Motorcycle Garages 1950/60’s

T

Telford

A few posts under my belt
Hi, anyone fill any gaps in please? When my Dad came out of the RAF, he had a motorbike, which he thinks (he has dementia) was serviced by someone possibly on the Gaol Road, or that end of town. He can’t remember the name of the garage, or if it was a dealers, but he can remember the name of the mechanic - Edgar Bailey.

Any info gratefully received
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
There was a general motor servicing place near the end of Crooked Bridge Road, possibly where Stafford Tyres is now, or the car park in front of the Gainsborough Works? Not specifically motorbikes, but the technology is largely the same - can't remember the name - may have started with a B or a G, or maybe an E?

I'm not sure when Chell's started up - but, it was well into its stride by 1974, when I arrived in town, though.
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Studio Tan said:
Could have been the Boult brothers (on corner of Gaol Rd / Crooked Bridge Rd). Coincidentally, Chell worked for Boult’s before setting up his own m/cycle business in nearby Marston Rd.
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That's the one I had in mind - phew.

A friend of mine worked there and often mentioned it, but not often enough for me to remember more than the potential initial letter...
 
T

Telford

A few posts under my belt
I think it was Boults, and something my Dad said about 15 mins after we’d talked suggested that. He said something like ‘fancy working at a garage, and having the name bolt’. I thought it strange, didn’t know why he came out with a random thought like that, but it makes sense now!

Thanks guys!!!!
 
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Thehooperman

Thehooperman

Well-Known Forumite
I think this is the one you're talking about which originally started as a bike shop

Ernie & Bill.jpg
 
BobClay

BobClay

Well-Known Forumite
Yes on the corner where the petrol station is now. I bought a couple of bikes from Boults. There was another dealer across the road called Phil Brights. He used to sell bikes and Reliants. Bought a Velocette Venom off him around 1970 ish. I think it's a fireplace shop now.

Chelly did work at Boults then went up to his own place on the Marston Road. Knew him quite well as when he got started he came down to our garage in Sheridan St and cleared it out for me ... pile of old bike parts ... BSA/Triumph etc. I bought the Triumph Trident brand new off him in 1972 and then a Suzuki GSXR1100K in 1989 (which got nicked in Manchester.) Haven't seen him since then, not even sure if he's still on the go.
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
BobClay said:
Yes on the corner where the petrol station is now. I bought a couple of bikes from Boults. There was another dealer across the road called Phil Brights. He used to sell bikes and Reliants. Bought a Velocette Venom off him around 1970 ish. I think it's a fireplace shop now.

Chelly did work at Boults then went up to his own place on the Marston Road. Knew him quite well as when he got started he came down to our garage in Sheridan St and cleared it out for me ... pile of old bike parts ... BSA/Triumph etc. I bought the Triumph Trident brand new off him in 1972 and then a Suzuki GSXR1100K in 1989 (which got nicked in Manchester.) Haven't seen him since then, not even sure if he's still on the go.
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Chell's is still there - but, not a Honda agent these days.

In my time, Phil Bright was in Browning Street, I had bike MOTs done there, back when the brakes were tested by pulling the bike with a winch, rather than the rolling road device. The old boy who did the tests was reluctant to do mine once, because he didn't have an assistant to operate the brakes as he wound the winch up - so, I volunteered to do it for him but, "We're not allowed to let the owner do it - some people have to use both hands and still have the veins standing out on their forehead!" I persuaded him that I would be 'reasonable' and we circumvented the rules.

