Coventry's Cycle Industry

Centaur Cycles - ghost ad Motorgraphs - click on each picture to get more information. Mix of cycles and motors of Coventry.

I just found this advertisement for a Coventry cycle manufacturer and thought it would be of interest.

Great find, Prof - thanks for posting

Courtesy of this site

Coventry Rotary tricycle to be auctioned

Auction of share certificate for Centaur Cycles I'm linking to this because of the information it contains about the New Centaur Cycle Co Ltd. 7 October 1903 Ordinary Shares of 10 Shillings. green. No 182. Founded 1897 in Coventry to take over the business of the Centaur Cycle Co. The latter was founded 1876 and introduced a successful lightweight bicycle in 1890. From 1901 onwards, the company not only manufactured bicycles but also chain-driven motorcycles. The marque disappeared in 1915. Vignette of several mythological centaurs, with the head, arms and torso of a human and the body and legs of a horse.

Was Starley's St Johns Works the start of the Rudge Works that became the GEC or was it somewhere different? I've also read Starley lived in Gloucester Street - is his house still there?

Neil, in my wonderful 1896 book, £3.99 from a charity book shop, several years ago "Coventry up to date", Starley Brothers, Cycle Manufacturers, St John Street and Rudge Whitworth Ltd, Whitworth Works in Birmingham and Rudge Works, Coventry are both listed. Does this answer your question?

Me again Neil. It was John Kemp Starley, nephew to James Starley senior who lived in Gloucester Street. He worked for his uncle William Hillman. It is difficult to tell which house he lived at as the census only gives a schedule number of 102, no house number, a few schedule numbers up it goes into Dover Street and then Holyhead Road so it must be that end. In 1881 James Starley senior was living at 18 Upper Well Street. In 1886 James Starley junior was at Radford (Street) Road when he married Florence but in 1891 he was at 4 Broad Street aged 47, retired cycle manufacturer. in 1901 he was at 46 Holyhead Road. He died in Llandudno in 1942. John Kemp Starley was living at Barrs Hill in 1901. Not many of the Starleys lived to a ripe old age!

Neil, Starleys works and address was Meteor works, West Orchard.

I have tried to put down some of the information from the book about the 2 Starley businesses. James Starley left his native Sussex and settled in Coventry in 1869 where he obtained an appointment at the "European" sewing machine works of the Coventry Machinist's Company. About this time a French bicycle, then just introduced was brought under the notice of the Company, who subsequently undertook the manufacture of these machines for a Paris firm. This contrivance inaptly styled the "bone shaker" was produced in the department to which Mr Starley was attached, and he at once commenced to experiment with a view to improvements, many of which he made. After leaving the Coventry Machinist's Company after many years he accepted a partnership with another maker and as Smith and Starley built up a large business in the manufacture of high class cycles. When Mr James Starley, eldest son of the founder attained his majority in 1876 the firm of Starley Brothers was inaugurated, the partners included two other brothers John and William. Mr James Starley Senior died in 1881. The works know as St John's works were built in about 1888. John Kemp Starley was James Starley senior's nephew. He embarked in business in 1878. With a partner Mr Sutton. Mr Sutton retired in 1886 and John Starley Junior carried on business alone. In 1889 the company was converted into a limited liability company with Mr J K Starley as managing director. This Mr Starley is credited with the introduction of the modern bicycle of which the "Rover" is recognised as unrivalled. The premises were known as the Meteor Works in West Orchard. Rudge Whitworth Ltd, The Coventry business was established in 1879 by Mr George Woodcock, who purchased the works of Messrs Haynes and Jeffries in Spon Street, afterwards acquiring the premises of Messrs SMITH & STARLEY, Ariel Works, Spon Street. In 1880 he bought Dan Rudge's cycle business in Wolverhampton. In 1885 joined by several Birmingham gentlemen a private Ltd Company was formed which in 1887 was converted into a public company and afterwards amalgamated with Whitworth company. The Coventry works covered an area of 4.5 acres.