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I ran across this ad that says "BSA Sunbeam Motorcycles, the Best Line for '49". What was the relationship between BSA and Sunbeam?bsa sunbeam
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BSA Sunbeam Connection
- Thread starter pmenhusen
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Sherlock
Yoda
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I don't claim to be an expert on motorbikes but I do know this much...
Quite often just because the motorbike shared the same name as the car, does not mean they were made by the same parent company anymore, I believe a number of European car companies sold off their motorcycle branch to someone else at various points in history, just for an example...I think I've heard that most Triumph motorcycles were not built by the same parent company that made Triumph cars
Just one possible idea...
Quite often just because the motorbike shared the same name as the car, does not mean they were made by the same parent company anymore, I believe a number of European car companies sold off their motorcycle branch to someone else at various points in history, just for an example...I think I've heard that most Triumph motorcycles were not built by the same parent company that made Triumph cars
Just one possible idea...
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
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I don't believe there was a link from John Marston's Sunbeam Motorcycle company to the Sunbeam car built by the Rootes Group....&, BSA just added the 'Sunbeam' name to one model of its motorcycle...sorta like my Norton is a Commando or one Sunbeam car is a Tiger...that particular BSA happened to be a 'Sunbeam' model
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The Norton factory where your Commando was made was situated on the site of the old Sunbeam motorcycle factory on Marston Road, in Wolverhampton. Here is a link that will give a little more detail.
https://www.classicglory.com/sunbeam.htm
https://www.classicglory.com/sunbeam.htm
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
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<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>"As part of the premises faced Villiers Street in Wolverhampton, England (named after local MP Charles Pelham Villiers), John Marston named the new company Villiers Cycle Components, and it soon became a successful company in its own right." <hr></blockquote>
Steve...interesting...so is it 'Villiers' or 'Villiars'? Or, are they different? One a street, the other somebody? My Norton says 'Villiars'...
Steve...interesting...so is it 'Villiers' or 'Villiars'? Or, are they different? One a street, the other somebody? My Norton says 'Villiars'...
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
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Guess I need to relook my identity tag - it may say 'Villiers'
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A small quote here
"With the closure of Norton in the mid 70s, Bernard and fellow engineer John Favill started a new company to carry on the development. John left to join Harley-Davidson, and Bernard carried on with offices, workshops and test beds at Halfpenny Green Airport. He was later joined by his graduate engineer son Peter who is now the mainstay of the business since his father's death in 1997."
From this website
https://www.halfpennygreenairport.co.uk/pages/gazette/issue5/tophat.htm
Bernard Hooper was responsible for the design of the isolastic engine mounts on the Commando.....the Wulf motorcycle prototype spent some considerable time in our garage at home.
"With the closure of Norton in the mid 70s, Bernard and fellow engineer John Favill started a new company to carry on the development. John left to join Harley-Davidson, and Bernard carried on with offices, workshops and test beds at Halfpenny Green Airport. He was later joined by his graduate engineer son Peter who is now the mainstay of the business since his father's death in 1997."
From this website
https://www.halfpennygreenairport.co.uk/pages/gazette/issue5/tophat.htm
Bernard Hooper was responsible for the design of the isolastic engine mounts on the Commando.....the Wulf motorcycle prototype spent some considerable time in our garage at home.
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
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<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>From that site: In the early 70s Bernard Hooper was working for Norton Villiers as chief designer and was responsible for the Norton Commando. <hr></blockquote>
There ya go - guess I read o spelled it incorrectly...its Villiers! Norton Villiers! So, there's kinda a connection between Norton & BSA?
There ya go - guess I read o spelled it incorrectly...its Villiers! Norton Villiers! So, there's kinda a connection between Norton & BSA?
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
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But, no connection between BSA motorcycles & Sunbeam cars?
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<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by tony barnhill:
But, no connection between BSA motorcycles & Sunbeam cars?<hr></blockquote>
No, there was no connection. John Marston set up his factory opposite Villiers Avenue (The main entrance was directly facing Villiers Ave.) and then the council named the street that the factory was on Marston Road. On one of my old beats actually.
But, no connection between BSA motorcycles & Sunbeam cars?<hr></blockquote>
No, there was no connection. John Marston set up his factory opposite Villiers Avenue (The main entrance was directly facing Villiers Ave.) and then the council named the street that the factory was on Marston Road. On one of my old beats actually.
