Birmingham Small Arms Company

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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.

Contents

[edit] History

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.

[edit] World War One

During World War I, the company returned to arms manufacture and greatly expanded its operations. BSA produced rifles and Lewis guns, but also shells, motorcycles and other vehicles for the struggle.

[edit] Inter-War years

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 with the lack or orders post hostilities. BSA did not go into aviation; the chief designer 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 1930's 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.

[edit] World War Two

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 and half a million Browning machine guns. Wartime demands included motorcycle production. BSA supplied 126,000 M20 motorcycles 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.

[edit] Post war

Sir Bernard Docker headed BSA until 1951, 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.

In 1960 Daimler was sold off to Jaguar.

The BSA bicycle arm was sold off to Raleigh in 1957. Bicycles under the BSA name are currently manufactured and distributed within India by TI Cycles of India.

The production of guns bearing the BSA name continued beyond the 1957 sale of the bicycle division, but in 1986 BSA Guns was liquidated, the assets bought and renamed BSA Guns (UK) Ltd. The company continues to make air rifles and shotguns, and are still based in Small Heath in Birmingham.

[edit] Norton-Villiers-Triumph

The Group continued to expand and acquire throughout the 1950s but by 1965 competition from Japan (in the shape of companies like Honda) and Germany was eroding BSA's market share. The BSA (and Triumph range) were no longer aligned with the markets; mopeds were displacing scooter sales, superbikes were up at 1000cc and the trials and scrambles areas were now the preserve of two-strokes. Some poor marketing decisions and expensive projects contributed to substantial losses. For example, the development and production investment of the Ariel 3, an ultrastable 3 wheel scooter, was not recouped by sales; the loss has been estimated at some 2 million pounds.

Reorginization in 1971 concentrated motorcycle production at Meriden, Triumph's site, with production of components and engines at BSA's Small Heath. At the same time there were redundancies and the selling of assets. Barclays Bank arranged financial backing to the tune of 10 million.

By 1972, BSA was so moribund that with bankruptcy immiment, and with government backing its motorcycle businesses were absorbed into the Manganese Bronze company, Norton-Villiers, which became Norton-Villiers-Triumph with the intention of producing and marketing Norton and Triumph motorcycles. The shareholders of BSA confirmed the deal. Although the BSA name was left out of the new company's name, a few products continued to be made carrying it until 1973. The final range was just four models: Gold Star 500, 650 Thunderbolt/Lightning and the 750cc Rocket Three.

However, the plan involved the axing of some brands, large reduncancies and consolidation of production at two sites, the plans to rescue and combine Norton, BSA and Triumph failed in the face of worker resistance. Norton's and BSA's factories were eventually shut down, while Triumph staggered on to fail four years later.

Out of the ashes of receivership, the NVT Motorcycles Ltd company which owned the rights to the BSA marque, was bought-out by the management and renamed the BSA Company.

The BSA bicyle arm had been sold to Raleigh in 1956 and the BSA Winged-B logo was still seen for while on up-market bicycles.

[edit] Limited revival

The BSA company produced military motorcycles (with Rotax engines) and motorcycles for developing countries (with Yamaha engines) under the BSA name. In the later case the old "Bushman" name was recalled to duty - it had been previously used on high ground clearance Bantams sold for the likes of Australian sheep farmers.

In 1991, the BSA (motorcycle) Company merged with Andover Norton International Ltd., to form a new BSA Group, largely producing spare parts for existing motorcycles. In December 1994, BSA Group was taken over by a newly formed BSA Regal Group. The new company, based in Southampton, has a large spares business and has produced a number of limited-edition, retro-styled motorcycles.

[edit] Products

[edit] Bicycles

Bicycle manufacture was what led BSA into motorcycles. The subsidiary business BSA Bicyles Ltd was sold to Raleigh Industries in 1956.

