A superb
and rare photo of a BSA 500cc
motorcycle and the legendary John Cooper during the Candian Motorcycle race in
1971 in Ontario.
The Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA) was a British manufacturer of vehicles, firearms, and
military equipment, and still exists as an airgun sport manufacturer and
distributor. At its peak, BSA was the largest motorcycle producer in the world.
Loss of sales and poor investments in new products in the motorcycle division,
which included Triumph Motorcycles, led to problems for the whole group.
BSA was
founded in 1861 in the Gun Quarter, Birmingham,
England by
fourteen gunsmiths of the Birmingham Small Arms Trade Association, who had
together supplied arms to the British government during the Crimean War. The
company branched out as the gun trade declined; in the 1870s they manufactured
the Otto Dicycle, in the 1880s the company began to manufacture bicycles and in
1903 the company's first experimental motorcycle was constructed. Their first
prototype automobile was produced in 1907 and the next year the company sold
150 automobiles. By 1909 they were offering a number of motorcycles for sale
and in 1910 BSA purchased the British Daimler Company for its automobile
engines. During World War I, the company returned to arms manufacture and
greatly expanded its operations. BSA produced rifles, Lewis guns, shells,
motorcycles and other vehicles for the war effort. In 1920, it bought some of
the assets of the Aircraft Manufacturing Company (Airco), which had built many
important aircraft during the war but had become bankrupt due to the falloff in
orders once hostilities ceased. BSA did not go into aviation; the chief
designer Geoffrey de Havilland of Airco founded the de Havilland company. As
well as the Daimler car range, BSA re-entered the car market under their own
name in 1921 with a V-twin engined light car followed by four-cylinder models
up to 1926 when the name was temporarily dropped. In 1929 a new range of 3 and
4 wheel cars appeared and production of these continued until 1936. In the
1930s the board of directors authorised expenditure on bringing their
arms-making equipment back to use - it had been stored at company expense since
the end of the Great War in the belief that BSA might again be called upon to
perform its patriotic duty. In 1931 the Lanchester Motor Company was acquired
and production of their cars transferred to Daimler's Coventry works. By World War II, BSA had 67
factories and was well positioned to meet the demand for guns and ammunition.
BSA operations were also dispersed to other companies under licence. During the
war it produced over a million Lee-Enfield rifles, Sten sub machine guns and
half a million Browning machine guns. Wartime demands included motorcycle
production. 126,000 BSA M20 motorcycles were supplied to the armed forces, from
1937 (and later until 1950) plus military bicycles including the folding
paratrooper bicycle. At the same time, the Daimler concern was producing
armoured cars. Sir Bernard Docker was chairman of BSA until 1951 with James
Leek CBE Managing Director from
1939, after which Jack Sangster became Managing Director. Post-war, BSA
continued to expand the range of metal goods it produced. The BSA Group bought
Triumph Motorcycles in 1951, making them the largest producer of motorcycles in
the world. The cycle and motor cycle interests of Ariel, Sunbeam and New Hudson
were also acquired. Most of these had belonged to Sangster.
This is
your rare chance to own this non
period photo that reflects the BSA
history. Therefore it is printed in a nice large format of ca. 8 x 10” (20
x 26 cm).
We have
more photos listed on Ebay of BSA and other motorcycle photos! Check them out
and use the shipping discount! You can always contact us for any requests.
Shipping costs will only be $ 7.00 regardless of how many photos you
buy. For 5 or more photos, shipping is free!
(Note: A. Herl, Inc. does not appear on
photo, for ebay purposes only)
No copyright
expressed or implied. Sold as collectable item only. We are clearing out our
archives that we have gathered from various sources.
All items always sent well
protected in PVC clear files and board backed
envelopes.
We have
photographs that came from professional collections and/or were bought from the
original photographer or press studio! They are all of professional and
excellent quality.
After many decades
of professionally collecting photographs and posters we are clearing out our
archives. They make the perfect gift and are perfectly suited for framing. They
will look gorgeous unframed and will be a true asset nicely framed with a
border. They are a gorgeous and great asset in every home, workshop, workplace,
restaurant, bar or club!
First come -
first served. And you can always contact us for your requests. Please ask any
questions before the auction ends.