Tag: moulton bicycle company

The bike that attracted a man from Japan

The bike that attracted a man from Japan >> South Devon Herald Express
Tuesday, September 09, 2008, 08:07

JAPANESE businessman Tetsuya Shiomi spent £2,000 travelling to Torbay to collect a rare but rusty British bike initially offered on eBay for £1.

The bill was for a 6,000 mile round trip for himself and his wife Atsuk including flights and hotels.

Original owner Bruce Symes, 75, of Galmpton couldn't believe the world-wide interest in the rusty Moulton Speedsix, especially from the Far East.

It was given to him by a friend and only put on the internet auction site at the last minute after being saved from a chuck-it trip to Yalberton tip.

Eventually the Japanese collector topped the bidding at £537 and decided to make it a personal collection trip to Europe — to add to his other six Moultons.

Mr Symes thought it was practically worthless, hence the low starting price on eBay.

The charity supporter says all the money is now going to the Dart Sailability scheme for the disabled, based at Kingswear.

Mr Shiomi revealed: "I have six Moulton bikes already and I saw this one and wanted to add it to my collection.

"It is not a businesses venture but a hobby of mine.

"I love the frames and the shape and they are very popular in my country. I also like Mini Coopers and have one of them too.

"I wanted to collect the bicycle myself and meet Mr Symes and thank him. It was a nice holiday for me and my wife."

Mr Symes said he was delighted to raise any money from it at all. "It was lovely to see it go to a good home.

''The bike was covered in rust and I nearly took it to the scrap heap but now it is travelling to the other side of the world.

''When I saw the winning bid was from Japan obviously I thought I'd be shipping it over there.

''I never thought for a second the new owner would come so far to pick it up." A bidding war developed when beady-eyed collectors had noticed the yellow bike was a rarity the first six-speed bike made in Britain in the 1960s.

Only 600 were ever manufactured.

Furniture dealer Mr Shiomi travelled from his home in Saku-Shi near Nagano to Bruce's house in Galmpton, turning it into a European holiday with his wife.

Experts say there is currently a boom in Japan and China in the trade of English antiques, curios and vehicles such as cars and bikes.

Built in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, the Speedsix was designed for both touring and competition and was billed as a 'lean, mean, speed machine'.

4-Speed Moulton TSR Prototype

A prototype 4-speed TSR was shown at Bradford on Avon on saturday, as part of the annual Moulton Bicycle Club event.

The gearing combines a Schlumpf Speed Drive and Fichtel & Sachs Duomatic. This means that gear-shifting and rear braking is done without cables, allowing the bike to be separated, without the need for cable splitters.

Gear changes for both Speed-drive and Duomatic are activated by the feet. Gear change in the Duomatic is effected by pedalling backwards about 1/4 turn. Changing gears on the speed-drive is done by tapping a button on the pedal crank with the heel.

The Fichtel & Sachs Duomatic contains a coaster brake, activated by back-pedalling.

The 4-speed TSR was visually stunning. The bright white paintjob contrasted beautifully with the new Moulton Bicycle Company headbadge, and a Union Jack on the seat tube. It was very similar to Team GB's Olympic colours.

The new headbadge, which will adorn all Moultons in future, depicts a cyclist on a Moulton (probably a TSR) infront of The Hall. Colours are traditional AM Red, with the new blue, on a shiny silver background. A Union Jack silhouette appears underneath, along with the words "Made in England".

The prototype also sported Moustache-style handlebars, and a reverse-action brake lever to operate the front brake.

The Sachs Duomatic has been out of production for many years, but a large number of "New Old Stock" seems to be available from various sources.

In gear for a new challenge

In gear for a new challenge - Coventry Telegraph

ONE of the UK's oldest bicycle manufacturers has started a new venture which could boost an iconic bike brand.

Stratford-based Pashley Cycles has joined forces with Alex Moulton Bicycles to create The Moulton Bicycle Company.

It will manufacture, market and distribute the Moulton and Pashley TSR ranges of bikes.

Pashley Cycles and Alex Moulton Bicycles have collaborated for the past 12 years, with Pashley manufacturing the Pashley-Moulton TSR range.

Together, the two companies employ more than 50 people.

Pashley Cycles, set up in 1926, is England's longest-established cycle manufacturer, producing more than 150 models of handmade specialist bikes.

Moulton Bicycles, based in Bradford-upon-Avon, was set up by Dr Alex Moulton in 1958, leading the world in design and manufacture of full suspension small-wheeled, high-performance bikes.

