January 4, 2013
For nigh on the first half of the Twentieth Century the Triumph company was based in Coventry. Housed in a large factory where both motorcycles and cars were built in large numbers. The clunking of machinery, grinding of lathes, and rumbling of engines must have been a heady experience. Horn blows and the shift starts.
Here’s a great image of a squad of weathertight adorned test riders ready to hit the Midlands lanes to check the bike for owner worthiness.
The factory turned to war efforts in the late thirties which put it square in the sights of the German Wehrmacht; and lo, during the Coventry Blitz between September 1940 and May 1941 the works, along with other manufacturing, were flattened by Heinkel and Dornier bombers. (A side note: Coventry is twinned with Volgagrad and Dresden, both noted sites of major WWII history)
Triumph Motorcycles were rapidly rebuilt in ’42, this time over in Solihull at the Meriden factory.
Posted in History, Photography, Triumph Motorcycle |
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December 31, 2012
As long as I can remember I’ve always had a fascination with maps and plans. Understanding the ‘lay of the land’ so to speak. A map tells you not only where you are but also what is around you. An Interweb search has recovered this factory plan of Triumph Meriden. In it you can see a fabrication and assembly process from raw materials, through machining, enameling, through to assembly and on to testing and despatch. The repair shop is also there; so aftercare is within the factory. You can easily stroll the hallways smelling the oily swarf emu bating from the machine shops, fresh rubber tiles being mounted to finely tuned wheels and the first grunts of the bikes as they receive their life giving kicks by the testers.
“The miracle, or the power, that elevates the few is to be found in their industry, application, and perseverance under the prompting of a brave, determined spirit.”
Mark Twain 1835-1910
Posted in History, Motorcycle Art, Triumph Motorcycle |
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December 30, 2012
The ‘other’ motorcycle manufacturer that spanned the globe was BSA, who indeed at one point exceeded Triumph in the output of bikes. Birmingham Small Arms of course started as rifle makers before expanding into bicycles and finally ending up as The Worlds Best Motorcycle. Here are some great historical images if their factory on Armoury Road at Small Heath near Birmingham.
BSA on the old brickwork.
A view down Armoury Road shows the proximity of the factory to the neighbouring terraced housing. The feathered B evident on the factory itself.
Factory workers line up for a bus, possibly just off shift or having just had a thirst quenching jar at the local pub.
Only a part of the factory remains, now used for the manufacture of air rifles, full circle for BSA it seems. Can this name see a fresh dawn of motorcycles? With able craftsmen like Larry Houghton of Lamb’s Engineering and his fantastic ‘Son of a Gun’ custom Beeza the future could look bright! A litre sized Lightning, a nimble 500cc Goldstar, a 750 dual use Hornet… Give the Hinckley crowd something to think about eh?
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December 29, 2012
Triumph has arisen. From the lows of the seventies and near comatose eighties the Triumph story has entered a new stronger and healthier chapter in its historied name.
Meriden saw the workers fights for maintaining a motorcycle manufacturing heritage steeped in race victories, worldwide distribution, and a name to stand above the rest. However it was too little too late.
Like an ember hidden under the dead ashes of a hearth, the name Triumph wouldn’t die easily. A monument stands on the site of the old Meriden factory; now surrounded by a housing estate with roads named: Bonneville Way or Turner Drive.
But for the last quarter century the rebirth at Hinckley under the directorship of John Bloor the Triumph name has gone from strength to strength; even after a factory fire in 2002.
The new Hinckley plant is a glistening showcase of great British industry heading into another century of motorcycle greatness! Looking at the latest model line up of Trophy, Tiger, Daytona and Bonneville that is surely the case!
I’m proud my moto’s badge says “Triumph”.
Posted in History, Triumph Motorcycle |
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