Birmingham's Industrial History Website
York Road,
Hall Green
Birmingham
The company was founded by John Taylor, who was born Johannes Gütgemann, later changing his name to John Goodman, and William Gue in 1905 and the company was known as,' Taylor, Gue Ltd..' Their first motorcycle tha was produced was called a Veloce. Later that year, John Taylor set up Veloce Limited, to produce cycles and cycle accesories.
Veloce Ltd initially produced four-stroke motorcycles but a two stroke machine was produced on 1913 and this was called a VELOCETTE. After this time all susequent models were known as Velocette's.
Velocette was a small, family-owned firm renowned for the quality of their products. the company became involved in motorcycle racing from the mid-1920s through to the 50s culminating in two world championship titles in 149 and 50 and their legendary and still-unbeaten 24-hours at 100 mph record.
The Veloce company wre great innovators patening the positive-stop footshift and swinging arm rear fork with hydraulic shock absorbers.
[ Velocette 'K' series
Veloce was known primarily as a manufacturer of expensive, quality two-strokes in the late 'teens and 1920s, until they made a bold move to produce an overhead camshaft (ohc) 350cc engine, which became known as the Velocette 'K' series, introduced in 1925. After a year of teething troubles with this new design, Veloce entered their model K into racing events such as the Isle of Man TT and Brooklands races, and the reliability and sweet running qualities of their new engine led to a long string of racing successes. The roadster models developed from this initial model K were the KSS (super sports), KTS (touring sports), KTP (twin exhaust ports), KN (normal), and a few more obscure variations. The overhead-cam engine series continued for roadsters until 1948, when the final KSS versions were produced, with rigid frames and Dowty air sprung telescopic forks. Veloce continued during this period to make quality two-stroke machines of 250cc, which included the model H and variants (HSS), model U and variant, culminating in the model GTP. The GTP was produced from 1930 to 1938 (some export models were built in 1946).
[edit] Velocette 'M' series
In 1933, the company decided to introduce a new line of overhead valve (ohv) machines, in order to cut production costs and make a more affordable motorcycle. The K series was expensive to produce, requiring selective hand assembly of the shaft-and-bevel camshaft drive; it was determined that a simpler ohv design would be quicker to build and require less skilled labor to assemble. The first of these new machines was the MOV, using a 250cc engine of 'square' dimensions (68mm bore x 68mm stroke). It was an immediate sales success, having lively performance for the time (78mph), and proved a reliable machine with excellent road manners. From this machine, by lengthening the stroke of the crankshaft, the MAC 350cc was introduced in 1934. It proved even more popular than the MOV, and became a real money spinner for the company, bringing much needed capital into the firm. In 1935 an entirely new machine was introduced, based on the two previous ohv models, the MSS of 500cc. A new, heavier frame was utilized with the intention that the machine could serve as a sidecar hauler (a frame developed from the mkV KTT, and shared with the KSS mkII of 1936-48), and again the MSS grew very popular.
[edit] Post war
After the Second World War, the company sought to capture what it saw as a developing need for personal transport, and they created (with the help of Phil Irving of Vincent fame) the model LE. This was a 192 cc watercooled flat twin with side-valves, a pressed steel frame, and telescopic forks and swingarm. A very forward-thinking model, it was sophisticated and expensive, a consistent trait with all Velocettes. Unfortunately, it proved less successful than the firm had anticipated, as although it became Veloce's best selling model ever, the massive tooling costs required to create this all-new machine were barely recouped. The saving grace of this model was its widespread adoption by British police forces for urban patrol duties. At the time standing orders for Metropolitan Police Officers on foot patrol were, should they meet a Sergeant or Inspector they were required to salute. With the introduction of the Velocette LE, this became quite a dangerous pass time, requiring the officer to take his hand from the handle bars and risking a wobble or weave, and so the rider was to allowed to show his respect with a smart inclination of his head, or to put it another way, he had to give a smart nod. The riders soon became known as Noddy's, and the bikes became known as 'the Noddy Bike'. Another, even less flattering soubriquet, was "Whispering Willie", referring to the LE's quietness (because of its low exhaust temperature) allowing a cruising "Bobby" to creep up behind miscreants.
[edit] 1950s
In 1950 Velocette were the World 350 cc champions. The L.E. Mk II of 200 cc appears. The MAC uses a Velocette designed telescopic front fork. Over 1952-1953 The MAC gets a redesigned engine, a swinging arm rear suspension and a dual seat. In 1954 The 500 cc MSS reappears, like the MAC but with a new engine. Scrambler and US variants of the MSS started production in 1955. Two sports models - the 500cc Venom and 350 cc Viper and a 200cc air cooled flat-twin sports model Valiant were announced in 1956. The L.E. Mk III appears with four-speed foot change and kickstarter. Over 1958/59 Fairings appear for all models.
[edit] 1960s
In 1960 Velocette introduced the Viceroy, a very unusual 250cc opposed twin two-stroke scooter. Unique to the Viceroy was the front mounted twin cylinder engine, and the gas tank mounted under the front legshield. The engine itself was extremely compact, and connected to the rear-mounted clutch and transmission via a drive shaft from the engine-mounted flywheel. With electric start, 12v electrics, a very low center of gravity, 15+ HP and a reported comfortable cruising speed of 65 MPH, performance, handling, and features of the Viceroy were first class. Unfortunately the scooter came at a time when market forces and rider preferences were changing, and the Viceroy was not a sales success for the company.
The late 1960s were the last years of production for Velocette motorcycles, production for Viper and Vogue ending in 1968, "Special", Scrambler and Endurance in 1969, and MSS Venom and Thruxton in 1970. Veloce Ltd. closed in February 1971,
[edit] Timeline
The timeline is being incorporated into the above section of history
- 1906 Veloce, Ltd. produces 2 hp (1.5 kW) Veloce.
