Harry Quinn Cycles were a family owned high-end English

bicycle A bicycle, also called a pedal cycle, bike or cycle, is a human-powered or motor-powered assisted, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A is called a cyclist, or bicyclist. Bic ...

manufacturer located in

Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

. The business began in 1890 as Coronet Cycles, and Harry Quinn was the son of the founder. Initially, the company was based on Walton Road, Liverpool. Harry worked in the Walton Road premises for his father, alongside his brothers and sisters. When Harry obtained the business, brothers Ronnie and Jack set up Quinn Bros Cycles in Edge Lane, Liverpool. Harry was an influential figure in the British cycling scene, also training frame builders Terry Dolan and Billy Whitcomb in his Liverpool premises. In 1977, after Harry lost sight in one eye, the business was sold to Frank Clements, brother of

Ernie Clements Ernest J Clements (28 February 1922 – 3 February 2006) was an English road racing cyclist, frame builder and cycle shop owner. Biography Born in Hadley, Telford, Shropshire, Clements was one of the leaders in the introduction of masse ...

, with Harry kept on as Master Frame Builder. In 1980, the shop was closed and in the business was sold to

Falcon Cycles Falcon Cycles is a British bicycle manufacturer which was based in Brigg, North Lincolnshire, owned by Tandem Group. History In the 1880s, Hotchkiss, Mayo & Meek Ltd was established in Coventry as a manufacturer of bicycles. In 1897, the c ...

and was still badged as Harry Quinn, but did not carry the Harry Quinn frame numbering system. It was at this time that Terry Dolan, who had been working with Harry for several years opened his own shop across the road and the Dolan bike story began. Late on, when Harry re-acquired the Harry Quinn company with his son Peter, the business relocated to

St Florence St Florence (Welsh: ''Sain Fflwrens'') is both a village, a parish and a community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. St Florence sits on the River Ritec that flows eastwards to its estuary in Tenby. The Church of St Florence is a grade II* listed buildi ...

, Wales. The company was wound up sometime in the 1990s. Cyclists to have ridden competitively on Harry Quinn frames include John Atkins,

Alan Ramsbottom Alan Ramsbottom (born 30 April 1936) was a professional racing cyclist from Clayton-le-Moors, England, who twice rode the Tour de France. Amateur career Ramsbottom was a talented amateur in Britain in the late 1950s. He decided to race abroad ...

, William Moore,

Colin Sturgess Colin Andrew Sturgess (born 15 December 1968) is an English former road and track cyclist, who last worked as a directeur sportif for UCI Continental team . On the track, he won a gold and a bronze medal in the individual pursuit at the world ch ...

(who won the world professional pursuit title on a Harry Quinn),

Gordon Singleton Gordon Singleton, (born August 9, 1956) is a past world-record holding Canadian cyclist. In 1982, he became the first Canadian cyclist to win a world championship, and he was the first, and only, cyclist in history to simultaneously hold world ...

(World Keirin Champion 1982), Sid Barras, Kevin Apter, Dave Penketh, Terry Tinsley, Frank Lyons, John Clewarth, Graham Daniels, Phil Roberts, John Atkinson, Brian Pownall,

Paul Sherwen Paul Sherwen (7 June 1956 – 2 December 2018) was an English professional racing cyclist and later a broadcaster on cycling, notably the Tour de France. He raced in seven editions of the Tour, finishing five, and gained a reputation for his abi ...

Bill Bradley William Warren Bradley (born July 28, 1943) is an American politician and former professional basketball player. He served three terms as a Democratic U.S. senator from New Jersey (1979–1997). He ran for the Democratic Party's nomination f ...

(who won the

Milk Race The Tour of Britain is a multi-stage cycling race, conducted on British roads, in which participants race across Great Britain to complete the race in the fastest time. The event dates back to the first British stage races held just after the S ...

in 1959 on a Harry Quinn), and

Pete Chisman Peter Chisman (8 September 1940 – 23 October 2003) was a British racing cyclist who won the Tour of Britain - known then as the Milk Race - in 1963. He led the race from beginning to end. He also rode in the 1967 Tour de France. Biography P ...

(Milk Race winner in 1963). When Reg Harris made his comeback in 1975 aged 54, he asked Harry to build his bikes. His hand-built bikes were known for their short wheelbase and steep angles, relative to other marques. In 1979, he was one of only three frame builders qualified to use 753 Reynolds tubing, the others being TI Raleigh and Bob Jackson. Harry Quinn also designed bikes for Viking Cycles. Harry Quinn died on 1 October 2009, aged 92. The title of the song ''A Lilac Harry Quinn'' by the band

Half Man Half Biscuit Half Man Half Biscuit are an English rock band, formed in 1984 in Birkenhead, Merseyside. Known for their satirical, sardonic, and sometimes surreal songs, the band comprises lead singer and guitarist Nigel Blackwell, bassist and singer Neil Cr ...

on their 1991 album ''

McIntyre, Treadmore and Davitt ''McIntyre, Treadmore and Davitt'' was released in 1991 by British rock band Half Man Half Biscuit as their third original album (their preceding album having been a compilation). It was the first album released after the band had reformed in 1 ...

'' relates to a bicycle of that colour, although no mention of cycling nor the bike is made in the song, except for the repeated outro: 'Sturmey Archer, Campagnolo'.

Building Philosophy

Harry Quinn has been building frames, using essentially the same methods, for 45 years. His interest in bicycles started as a young boy when he learned the basics of frame building from his father. His interest was further developed while racing prior to World War II (1935-37).

References

External links

Classic Rendezvous page

Harry Quinn brochure
{{British bicycle manufacturers Cycle manufacturers of the United Kingdom Defunct companies based in Liverpool Manufacturing companies based in Liverpool