Norman Cycles
Encyclopedia
Norman Cycles was a British bicycle
, autocycle, moped
, and motorcycle
manufacturer based in Ashford, Kent
, England
.
The company and its products are remembered today by the Norman Cycles Club which is based at Willesborough Windmill
, in Willesborough
, Ashford. The Norman Museum is located in the Windmill's barn and displays some of the Company's mopeds and bicycles.
as the Kent Plating & Enamelling Co by brothers Charles and Fred Norman making frames in a garden shed off Jemmett Road, Ashford. In the 1920's they moved to larger premises in Victoria Road, Ashford and progressed from frame making and finishing to producing cycles.
In 1935 they had a new factory built in Beaver Road, Ashford and the company was renamed Norman Cycles Limited. In 1938 they produced an autocycle (a heavier duty bicycle with a small engine - what would later be more commonly known as a moped). In addition to cycles the company went on to produce mopeds and light motorbikes (with motors supplied by engine manufacturers including Villiers, British Anzani and latterly for their Norman Nippy moped, Sachs engines were used).
During their time they produced many thousands of cycles and motorbikes - weekly production was said to peak at 5,000 bikes, 600 mopeds and 120 motorbikes. In addition to supplying the UK market they exported to many Commonwealth countries using the Rambler trademark. The company enjoyed sporting success with it's products. However with falling demand for their products, Norman Cycles was acquired in 1953 by Tube Investments (who would ultimately prefer the Raleigh brand name for cycles).
The Ashford factory closed in 1961. Although products bearing the 'Norman' name continued to be made (Nottingham for cycles and Smethwick for mopeds and motor bikes), the hey-day of the brand had passed and the name ceased to be seen in sales literature after 1963. In tribute to the business, a subsequently built road close to the site of their 1935 factory is named 'Norman Road.'
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Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
, autocycle, moped
Moped
Mopeds are a type of low-powered motorcycle designed to provide economical and relatively safe transport with minimal licensing requirements.Mopeds were once all equipped with bicycle-like pedals , but moped has been increasingly applied by governments to vehicles without pedals, based on their...
, and motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
manufacturer based in Ashford, Kent
Ashford, Kent
Ashford is a town in the borough of Ashford in Kent, England. In 2005 it was voted the fourth best place to live in the United Kingdom. It lies on the Great Stour river, the M20 motorway, and the South Eastern Main Line and High Speed 1 railways. Its agricultural market is one of the most...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The company and its products are remembered today by the Norman Cycles Club which is based at Willesborough Windmill
Willesborough Windmill
New Mill is a Grade II* listed smock mill in Hythe Road, Willesborough, Ashford, Kent. It stands just west of junction 10 of the M20 motorway. It was built in 1869 and is now a museum open to the public.-History:...
, in Willesborough
Willesborough
Willesborough is a residential suburb on the eastern side of Ashford, Kent, England.-The area:The South Willesborough Dykes area, on the west bank of the East Stour river, is an area of sheep fields drained by dykes. The area is designated as the South Willesborough Dykes Site of Nature...
, Ashford. The Norman Museum is located in the Windmill's barn and displays some of the Company's mopeds and bicycles.
History
The Company was originally founded shortly after World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
as the Kent Plating & Enamelling Co by brothers Charles and Fred Norman making frames in a garden shed off Jemmett Road, Ashford. In the 1920's they moved to larger premises in Victoria Road, Ashford and progressed from frame making and finishing to producing cycles.
In 1935 they had a new factory built in Beaver Road, Ashford and the company was renamed Norman Cycles Limited. In 1938 they produced an autocycle (a heavier duty bicycle with a small engine - what would later be more commonly known as a moped). In addition to cycles the company went on to produce mopeds and light motorbikes (with motors supplied by engine manufacturers including Villiers, British Anzani and latterly for their Norman Nippy moped, Sachs engines were used).
During their time they produced many thousands of cycles and motorbikes - weekly production was said to peak at 5,000 bikes, 600 mopeds and 120 motorbikes. In addition to supplying the UK market they exported to many Commonwealth countries using the Rambler trademark. The company enjoyed sporting success with it's products. However with falling demand for their products, Norman Cycles was acquired in 1953 by Tube Investments (who would ultimately prefer the Raleigh brand name for cycles).
The Ashford factory closed in 1961. Although products bearing the 'Norman' name continued to be made (Nottingham for cycles and Smethwick for mopeds and motor bikes), the hey-day of the brand had passed and the name ceased to be seen in sales literature after 1963. In tribute to the business, a subsequently built road close to the site of their 1935 factory is named 'Norman Road.'
Bicycles
- Norman Imp
- Norman Continental
- Norman Invader
- Norman Atlanta
- Norman Conquest
- Norman Attacker
- Norman Beaver
- Norman Light Roadster
- Norman Sabre
- Norman Safety Cycle
- Norman Tricycle 2P
Motorcycles
- Norman B2
- Norman B3 Roadster
- Norman B3 Sports
- Norman B4 Roadster
- Norman B4 Sports
External links
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