Francis-Barnett

Too true, thank you Dreamtime.

Hi Mike, I too remember those doors and looking at a long row of bikes it used to fascinate us as kids there never seemed to be anyone inside to shoo us off

Some great pictures of Much Park Street. Just when I think I've seen everything on the net somebody pulls another one out of the bag. Thanks

Hello, everyone, another Coventry kid here, as you can see by my name I'm also a keen motorcyclist. As a youngster both sets of grandparents lived in Hillfields and we lived in Tile Hill so we used to catch the 8 or 8a Tile Hill South from Pool Meadow. I have good memories of standing looking through the doors of Francis Barnett in Lower Ford St watching the bikes being made, on a fine day they were lined up against the wall outside. Needless to say I've had a couple of FBs in the past. I wonder if anyone has any photos of the factory?

1928 Francis Barnett No.9 Sports (SV4886), seen yesterday at Cranford, Northants

Classic Coventry motorcycle marque back on the streets after 50 years

1948 Francis-Barnett Power Bike reg. FHV68, "The Bloxham Rally"

After many months we in the Francis Barnett club have made some progress but still no photograph has been found showing the Francis Barnett factory with their name across the front. The pic below is the closest we've got which shows the previous occupants Bayliss, Thomas and Company which I believe an FB forum member (Excelsior Man) got from Harriet at the Herbert Museum. They were certainly there in 1897 and the buildings date from 1895 I believe. According to the map below they occupied the whole corner from Cox Street to the river and along Lower Ford Street past the kink in the road. The FB factory was only the from the left edge of the photo and included just the first building after the chimney I believe. I'm still sure we will find a picture one day even if it is only a family pic of kids playing in the street with the factory in the background. Steve. EDIT: I've just remembered (I am nearly 50!) that I did find some grainy pictures from the aerial surveys that do show the front of the factory but I'm sure we can do better.

Just thought I would point out that it was Graham Francis (Gordon's father) co-founded Lea-Francis and Gordon Francis co-founded Francis-Barnett

You are quite correct - apologies for my mis-reading of the Wikipedia pages

Just wanted to update this thread following Anne's photo appearing on FB and questions asked - Siegfried Bettmann came to Coventry, then the centre of the bicycle manufacturing industry, to set up a bicycle business at the Gloria Works in Much Park Street. Bettmann and his partner worked hard in the ensuing years to ensure the business prospered and by 1896 had opened a second, and much larger premises in Priory Street known as the Triumph Works, a name which later was to become internationally famous. - so yes this was originally the Triumph works