Associated Motor Cycles Ltd
Other Business Names:
- Collier, Henry H
- Collier, H, & Sons Ltd
- Stevens, A J (AJS)
- AJS
- AMC
- Watson, John
- Matchless Motorcycles (Colliers) Ltd
- Norton Motors Ltd
- Manganese Bronze Holdings Ltd
- Villiers Engineering Co Ltd
- Norton Villiers
- Norton Villiers Triumph
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- Plumstead, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
Sectors:
-
Transport equipment production
Motorcycle & components production
Notes:
Traced origins to the partnership established by Henry Herbert Collier, d1926, and John Watson, initially to operate a steam laundry and latterly to hire out and manufacture bicycles. Dissolved 1892. Subsequently Collier took his two sons into the business which then became Henry Collier & Sons; by then it used the trade name 'Matchless'. Soon stated to manufacture motorcycles which by 1905 was main activity. From an early date their output included racing machines which they raced for publicity purposes. 1909 built an aircraft but unsuccessful. After the war briefly made light motor cars. Sometime incorporated as H Collier & Sons Ltd and 1928 converted to a public company as Matchless Motorcycles (Colliers) Ltd. 1931 acquired assets of A J Stevens (AJS), which had collapsed. Acquired Sunbeam motorcycle business in 1937 and changed name to Associated Motor Cycles Ltd in 1938. Failed 1966 and acquired by Manganese Bronze Holdings Ltd when merged with its subsidiary, Villiers Engineering Co Ltd to form Norton Villiers, later known as Norton Villiers Triumph
Publications:
- AJS. A history of a great motorcycle by Grant, Gregor
- Matchless Colliers by Cakebread, Bill
- Matchless. Once the largest British motorcycle manufacturer by Hartley, Peter
- Matchless. The complete story by Walker, Mick
- Strange Death of the British Motorcycle Industry by Koerner, Steve
Groups:
Other Business Names:
- Collier, Henry H
- Collier, H, & Sons Ltd
- Stevens, A J (AJS)
- AJS
- AMC
- Watson, John
- Matchless Motorcycles (Colliers) Ltd
- Norton Motors Ltd
- Manganese Bronze Holdings Ltd
- Villiers Engineering Co Ltd
- Norton Villiers
- Norton Villiers Triumph
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- Plumstead, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
Sectors:
- Transport equipment production Motorcycle & components production
Notes:
Traced origins to the partnership established by Henry Herbert Collier, d1926, and John Watson, initially to operate a steam laundry and latterly to hire out and manufacture bicycles. Dissolved 1892. Subsequently Collier took his two sons into the business which then became Henry Collier & Sons; by then it used the trade name 'Matchless'. Soon stated to manufacture motorcycles which by 1905 was main activity. From an early date their output included racing machines which they raced for publicity purposes. 1909 built an aircraft but unsuccessful. After the war briefly made light motor cars. Sometime incorporated as H Collier & Sons Ltd and 1928 converted to a public company as Matchless Motorcycles (Colliers) Ltd. 1931 acquired assets of A J Stevens (AJS), which had collapsed. Acquired Sunbeam motorcycle business in 1937 and changed name to Associated Motor Cycles Ltd in 1938. Failed 1966 and acquired by Manganese Bronze Holdings Ltd when merged with its subsidiary, Villiers Engineering Co Ltd to form Norton Villiers, later known as Norton Villiers TriumphPublications:
- AJS. A history of a great motorcycle by Grant, Gregor
- Matchless Colliers by Cakebread, Bill
- Matchless. Once the largest British motorcycle manufacturer by Hartley, Peter
- Matchless. The complete story by Walker, Mick
- Strange Death of the British Motorcycle Industry by Koerner, Steve