- 1907 John's sons Percy and Eugene set up New Veloce Motors to make and market a Veloce Motor Car. The car does not go into production, and the company offers general engineering and various non-motorcycle products.
- 1908 Veloce Ltd. starts work on a new motorcycle. New Veloce Motors supplies the engine.
- 1909 The design of a 276 cc, 2.5 hp (2 kW) four-stroke motorcycle is complete, with many innovative features.
- 1910 Sales of the 276 cc machine are slow, and a less advanced 499 cc side-valve machine is produced.
- 1911 John Taylor takes British citizenship.
- 1912 The 2.5 hp (2 kW) model begins to achieve some success and the firm develops a model marketed to women.
- 1913 The latest innovation - the "footstarter". And The Velocette 206 cc 2-stroke model is announced. The 1913 Velocette Brochure covers the machines and many of the innovative features developed in the company's brief history.
- 1914 The Velocette is available as belt drive or two-speed chain drive, which had already been available as a Ladies Model. Sidecars are added to the entire range of Veloce Ltd's products.
- 1919 Production now limited to 2-stroke models - the D1 and DL1, followed by the D2 and DL2.
- 1920 The factory moves to Victoria Road, Aston, Birmingham. Three D2s enter the ACU Six Days' Trial and win three Gold Medals.
- 1921 The D3 appears, with a 3-speed gearbox and chain drive. The clutch has yet to be developed.
- 1922 The first Velocette Clutch..inside the final drive sprocket...and the design changes little between this clutch and that of 1967.
- 1923 Engine capacity now 249 cc and electric lighting (Maglita) offered. G model range introduced - including the GC, for "Colonial."
- 1924 The Model A (two-speed belt drive), and the Model B (three-speed chain drive) are launched as economy models.
- 1925 The G-model range becomes the H model range. The Ladies models are still called E's. The A is replaced by the AC using chain rather than belt drive from the gearbox. A new, OHC, model K is launched. Initially called a Veloce, it was soon rebranded a Velocette to capitalise on the goodwill that the little 2-stroke had earned. A super sports model - the KSS - soon follows.
- 1926 The tradename Velocette is registered. The factory moves to Hall Green, Birmingham. And a Velocette ridden by Alec Bennett wins the Junior TT. By 10 minutes.
- 1927 A new, updated, 249 cc 2-stroke is launched - the model U. The KS is introduced - a KSS with a standard engine.
- 1928 A K model takes the world one-hour record at just over 100 mph. The KE, and KES offer E-for-Economy variants.
- 1929 The super sports version of the model U is offered - the USS. And a more basic version - the model 32. For the first time you could have another colour than black....the 32 had a blue petrol tank. And the TT replica of the KSS is sold to the public - the KTT. It includes the first positive-stop foot gearchange on a motorcycle. The KN and KNS models use a new type of big-end.
- 1930 The GTP - a completely new design of 2-stroke engine, with the innovation (on a motorcycle) of coil ignition. A KTP variant of the K models provides a fashionable twin-port head.
- 1931 The tank badge now reads: "26-28-29 TT Winners". The current versions of the KTT are known as the Mk II and Mk III.
- 1932 The Mk IV KTT is produced. The GTP uses "auto-lube" oil injection where the oil pump adjustment is linked to the throttle opening - another Velocette innovation.
- 1933 The M series with Overhead Valves - the MOV 248cc high camshaft 4-stroke is announced, followed by the MAC 349 cc.
- 1934 The new works 500cc OHC racer is 3rd in the Senior TT.
- 1935 The 500cc MSS completes the M series. The Mk V KTT is produced.
- 1936 A very few "Mk VI" KTT engines are produced.
- 1937 Works Velocette 2nd in the Junior TT. Velocette 600 cc OHC Outfit in the ISDT winning team.
- 1938 Works Velocettes come 1st and 2nd in the Junior TT, and 2nd in the Senior TT. A few Mk VII KTT models are produced.
- 1939 The Mk VIII KTT model. Velocette win the Junior TT. "Roarer" supercharged 490 cc racer in development. "O" model 580 cc parallel twin prototyped.
- 1940 The MDD and MAF - the forces models of the MAC - are produced.
- 1946 The GTP is produced again, and the MOV, MAC, MSS and KSS.
- 1947 Velocettes win the first four places in the Junior TT.
- 1948 The Dowty Oleomatic (air-sprung) telescopic front fork is used on the M models. K production ceases. The L.E. Velocette is announced. The KTT Mk VIII is again available as an over-the-counter racer. Velocettes take the first two places in the Junior TT.
- 1949 Only the 350 cc MAC and 150 cc L.E. (and the Mk VIII KTT) are produced. Works DOHC 350 and 500 cc machines enter the TT. Velocettes take 1st and 2nd in the Junior TT, 2nd in the Senior.
- 1960 The Viceroy 250 cc flat-twin 2-stroke scooter is announced. Production of the MAC ceases.
- 1961 On 18-19 March, a Venom sets the world 24 hour record for a 500 cc motorcycle of 100.05 mph (161.01 km/h). The record still stands.
- 1962 "Special" (economy) models of Venom and Viper announced.
- 1963 The Vogue - an L.E. with a streamlined glass-fibre body.
- 1964 The last year of production of the Valiant and Viceroy.
- 1965 The Thruxton is available.
- 1966 Mk II Venom and Viper Clubman models introduced with many Thruxton features.
- 1967 A Thruxton wins the Production TT.
Would either of these gentlemen like to get in touch please so we can put some detail to this picture