden_Sunbeam_04

1907 Golden Sunbeam for Ladies

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1908 Golden Sunbeam Six Speed ‘Model A6’ 3

1908 Golden Sunbeam Six Speed ‘Model A6’

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1909-sunbeam-gents-tricycle-021

1909 Golden Sunbeam Gentlemen’s Tricycle

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1909_Sunbeam_03-copy

1909 Royal Sunbeam for Gentlemen ‘Design FB’

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1910-Golden-Sunbeam-for-Gentlemen-70

1910 Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen

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1910 Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen 05

1910 Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen (Green, Tall 28″ frame)

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1911-Golden-Sunbeam-042

1911 ‘All-Black’ Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen Three-Speed

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1911-Golden-Sunbeam-05

1911 Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen (3 Speed)

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1911 Golden Sunbeam 05

1911 Golden Sunbeam for Ladies (Green Enamel)

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1912 Sunbeam 6-Speed 05

1912 Golden Sunbeam Six Speed ‘Model A6’

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1912 Royal Sunbeam GREEN 05

1912 Royal Sunbeam for Gentlemen (Green Enamel)

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1913 Royal Sunbeam 3 Speed 05

1913 All-Black 3-Speed Royal Sunbeam for Gentlemen

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1913_Golden_Sunbeam_291

1913 All-Black Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen

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1912 Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen GREEN 5 copy

1913 Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen (Green Enamel)

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1913 Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen Green 28 inch frame 05

1913 Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen, Green Enamel, 28″ Tall frame

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1914-Golden-Sunbeam-for-Ladies-ONLINE-BICYCLE-MUSEUM-05

1914 All Black Golden Sunbeam for Ladies

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1913_Royal_Sunbeam_08

1914 All-Black 3-Speed Royal Sunbeam for Gentlemen

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1914-Sunbeam-Tricycle-55

1914 All-Black Golden Sunbeam Tricycle

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1914 All Black Royal Sunbeam for Gentlemen 05

1914 All-Black Royal Sunbeam for Gentlemen

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1914 Golden Sunbeam 05

1914 Golden Sunbeam for Ladies

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1914_Golden_Sunbeam_24

1914 Golden Sunbeam for Ladies

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1914 Royal Sunbeam 05

1914 Royal Sunbeam for Ladies

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1914 Royal Sunbeam for Ladies 05

1914 Royal Sunbeam for Ladies

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1915 Golden Sunbeam 05

1915 All-Black Golden Sunbeam for Ladies

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1915_Sunbeam_05

1915 All-Black Royal Sunbeam for Ladies

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1915_Sunbeam_03

1915 Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen ‘6 Speed’ Model A1

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1915 Military Sunbeam 05

1915 Sunbeam 3 speed used for WW1 display

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1915 Sunbeam military Model 05 copy

1915 THE MILITARY SUNBEAM (WW1)

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1915-Golden-Sunbeam-Gentlemen-05

1915 WW1 All-Black Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen

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1916 Ladies Golden Sunbeam 05

1916 All-Black Golden Sunbeam for Ladies

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1916 Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen 05

1916 Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen ‘6 Speed’ Model A1

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1918_Sunbeam_05

1918 Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen (22″ Frame)

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1918-golden-sunbeam-2822-frame-66

1918 Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen (Tall 28″ Frame)

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1919-Golden-Sunbeam-Ladies-12

1919 All-Black Golden Sunbeam for Ladies

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1919-Sunbeam-28-inch-01

1919 Royal Sunbeam for Gentlemen 28″ Frame

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2simplex_pier

1919 Simplex Power Unit

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1915-Royal-Sunbeam-30

1920 All-Black Royal Sunbeam for Gentlemen (28″ Frame)

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1923_Sunbeam_04

1923 ‘Special Sunbeam’ Light Roadster (with Free Wheel)

