Beardmore Precision Motorcycles was a British

motorcycle A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle Steering, steered by a Motorcycle handlebar, handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: Long-distance ...

manufacturer formed in 1919 when the engine manufacturer

F.E. Baker Ltd F. E. Baker Ltd was a British motorcycle engine and cyclecar engine manufacturer based in the Precision Works, Moorsom Street, Birmingham, England. Founded in 1906 by Frank Edward Baker, the company produced motorcycle engines under the Precis ...

, who produced motorcycle and cyclecar engines under the 'Precision' trademark before

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

, entered into an arrangement with the large shipbuilding and engineering company William Beardmore and Company.

History

had developed a substantial business making motorcycle and cyclecar engines supplied solely to manufacturers of completed vehicles. The engines were predominantly single and V-twin 4-strokes, with air or water cooling, though just before the war they had added a 2-stroke to their engine line-up. They also had a thriving export business, especially to Australia. During World War I production halted, and many of the small producers of motorcycles and cyclecars had ceased to exist, and after the war the company was faced with financing a restart. In 1919

entered into an arrangement with William Beardmore and Company, a large Scottish engineering and shipbuilding company based in

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popu ...

and between 1921 and 1924 Beardmore produced motorcycles under the name "Beardmore Precision". The first motorcycle produced was a 350 cc

two-stroke A two-stroke (or two-stroke cycle) engine is a type of internal combustion engine that completes a power cycle with two strokes (up and down movements) of the piston during one power cycle, this power cycle being completed in one revolution of ...

featuring leaf-spring suspension front and rear and was followed by a range of motorcycles from 250 cc to 600 cc. Beardmore Precision 350 cc 1923

After 1924 Baker regained the rights and started his set up his own company to continue production with Villiers engines of between 147 and 342 cc in Alvechurch Road,

Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the We ...

The company was eventually sold to the

James Cycle Co The James Cycle Co Ltd., Greet, Birmingham, England, was one of many British cycle and motorcycle makers based in the English Midlands, particularly Birmingham. Most of their light motorcycles, often with the characteristic maroon finish, used ...

in 1930. Frank Baker became a James employee and they used his designs well into the 1930s.

Models

References

External links

* Beardmore Precision advert
1923 Beardmore Precision 250cc

Defunct motorcycle manufacturers of the United Kingdom Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of England Defunct companies based in Birmingham, West Midlands Manufacturing companies based in Birmingham, West Midlands {{Motorcycle-stub

History

Models

See also

References

External links