More than half of the company's output is exported, with the brand particularly sought after in Japan and the Far East.

Adrian Williams, managing director of Pashley Cycles, said: "The Moulton Bicycle Company has a substantial order book and a waiting list of some 15 months for particular models.

"So, the task will be to increase production output and at the same time open up new markets which should not be difficult as these superbly engineered cycles are much admired worldwide."

Dr Moulton, who becomes president of the new company, said: "This new initiative will allow us to increase our market penetration and reduce our supply times.

"This will enable us to develop new marketing programmes, strengthen the enviable reputation of the Moulton brand and ensure our bicycles remain at the forefront of the small wheel bicycle revolution."

Paul Bennett, corporate partner at Black Country law firm George Green, who advised on the new venture, said: "Pashley and Moulton are two legendary brands in UK manufacturing.

"What is more, they are two of the very few remaining true bicycle manufacturers left in the country, as they genuinely hand-make the cycles here, rather than just being an assembly or import-distribution-only operation.

"Their focus on quality, design and engineering shows that, done properly, there is still a worldwide market for British hand-made goods."

Storms Cause Culvert Collapse (from Wiltshire Times)

Storms Cause Culvert Collapse (from Wiltshire Times)

BICYLCE manufacturers Alex Moulton Bicycles have been left with a hole the size of a Mini at their site after a culvert burst during Monday's storms.
The incident happened at the company's base in Holt Road, Bradford on Avon, at about 4pm following a spell of torrential rain.

An overflow of water caused a drain, which runs underneath the Moulton site and into the river Avon, to burst, causing a wave of sewage and debris to surge towards the firm's offices and workshops.

Shaun Moulton, 40, is general manager of Moulton and the great nephew of Dr Alex Moulton, 88, who formed the company in 1962 and designed the suspension for the Mini car in the 1950s.

He said: "It just all piled out of the hole like a mini-tidal wave. I was in a meeting with our accountant at the time and I tried to shut the doors but the water just came hurtling through and straight into the office. It was about four inches deep at one stage.

"It wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't sewage but I've been told that the pumping station hasn't got a filter system. The town is built on a drainage system that is so old it cannot cope."

Mr Moulton said even his great uncle helped to mop out the flood, which also affected their home.

He added: "Wessex Water came down and they basically stood around the hole and said it wasn't their responsibility, but West Wiltshire District Council said they were going to investigate the situation."

Ian Drury, a spokesman for Wessex Water, said: "When there is extreme rainfall Wessex Water is able to discharge wastewater into the water course, a process which is strictly monitored by the Environment Agency.

"However, following the intense rainfall on Monday the underground watercourse, which carries surface water and highway drainage for a large area of Bradford on Avon, struggled to cope with the flow and became defective. This resulted in some flooding around a property.

"Work will need to take place to identify who is responsible for the water course to ensure it is maintained and repaired to prevent future flooding.

Bath Chronicle: Jobs Boost In Pipeline For Bradford On Avon


New jobs could soon be coming to Bradford on Avon after a deal was signed between two of the UK's most established bicycle manufacturers. Alex Moulton Bicycles, which was launched in...

New jobs could soon be coming to Bradford on Avon after a deal was signed between two of the UK's most established bicycle manufacturers.

Alex Moulton Bicycles, which was launched in the town 50 years ago, has joined forces with Stratford on Avon bike builder Pashley Cycles to form The Moulton Bicycle Company.

The new firm will produce and market the ranges of both its founding partners with a combined staff of more than 50 people.

Moulton and Pashley have collaborated for the past 12 years with Pashley building and marketing the Pashley-Moulton TSR range.

Dr Alex Moulton, who founded the Bradford-based business in 1958, said the new venture would establish a solid base for the future growth of the Moulton bicycle business.

"This new initiative will allow us to increase our market penetration and reduce our supply times," he said.

"This will enable us to develop new marketing programmes, strengthen the enviable reputation of the Moulton brand and ensure our bicycles remain at the forefront of the small-wheel bicycle revolution."

More than half of Moulton's output is exported to Japan and the Far East from its base at Holt Road in Bradford.

Manufacturing will remain in the town, and the company hopes to generate more jobs. However, no figure has been put on the number of posts that could be created.

Pashley Cycles managing director Adrian Williams said the new company had already developed a substantial order book with a waiting list of 15 months for its most popular models.

Mr Williams said: "The task will be to increase production output and at the same time open up new markets which should not be difficult as these superbly engineered cycles are much-admired worldwide."