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1925 ~ 1970s(?) Birmingham
"...1956 saw the formation
of the British Cycle Corporation by the Tube Investments Group which already
owned Phillips, Hercules, Armstrong,
and Norman. In 1957,
Raleigh bought the BSA Cycles Ltd., which gave them exclusive use
of the former brand names New Hudson and Sunbeam. Raleigh also
already owned the Robin Hood brand, and Three Spires with
Triumph (cycles) also at their disposal.
"BSA had itself acquired Triumph Cycle Co. Ltd. only five
years previously. Ti added the Sun bicycle company to their stable in
1958, and with two "super groups" now controlling a large portion of the
market, it was perhaps inevitable that in 1960, Tube Investments acquired
Raleigh and merged the British Cycle Corporation with Raleigh to form
TI–Raleigh, which now had 75% of the UK market. TI–Raleigh then acquired Carlton
Cycles in Worksop, England that same year, at the time one of the largest
semi-custom lightweight makers in the UK. Ti Raleigh gave total control of
its cycle division to Raleigh and soon set about marketing many of the
acquired names as budget ranges, though with Raleigh frames. The old British
Cycle Corporation factory at Handsworth continued to produce non Raleigh
branded product well into the 1970s, with Raleigh branded models built in
the main plant at Nottingham."
Link to Graces Guide with an outline of Armstrong's history
and many ads from the 1930s.
Click on images for larger view
Updated 3.16.2018 |