| Catshed Old Chapelfields All posts by this member | 1 of 10 Mon 12th Mar 2012 2:53pm Member: Joined Feb 2012 Total posts:206 Grindlay-Peerless produced motorcycles from 1923 to 1934, in Shakleton Road, Coventry, BUT the company's origins began with body-building and side-cars from 1910 at Spon End (somewhere) as Shakleton Rd was only just built and had no houses/buildings on it in 1912 (on my map). My guess is they made the sidecars on the old Coventry Motor Sundries 'CMS' site then moved? Has anyone have any information where the original company started in 1910? I have also been told it was at that little garage that was set back on the right hand side of the Dyers Arms? Triumph - 'The Best Motorcycle in the World'. |
| Grindlay-Peerless Motorcycles, Spon End | |
| Midland Red Cherwell All posts by this member | 2 of 10 Mon 12th Mar 2012 3:33pm Moderator: Joined Jan 2010 Total posts:5147 The 1922 Telephone Directory shows :
Grindlay (Coventry) Ltd., Engineers, Melbourne Works, Spon End
In 1926 they were listed as Auto Engineers in Shakleton Road
Hope this helps
Mod's note : Spelling of Melbourne (abbreviated in Phone Book) corrected in this and subsequent posts |
| Grindlay-Peerless Motorcycles, Spon End | |
| Catshed Old Chapelfields All posts by this member Thread starter | 3 of 10 Mon 12th Mar 2012 3:38pm Member: Joined Feb 2012 Total posts:206 On 12th Mar 2012 3:18pm, dutchman said:
I'm unable to find any record of them being at either location in Spon End Lane. The nearest I could find was a cycle repairer by the name of Marriott who once shared an address with the Old Dyers Arms.
Thanks dutchman. So I'm told the building that is now 'CEF' in Shakleton Rd was where they made the motorcycles but I'm unable to find their original 1910 factory/building. As you know there were many cycle/motorcycle works in our city over the years and this is one of the more obscure ones.
 Triumph - 'The Best Motorcycle in the World'. |
| Grindlay-Peerless Motorcycles, Spon End | |
| Catshed Old Chapelfields All posts by this member Thread starter | 4 of 10 Mon 12th Mar 2012 3:44pm Member: Joined Feb 2012 Total posts:206 On 12th Mar 2012 3:33pm, Midland Red said:
The 1922 Telephone Directory shows :
Grindlay (Coventry) Ltd., Engineers, Melbourne Works, Spon End
In 1926 they were listed as Auto Engineers in Shakleton Road
Hope this helps
Thanks Midland Red, just got to find where the Melbourne Works, Spon End was  Triumph - 'The Best Motorcycle in the World'. |
| Grindlay-Peerless Motorcycles, Spon End | |
| dutchman Spon End All posts by this member | 5 of 10 Mon 12th Mar 2012 4:27pm Member: Joined Mar 2010 Total posts:2830 The Classic MotorCycle Magazine
Quote:
FIRST OF THE LINE Grindlay (Coventry) Ltd, Melbourne Works and Shakleton Road, Spon End. Alfred 'Bob' Grindlay (b1876) first found employment at the Riley Cycle Company on leaving school, becoming works manager by 1909. The following year he set up the Coventry Motor & Sundries Company at Spon End, and by 1921 he formed a partnership with Thomas E Musson, as Musson & Grindlay, specialist sidecar makers. These sidecars became very reputable, and this is supported by the fact that the company is known to have regularly exhibited them at the annual International Cycle, Motorcycle and Accessories Exhibition at Olympia in London, promoting them as 'sidecars to fit Triumph, Bradbury and Harley-Davidson'.
The first record of Musson: Motor Sundries suggests they occupied the former St Thomas Mission Room next to the Arches.
The Melbourne works was just up Melbourne Road behind the Nag's Head pub where the builder's merchants is today.
Mod's note : Spelling of Melbourne (abbreviated in Phone Book) corrected in this and other posts |
| Grindlay-Peerless Motorcycles, Spon End | |
| Beesman Cornwall All posts by this member | 6 of 10 Thu 15th Mar 2012 10:33pm Member: Joined Mar 2012 Total posts:334 I attended school in Coventry with a pupil named Grindlay, who always maintained that his great-grandfather was the founder of Grindlay Motorcycles. If you are interested I may be able to contact him. |
| Grindlay-Peerless Motorcycles, Spon End | |
| NeilsYard Coventry All posts by this member | 7 of 10 Mon 22nd Oct 2012 11:16pm Member: Joined Aug 2010 Total posts:2813 Just reviving this one with news of this sale: BBC News. Great to see Coventry made machinery is so valued  |
| Grindlay-Peerless Motorcycles, Spon End | |
| Foxcote Warwick All posts by this member | 8 of 10 Tue 23rd Oct 2012 8:53am Member: Joined Jan 2012 Total posts:834 They were still a lot of money in the old days,
Advertisement for Grindlay-Peerless Motorcycles.
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| Grindlay-Peerless Motorcycles, Spon End | |
| Dreamtime Perth Western Australia All posts by this member | 9 of 10 Tue 23rd Oct 2012 11:50am Member: Joined Jan 2010 Total posts:2877 Wow! Sidecar £12 10s including tyre. Wonder what it would be today.  |
| Grindlay-Peerless Motorcycles, Spon End | |
| Foxcote Warwick All posts by this member | 10 of 10 Tue 16th Apr 2013 7:54am Member: Joined Jan 2012 Total posts:834 I found this photograph but wasn't sure what model.
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| Grindlay-Peerless Motorcycles, Spon End | |
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