Scottish Motorbike Manufacturers ... not a long list but can you add to it?

[Bosquoy]

I'm trying to compile a list of motorcycle manufacturers based in Scotland over the years. I only know of a few  ....

The Victoria Motor & Cycle Company of Dennistoun 1902-1926
The Christie brothers from Dundee, although they only made a single bike. 
Dunedin Motorcycles of Edinburgh manufactured between 1902 and 1910
Myreton Motor Museum has a 1907 G.A.C.S. (Glasgow Auto Cycle Services).
William Beardmore and Co. produced the Beardmore Precision in the 1920s.
AJR was a short-lived affair in Edinburgh in 1925 & 1926
And Jock Porter built and raced his ‘New Gerrard’ machines in the 20s & 30s.

Anyone know of any more?


 

[R]

This article mentions that a William Murchie built several motorcycles.
https://www.scotsman.com/news/in-pictures-scotland-s-lost-motor-industry-1-3916817

You are likely to find that there were possibly quite a few very low volume builders in the early 1900s,
when various 'kit' motorcycles were for sale - assembled usually by the local blacksmith.
You bought a frame and forks as a bundle of tubes and lugs, brazed it together and added engine and wheels and seat, and wrote your name on the tank !  Even very remote parts could sometimes claim a few of these - often advertised in the local press of the day. Bicycle shops were another possibility for the building up of kit bikes, and also often advertised in the local press - being a very big industry back then.  Have fun, keep us posted.

[JFerg]

I can add add a fair bit to this list, based on my Barr and Stroud data.

Donaldson & Kelso became Knightswood Motors in Anniesland and built the Royal Scot.  Actually, they built a few.
The Motor Mart in Edinburgh bought two engines, so I assume built two bikes.
New Gerrard, of course.
William Oliver of Jedburgh bought one engine and may have built a single machine.
North British Machine Company in Glasgow bought a few engines.
Collars Ltd in Anniesland bought a couple of engines too.

Wallace bought a few.  Whilst they were more known for agricultural equipment and have no record of producing motorcycles, the few B&S engines discovered in the US were sold through them.

There was also a McKechnie (Edinburgh) entered in the Scottish Six Days in 1922.  Retired on day 6.

Any B&S information, extant engines etc, welcome.

JFerg

[cardan]

I refuse to believe that neither "Wee MacGregor" nor "McKenzie" were actually built in Scotland. Cheats. But for JFerg there's a link to Barr and Stroud through Coventry B & S.

Leon

[JFerg]

"Wee McGregor" was built in the Midlands, and they did use at least one 350cc B&S, Leon.

[iansoady]

As for Douglas with its kilted Scotsman......

[mini-me]

There used to be a running joke in the 1960s Motorcycle mag about the well established Scottish carburettor manufacturer Langmayerlumreek.

I suppose you need to be ancient and a vintage buff to get it.

[Bosquoy]

Thanks for the replies, gents. I suppose the question is how to define the difference between a 'manufacturer', and someone who built a couple of bikes. 
I'd never heard of a Royal Scot, or a Wee MacGregor, come to that. Or a McKenzie.   

 

[33d6]

You'll have to provide your own definition of Scottish manufacturer. Do you mean a motorcycle made in Scotland entirely of components made in Scotland and employing only Scottish labour? What about a machine assembled in Scotland by Scottish labour but of all imported components? Or the opposite. A machine made entirely of Scottish components but assembled in another country? I could go on but you get the message.
You'll have to say what you think a manufacturer is.

[Bosquoy]

 
At least one more ....  The Templeton Brothers, of Sauchiehall Street made Tee Bee motorcycles for a year or two up to 1911

and the Kennedy Motor Company Ltd, Shettleston, Glasgow made a flat-twin engine in the 1920s, called Koh-i-Noor, which was fitted in some bikes, apparently. And cars. Kennedys made a Rob Roy motorcar
but it wisnae a big success!

[mini-me]

wasn't there also one called a "Wee Macgregor"?  that seems to have burped up from the recesses of my memory.

[Bosquoy]

Wee Macgregor burped up earlier in this thread, as well!   

Does anyone know where back copies of The Motor Cycle might be held, and publicly accessible?  I wouldn't mind spending a day with editions from 1903 to 1930 - but where?

[mini-me]

VMCC library will charge you the earth.

I believe Beaulieu has a library, but these are both at the other end of the earth for you.

National newpaper library in North London perhaps.

Don't know if you have equivalent in Scotland. Some university library possibly?

[iansoady]

VMCC library is free if you visit (I believe still the case even for non-members).

It's well worth a trip anyway.......

[R]

Didn't someone post a link recently to where this was online ?
And some types of scans are searchable even.

Also, searching in scans of local papers could also produce a result or 3. ?
Viewing the motoring section or adverts for them can often turn up 'stuff',
especially in the early years where the local press was the only way of getting the word out.