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
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<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>What was the relationship between BSA and Sunbeam?<hr></blockquote>
See how we went around the world but came back to answer the initial question? &, it was fun!
See how we went around the world but came back to answer the initial question? &, it was fun!
aeronca65t
Great Pumpkin
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Steve:
Is John Favill a relative of yours? (as I suspect he is..)
My Dad worked at a Rootes factory briefly in the '50s....not sure which one.
[ 08-28-2003: Message edited by: aeronca65t ]</p>
Is John Favill a relative of yours? (as I suspect he is..)
My Dad worked at a Rootes factory briefly in the '50s....not sure which one.
[ 08-28-2003: Message edited by: aeronca65t ]</p>
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<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by aeronca65t:
Steve:
Is John Favill a relative of yours? (as I suspect he is..)
My Dad worked at a Rootes factory briefly in the '50s....not sure which one.
[ 08-28-2003: Message edited by: aeronca65t ]<hr></blockquote>
You could say that.......he's my father.
Steve:
Is John Favill a relative of yours? (as I suspect he is..)
My Dad worked at a Rootes factory briefly in the '50s....not sure which one.
[ 08-28-2003: Message edited by: aeronca65t ]<hr></blockquote>
You could say that.......he's my father.
Simon TR4a
Jedi Knight
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Sorry to crash the Sunbeam board guys, I confess to an interest in all British cars and bikes!
Just a small addition, B.S.A. stands for Birmingham Small Arms; the company originally made rifles in Birmingham. The companies roots are displayed on the logo of 3 rifles leaned together so they stand upright. Also BSA was at one time the manufacturer of a "light" car, a very basic piece of transportation. At least a couple of models were produced, one called a "scout".
I remember using a 2 strke Villiers engine from a dirt bike in a go kart nearly 40 years ago!
Simon.
Just a small addition, B.S.A. stands for Birmingham Small Arms; the company originally made rifles in Birmingham. The companies roots are displayed on the logo of 3 rifles leaned together so they stand upright. Also BSA was at one time the manufacturer of a "light" car, a very basic piece of transportation. At least a couple of models were produced, one called a "scout".
I remember using a 2 strke Villiers engine from a dirt bike in a go kart nearly 40 years ago!
Simon.
Simon TR4a
Jedi Knight
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Just remembered something else!
A company called Sunbeam also made motorcycles, perhaps in the 40's and 50's. I think one model was called S7, and was a heavy, slow bike well suited to pulling sidecars. IIRC it had an inline 4 cylinder with shaft drive and very bulbous fenders over the wheels.
Simon...again.
A company called Sunbeam also made motorcycles, perhaps in the 40's and 50's. I think one model was called S7, and was a heavy, slow bike well suited to pulling sidecars. IIRC it had an inline 4 cylinder with shaft drive and very bulbous fenders over the wheels.
Simon...again.
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
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Simon...the Sunbeam Motorcycle Company is the one owned by John Marston that we discussed ealier in the thread...interesting input though!
aeronca65t
Great Pumpkin
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A Sunbeam car caused quite a stir in 1927 when it broke the 200 MPH barrier. The car was the "1000 HP Racer". It had two 12 cylinder, 500 HP aero engines and weighted about 3 tons. It eventually got to 203 MPH. A popular child's toy at the time reflected the national pride this car caused. Malcom Campbell eventually bested this car with his Bluebird.
They tried a similar, but longer car (31 feet) later on at Daytona (the Bullet), but it didn't pan out.
Sunbeam 1000 HP racer
child's toy
Sunbeam Bullet
There a nice history of the Sunbeam bikes here:
https://www.btinternet.com/~paul.wirdnam/other/sunbeam/sunbeam_hist.htm
BSA is still in business, making air rifles:
https://www.bsaguns.com/company.asp
They tried a similar, but longer car (31 feet) later on at Daytona (the Bullet), but it didn't pan out.
Sunbeam 1000 HP racer
child's toy
Sunbeam Bullet
There a nice history of the Sunbeam bikes here:
https://www.btinternet.com/~paul.wirdnam/other/sunbeam/sunbeam_hist.htm
BSA is still in business, making air rifles:
https://www.bsaguns.com/company.asp
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