Some of Phil Bright's collection used to be on display in the showrooms along Astonfields Road, where the Kia, FIAT, Renault and Dacia places are now, but I don't see them via Street View now. But, if you go back in time, you can see some - https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.8...wK4ONibQ!2e0!5s20090501T000000!7i13312!8i6656
 
BobClay

BobClay

Well-Known Forumite
Yes I looked on Google Earth and I'm pretty sure Phil Bright's shop front was next to the Stafford Fireplaces shown, looking a bit empty and derelict now. The workshop was round the back off Browning St as you say. I've also remembered I bought a Kawasaki Vulcan off him in 1986 when I became a landlubber and toured Scotland and Ireland on it. I think Phil Bright did a bit of scrambling in his day, maybe up on Pea Hill by Sandon.
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
BobClay said:
Yes I looked on Google Earth and I'm pretty sure Phil Bright's shop front was next to the Stafford Fireplaces shown, looking a bit empty and derelict now. The workshop was round the back off Browning St as you say. I've also remembered I bought a Kawasaki Vulcan off him in 1986 when I became a landlubber and toured Scotland and Ireland on it. I think Phil Bright did a bit of scrambling in his day, maybe up on Pea Hill by Sandon.
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I remember Stafford Kawasaki there, but I wasn't aware that it was him - the Browning Street Place was mostly a Reliant operation.

After the old boy retired and he stopped doing MOTs, I went to Jack Taylor in Newport - a 'fair' test and you got a certificate embossed with "Jack Taylor, Toys & Cycles" - he stopped when the rolling road became a requirement and I went to Wheaton Aston then.

There was also Windmill, mostly a Yamaha operation, and Adderley's, by the Grapes.
 
BobClay

BobClay

Well-Known Forumite
Adderley's also had a shop on the Marston Road at one time, opposite side to Chelly's and a bit further down. This is going back to when I was still at school (Fifth Form at Kingston, 1963) as I bought my very first bike there. A brand new Phillips Panda Moped for £45 !! 0 to 25 in half an hour. Bought it from paper round and Co-op delivery money. When I worked for the Met Office on leaving school I rode it down to Bracknell, and then back to Stafford when I packed that in. Effing long journey on a pedal assisted moped.
Some years later I was mooching about in Cyril Derber's scrapyard up by Doxey and I came across this little moped looked all rusty and derelict. Strangely I felt quite sad because gutless as it was, it got me about from school and work in its day.
 
Trumpet

Trumpet

Well-Known Forumite
Gramaisc said:
I remember Stafford Kawasaki there, but I wasn't aware that it was him - the Browning Street Place was mostly a Reliant operation.

After the old boy retired and he stopped doing MOTs, I went to Jack Taylor in Newport - a 'fair' test and you got a certificate embossed with "Jack Taylor, Toys & Cycles" - he stopped when the rolling road became a requirement and I went to Wheaton Aston then.

There was also Windmill, mostly a Yamaha operation, and Adderley's, by the Grapes.
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Not to mention Motorcycle Mecca.
 
BobClay

BobClay

Well-Known Forumite
Ah yes the Mecca. Was it Ron who would wander off into a dark Aladdin like cave for a BSA C11G head gasket set and come back, slap it on the counter and say: "There you are me old China ..."

The Mecca was famously on Mill Street, but before that it was on Market Street, pretty much next door to Lloyds Bank, before all that side was rebuilt. Kept some of the old bangers I was riding throughout the 60's going. (Triumph Tiger 100, BSA C11G, BSA A7 and A10. Ariel Red Hunter, BSA B32, Norton ES2 .... and on and on ...)
 
proactive

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
Gramaisc said:
Chell's is still there - but, not a Honda agent these days.

In my time, Phil Bright was in Browning Street, I had bike MOTs done there, back when the brakes were tested by pulling the bike with a winch, rather than the rolling road device. The old boy who did the tests was reluctant to do mine once, because he didn't have an assistant to operate the brakes as he wound the winch up - so, I volunteered to do it for him but, "We're not allowed to let the owner do it - some people have to use both hands and still have the veins standing out on their forehead!" I persuaded him that I would be 'reasonable' and we circumvented the rules.

Some of Phil Bright's collection used to be on display in the showrooms along Astonfields Road, where the Kia, FIAT, Renault and Dacia places are now, but I don't see them via Street View now. But, if you go back in time, you can see some - https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.8...wK4ONibQ!2e0!5s20090501T000000!7i13312!8i6656
Click to expand...
I thought that was part of Dennis Bunning's collection as he owned the building and the dealership. There were many, many more bikes there when it was the Land Rover dealership.
 
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