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Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
Motor
Cycles
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
A
Brief
Introduction
to
the
Motor
Cycle
Industry
in
Redditch
Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
Motor
Cycles
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
The
history
of
the
motorcycle
began
in
the
second
half
of
the
19th
century
and
the
basic
concept
seems
to
have
occurred
to
numerous
engineers
and
inventors
around
Europe.
In
the
period
from
the
late
1880’s,
many
different
ideas
emerged,
in
France,
Germany
and
England
and
numerous
products
were
developed
as
bicycle
makers
were
adapting
their
designs
for
the
newly
developed
internal
combustion
engine.
In
1901
the
bicycle
maker
Royal
Enfield
introduced
its
first
motorcycle.This
had
a
239
cc
engine
mounted
in
the
front
and
driving
the
rear
wheel
through
a
belt.
Left:
The
first
Enfield
Motor
Cycle
produced
in
1901
Right:
Frontage
along
first
factory
in
Hunt
End,
Redditch
The
Development
of
the
Motor
Cycle
Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
Motor
Cycles
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
George
Townsend
&
Co.
began
in
Hunt
End
manufacturing
bicycles
with
Enfield
Manufacturing
Company
Limited
as
their
commercial
name.
Townsend
had
financial
difficulties
and
in
1890
and
called
in
financiers
from
Birmingham
who
then
brought
in
Albert
Eadie
and
R.W.
Smith.
They
took
control
of
Townsend's
Company
in
November
1891
and,
the
following
year,
re
christened
the
firm
'The
Eadie
Manufacturing
Company
Limited'.
Soon
after,
they
obtained
a
contract
from
the
Royal
Small
Arms
Factory
in
Enfield,
Middlesex
and,
to
celebrate
this,
Eadie
and
Smith
renamed
the
product,
the
'Royal
Enfield'.
Their
trademark,
"Made
Like
a
Gun"
appeared
in
1893.
With
their
need
for
expansion
the
Royal
Enfield
moved
to
their
new,
and
final,
site
in
Hewell
Road,
Redditch
in
1907.
The
Birth
of
the
Royal
Enfield
Above:
Aerial
photograph
of
the
new
Hewell
Road
Site
Below:
The
test
track
at
the
new
site
Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
Motor
Cycles
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
In
1928,
Royal
Enfield
began
using
saddle
tanks
and
centre-spring
girder
front
forks,
one
of
the
first
companies
to
do
so.
Their
bikes
now
had
a
modern
appearance
in
a
comprehensive
range.
In
1927
they
had
produced
a
488
cc
with
a
four
speed
gear
box,
in
1928
a
new
225
cc
side
valve
bike
and,
in
1931,
a
four-stroke
single.
With
new
machines
ranging
from
the
two
stroke
146
cc
Cycar
to
the
1140
cc
V-twin,
Royal
Enfield's
had
a
range
of
bikes
in
1930
consisting
of
13
different
models.
The
first
of
the
famous
Enfield
V-twins
was
launched
in
1910
and,
in
1915,
came
the
first
of
the
small
two
stroke
225
cc
engines.
During
the
first
world
war
Royal
Enfield
supplied
motorcycles
to
the
War
Department
and,
in
1924,
the
first
Royal
Enfield
four-stroke
350
cc
single
using
a
JAP
engine
was
launched.
The
Royal
Enfield
Expands
Left:
Motor
Cycle
test
section
Right:
Component
Stores
Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
Motor
Cycles
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
During
World
War
II,
production
changed
to
support
the
war
effort,
the
'Flying
Flea'
was
a
125
cc
machine
being
capable
of
being
dropped
by
parachute.
Meanwhile,
in
1931,
a
new
bike
the
'Bullet'
was
introduced,
which
was
the
first
use
of
this
name.
In
1949
new
models
were
introduced
and
the
350
cc
Bullet
was
a
financial
success.
In
1953
a
500
cc
model
appeared
which
would
eventually
become
the
famous
Interceptor.
However,
Japanese
competition
steadily
increased
beyond
the
investment
capabilities
of
a
small
company.
In
1962,
the
Royal
Enfield
was
sold
to
E
&
HP
Smith
and
in
1967
the
Redditch
factory
was
closed.
The
site
was
then
purchased
and
developed
by
the
Redditch
Development
Corporation
as
the
Enfield
Industrial
Estate.
The
Decline
of
the
Royal
Enfield
in
Redditch
Above:
The
350cc
Royal
Enfield
Bullet
-
Made
in
Redditch
Below:
‘Bing’
view
of
Enfield
Industrial
Estate
Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
Motor
Cycles
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
In
1954
the
Indian
government
had
placed
a
successful
order
for
800
Bullets
for
the
Indian
Army,
and
in
1955
and
1956
similar
orders
were
placed.
As
a
result,
the
Redditch
factory
decided
to
set
up
an
Indian
factory
and,
in
1955,
an
Indian
partner
was
found
and
trainees
were
sent
to
Redditch.
Initially,
knock
down
units
were
shipped
to
Madras
where
they
were
assembled
but,
by
1956,
a
full
factory
was
established
and
production
of
the
Bullet
began.
The
robust
design
was
a
success
in
India,
and,
due
to
this,
the
Royal
Enfield
motorcycle
can
still
be
purchased
in
the
UK,
manufactured
in
India,
but
based
on
the
Redditch
designs.
Specialist
UK
suppliers
add
accessories
to
produce
bikes
for
enthusiasts
which
are
replicas
of
those
produced
in
Redditch
in
the
1960’s.
The
Royal
Enfield
Today
Above:
The
Royal
Enfield
Bullet
manufactured
in
Redditch
Below:
‘An
ex-Royal
Enfield
building
along
Hewell
Road
(2010)
Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
Motor
Cycles
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
End
of
Presentation
A
Brief
Introduction
to
the
Motor
Cycle
Industry
in
Redditch