[edit] Motorcycles

BSA Motorcycles Ltd
Fate effectively bankrupt
Successor Norton-Villiers-Triumph
Founded 1919
Defunct 1972
Location
Industry motorcycles
Products some of company's notable products
Peak size peak number of employees employees
Parent BSA
Subsidiary former subsidiaries, if any

The first wholly BSA motorcycles were built in 1910, before then engines had come from other manufacturers. BSA Motorcycles Ltd was set up as a subsidiary in 1919.

BSA motorcycles were sold as affordable motorcycles with reasonable performance for the average user. BSA stressed the reliability of their machines, the availability of spares and dealer support. The motorcycles were a mixture of sidevalve and OHV engines offering different performance for different roles eg hauling a sidecar. The bulk of use would be for commuting. BSA motorcycles were also popuilar with "fleet buyers" in Britain such as the Post Office or Automobile Association (AA) breakdown help services. This mass market appeal meant they could claim "one in four is a BSA" on advertising.

Machines with better specifications were available for those who wanted more performance or for competition work.

Initially, after World War II, BSA motorcylces were not generally seen as racing machines, compared to the likes of Norton. In the immediate post war period few were entered in races such as the TT races, though this changed dramatically in the Junior Clubman event (smaller engine motorcycles racing over some 3 or 4 laps around one of the Isle of Man courses). In 1947 there were but a couple of BSA mounted riders, by 1952 however, BSA were in the majority and in 1956 the makeup was 53 BSA, 1 Norton and 1 Velocette.

To improve US sales, in 1954, for example, BSA entered a team of riders in the 200 mile Daytona beach race with a mixture of single cylinder Gold Stars and twin cylinder Shooting Stars assembled by Roland Pike. The BSA team riders amazingly took first, second, third, fourth, and fifth places with two more riders finishing at 8th and 16th. This was the first case of a one brand sweep.[1]

[edit] Motorcycle models

Main article: list of BSA motorcycles

[edit] Pre World War II

  • G14 1000cc V-twin
  • Empire Star
  • Blue Star
  • Silver Star
  • Gold Star
  • Sloper
  • M20
as the WD M20 the motorcycle of the British Army in WW2

[edit] Post World War II

1957 BSA Golden Flash 650
Enlarge
1957 BSA Golden Flash 650
  • A series Twins (four-stroke, parallel twin)
    • A7
      • A7 Shooting Star
    • A10
      • A10 Golden Flash
      • A10 Road Rocket
      • A10 Super Rocket
      • A10 Super Flash
      • A10 Rocket Gold Star
    • A50
      • A50R Royal Star
      • A50C Cyclone
      • A50W Wasp
    • A65
      • A65 Star Twin
      • A65L Lightning
      • A65R Rocket
      • A65T Thunderbolt
      • A65H Hornet
      • A65S Spitfire
      • A65F Firebird Scrambler
    • A70L Lightning 750
  • Triples - the BSA Rocket 3/Triumph Trident were co-developed, and resultantly the Rocket3 shares some engine components and cycle parts with the Triumph Trident (see Triumph Motorcycles), but has BSA "slanted" engine cases, and BSA frame and tinware.
    • A75R Rocket3 750
    • A75RV Rocket3 750 - 5 speed
    • A75V Rocket3 750 - 5 speed
  • B series (4 stroke single cylinder)
    • B25 Fleet Star
    • B25 Starfire
    • B25 Barracuda
    • B25 SS Gold Star
    • B31
    • B32 Gold Star
    • B33
    • B34 Gold Star
    • B40 350 Star
    • B40 SS90
    • B44 Victor
    • B44
      • B44SS Shooting Star
      • B44VS Victor Special
    • B50
      • B50SS Gold Star 500
      • B50T Victor Trials
      • B50MX Motocross
  • C series (Four-stroke unit singles).
    • C10
    • C11/C11G: 12hp - 70mph - 85mpg - weight 250lbs.