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1923_Sunbeam_44

1923 All-Black Royal Sunbeam for Gentlemen 3-Speed

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1919_ROYAL_SUNBEAM_03

1923 All-Black Royal Sunbeam for Ladies

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1924 All-Black Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen 05

1924 All-Black Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen

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1924 All-Black Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen 5

1924 All-Black Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen

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3

1924 All-Black Golden Sunbeam for Ladies

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FOR SALE 1924 Golden Sunbeam 30 inch frame 5

1924 Golden Sunbeam for (Very Tall) Gentlemen: 30″ Frame

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1925-Royal-Sunbeam-for-Gentlemen-04

1925 All-Black Royal Sunbeam for Gentlemen

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1926_Sunbeam_01

1926 ‘The New Low-Built’ Golden Sunbeam

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1926-Special-Sunbeam-15

1926 All Black ‘Special Sunbeam’

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1926_Royal_Sunbeam_08

1926 All-Black Royal Sunbeam for Gentlemen

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1926_Royal_Sunbeam_061

1926 All-Black Royal Sunbeam for Ladies

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1926 Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen 0

1926 Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen (28″ Frame)

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1926_Golden_Sunbeam_05

1926 Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen 26″ Frame

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1927 All-black Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen 65

1927 All-black Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen

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1927 Royal Sunbeam 05

1927 All-Black Royal Sunbeam for Gentlemen

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FOR SALE 1927_Golden_Sunbeam_83

1928 Low-Built Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen

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1929 ROYAL SUNBEAM FOR GENTLEMEN 05

1929 All-Black Royal Sunbeam for Gentlemen

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1930_Royal_Sunbeam_05

1930 All-Black Royal Sunbeam for Gentlemen

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1930s SUNBEAM CYCLE with the Little Oil Bath. 1

1930s ‘SUNBEAM CYCLE with the Little Oil Bath’ Framed Picture

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1931 Sunbeam 05

1931 All-Black Golden Sunbeam for Ladies

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1931 Royal Sunbeam 05

1931 All-Black Royal Sunbeam for Gentlemen

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1931 Sporting Sunbeam 04

1931 The Sporting Sunbeam

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1932-Golden-Sunbeam-for-Gentlemen-01

1932 All Black Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen

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1932 Golden Sunbeam 05

1932 All Black Royal Sunbeam for Gentlemen

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1932-Royal-Sunbeam-Tall-Frame-52

1932 All Black Royal Sunbeam for Gentlemen 28″ TALL FRAME

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1934 ‘All-black’ Golden Sunbeam 05 copy

1934 All-Black Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen

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1930s-Golden-Sunbeam-05

1934 Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen

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1934_Sunbeam_03

1934 Sunbeam Road Racer Model B

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1935 Golden Sunbeam 05

1935 Golden Sunbeam for Gentlemen

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1936 Golden Sunbeam 05

1936 Golden Sunbeam 28″ Tall frame with Double Top Tube

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1937_Royal_Sunbeam_05

1937 Royal Sunbeam (Ladies’) Light Roadster

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1940_sunbeam_03

1937/1938 Sunbeam Gent’s 21″ Silver Light Tourist

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1938 Sunbeam Royal Tandem 5 copy

1938 Sunbeam Royal Tandem

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1-1938-Sunbeam-Tandem-1

1938 Sunbeam Royal Tandem ‘Model U’

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FOR SALE 1939 Golden Sunbeam Tandem 05

1939 Royal Sunbeam Tandem ‘Model U’

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1947 Sunbeam 05

1947 Sunbeam ‘LS3’ Sports

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1950s_Sunbeam_05

1950 Sunbeam Gent’s Special Tourist Model WR6

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1950s Sunbeam Ladies Green paint 05

1950s Sunbeam Ladies Light Tourist

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1955_sunbeam

1955 Sunbeam Model W3 Gents Light Tourist

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sunbeam_bicycle_museum

SUNBEAM BICYCLE MUSEUM

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