Industrial Change in Wolverhampton and District

The Bicycle Industry

The history of the bicycle industry in Wolverhampton is one of rise and fall. From its earliest beginnings in the town in 1868 until the early 1970's cycles were made in large quantities. There are known to have been over 200 cycle makers in the town between 1868 and 1975. Today there are no cycle makers left in Wolverhampton at all.

The claimant to making the first cycle in Wolverhampton is a T Johnson of Peel Street in 1858. However a more reliable claim could be made by Henry Clarke. At some time between 1855 and 1860 Clarke and a man by the name of Panter made a Tandem Tricycle.

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Extract from Wolverhampton Chronicle 21st April 1869

In 1867-1868 Henry Clarke began exporting wooden wheels for bicycles to France from his works in Temple Street. Later he moved to Darlington Street and began to produce Cogent Cycles.

Advertisement for H Clark Cycles 1885

Other early cycle makers in Wolverhampton included George Hughes, also based in Temple Street, and Edward Lisle of Ettingshall, later the maker of Star motor cars.

Star Cycle Company Works 1898 (L/STAR/E/1)

The Mann & Motive Carriage 1877 built by William Lewis (R1079)

The first cycles made in Wolverhampton were velocipedes based upon the Michaux designs. Bicycles with a larger front wheel were known as High Wheelers or Penny Farthings.

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Bicycle racing could be seen at the Vauxhall Pleasure Grounds, Cannock Road. Later, racing took place in the grounds of Molineux House.

Molineux Bicycle Races c.1890 (V4/MOL/E/8)

High Wheeler in Queen Square, c.1880 (C3/QUE/8/2)

By 1885 the high bicycle had reached its peak both in popularity and evolution. With a move towards safety JK Starley of Coventry made a safety bicycle with the rear wheel driven by a chain. A boom in cycling followed the invention.

Advertisement for a Cogent Safety, Barker's Wolverhampton Trade Directory 1887

The Barker's Wolverhampton Trade Directory and Guide for 1887 lists a number of cycle makers active at the time.

Interior of Sunbeam Cycle Works 1911 (L6/SUN/I/1)

John Marston began production of Sunbeam safety bicycles in 1887. The sales catalogue for 1892 lists bicycles at £14, £16 16 shillings and £19 10 shillings.

Wolverhampton Exhibition 1902 (V3/1902/I/5b)

At the Wolverhampton Exhibition of 1902 there were nine Wolverhampton cycle manufacturers exhibiting their cycles, including Sunbeam, Star, and Wearwell.

Between 1900 and 1914 there was a steady decline in the number of cycle makers in Wolverhampton from around 45 to 20.

As well as bicycle makers the town also had a number of bicycle retailers where people could go to buy and have their cycles repaired.

George Dugmore's Cycle Shop, Bilston Road, 1912 (L3/DUG/E/1)

With the coming of the First World War cycle makers like Star switched to war work. John Marston's Sunbeam works, which was now making motor cycles for the war effort, produced a military bicycle for the Allies. The bicycle came complete with clips for fixing a rifle to the machine.

Following the First World War the number of cycle makers reduced further. Spennell's 1921 list of Wolverhampton cycle makers lists four manufacturers, though when using trade directories for historical research one must bear in mind that manufacturers had to pay for their company to be included, so the listing may not be comprehensive. There are at least three cycle makers who were in existence in Wolverhampton at the time that are not in the directory - Sunbeam, Wearwell and Viking.

Spennell's Wolverhampton Directory 1921 - 1922

Sunbeam bicycles continued to be made in Wolverhampton until 1937 when the cycle and motorcycle business was sold to Associated Motor Cycles of Plumstead, London.

The Viking Cycle Company had been founded before the First World War and was based in Heath Town. By 1928 the company had moved to Broad Street where it continued to produce around 800 cycles a year until 1939. After the Second World War the company's sales increased to around 2,000 a year and in 1950 they moved Russell Street.

Interior of Viking Cycle Company c. 1959 (L6/VIK/I/1)

Sales continued to increase and in 1963, 20,000 cycles were made. However the company then ran into financial difficulties and during 1967 cycle production was halted.

Wearwell were the successors of Cogent Cycles and until 1927 were owned by the Clarke family. The new owners moved the factory to Colliery Road in 1930.

Wearwell Cycle Company 1932 (L6/WEA/I/2)

In March 1932, Wearwell suffered a serious fire that caused extensive damage to the works. The company resumed production of bicycles and also produced a light-weight motorcycle, the "Wolf", fitted with a locally made Villiers engine.

Production of the cycles continued after the Second World War and in the 1950's 75% of the company's production was exported to over 30 different countries.

In 1972 the company moved its production to Alveley, near Bridgnorth, and with them went the end of major bicycle manufacture in the city.

A few small cycle makers continued the tradition into the 1980's, including Percy Stallard the ex-racing cyclist, and cycle dealer Jack Hateley. Now there are no cycle makers in Wolverhampton a tradition going back to the 1860's has come to an end. The archives of the Stallard Company and the racing activity are available for researchers at Wolverhampton Archives.

© Copyright. Wolverhampton City Council, 2002