The C11 used a C10 motor fitted with OHV top end. The frame on the C11 was almost unchanged until 1951 when BSA fitted a plunger rear end making only a little improvement to the quality of the ride. Early gearboxes were weak and were know to explode. The C11G was available as a 3 speed with rigid frame or 4 speed with the plunger frame version. Both models had better front brakes than earlier models. This model was a popular all round commuter motorcycle, and many can still be seen around today.

(1956 - 1958). 249cc OHV
    • C15 Star
    • C15T Trials
    • C15S Scrambler
    • C15SS80 Sports Star 80
    • C15 Sportsman
  • D series (Two-stroke single cylinder. See BSA Bantam for details)
    • D1
    • D3
    • D5
    • D7
    • D10
    • D13
    • D14/4
    • B175
  • Others (may include some export versions of models listed above)
    • BSA Barracuda
    • BSA Beagle
    • BSA Brigand - late 70s moto-cross style product by NVT with imported 50 cc 2 stroke engine.
    • BSA Dandy 70
    • BSA Sunbeam (Scooters, also produced as Triumph TS1, TW2 Tigress)
      • 175B1
      • 250B2
    • BSA Starfire
    • BSA Rocket Scrambler
    • BSA Rocket Gold Star
    • BSA Fury
    • BSA Hornet
    • Winged Wheel (auxiliary power unit for bicycles)
    • T65 Thunderbolt (essentially a Triumph TR6P with BSA Badges)

[edit] Cars

Car timeline

  • 1907 to 1914 various forms with capacities ranging from 2.5 to 4.2 litre. The larger cars were based on the 1907 Peking-Paris Itala.
  • 1910 BSA purchased the Daimler Company who took over car manufacture.
  • 1911 BSA car with Daimler engine.
  • 1912 Car production transferred to Coventry, BSA cars became rebadged Daimlers.
  • 1914 War stopped car production
  • 1921 BSA car production resumed with rear-wheel-drive air-cooled V-twin light car.
  • 1929 First BSA three-wheeler
  • 1931 TW-5 van version of the three-wheeler
  • 1931 BSA acquired Lanchester.
  • 1932 T-9 open four seat four-wheeler with a water-cooled four cylinder 9 hp (6.7 kW) engine (1075 cc).
  • 1932 V-9 Van version also produced.
  • 1932 Another BSA Rear-wheel-drive fluid flywheel 10 hp (7.5 kW) car, sold alongside the T9.
  • 1932 FW32 Four wheeled version of the 3-wheeler produced for 1 year
  • 1933 T-9 and V-9 production ceased
  • 1933 Four-cylinder engine version of the three and four-wheeled car was added to the range.
  • 1935 First Scout Series 2/3
  • 1936 to 1937 Scout Series 4
  • 1936 Three wheeled cars dropped
  • 1937 to 1938 Scout Series 5
  • 1938 to 1939 Scout Series 6
  • 1940 WWII stopped production of BSA cars
  • 1960 Jaguar Cars Ltd. acquired The Daimler Co. Ltd. and its subsidiaries from the BSA group.

[edit] Military vehicles

  • BSA Scout armoured car
  • "Type G Apparatus", Folding paratrooper bicycle, 32½ lb (15 kg) with parachute.

[edit] Military equipment

[edit] Air Rifles

  • BSA Mercury Air Rifle
  • BSA Meteor Air Rifle
  • BSA Lightning Air Rifle
  • BSA Superstar Air Rifle
  • BSA Goldstar Air Rifle
  • BSA Hornet Air Rifle
  • BSA Supersport Air Rifle
  • BSA Ultra Air Rifle
  • BSA Superten Air Rifle
  • BSA Spitfire Air Rifle

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Major and Notable British motorcycle marques
AJS - Ariel - BSA - Douglas - Excelsior - Matchless - Norton - Panther - Rudge - Royal Enfield - Scott - Sunbeam - Triumph - Velocette - Vincent HRD
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