Frank Edward Baker
Frank Edward Baker (c1876-1941), founder of F. E. Baker and later of Baker Motor Cycles
1875 March 27th. Born in Poole, Dorset, the son of Samuel Lockyer Baker, a Builder, and his wife Elizabeth Ann Jarvis
1896 September 21st. Married in Cheltenham to Clara Alice Hooper. FEB is a Cycle Engineer and living at Salisbury.
Frank Baker had worked for Eadie Manufacturing Co, Royal Enfield and Premier Cycles.
1901 Living at the Old Vicarage, Bromsgrove Road, Redditch: Frank E. Baker (age 26 born Poole), Works Manager of Cycle Factory - Mechanical Engineer. With his wife Clara A. Baker (age 40 born Morehampton, Hfds) and their two daughters Dorothy S. Baker (age 3 born Salisbury) and Laura A. Baker (age 1 born Upper Norwood). Also his sister-in-law Laura S. Ford (age 23 born Brinsop, Hfds).[1]
1906 Formed F. E. Baker
1911 Living at 52 Woodland Road, Brinsop, Northfield, Worcs: Frank Edward Baker (age 36 born Poole), Engineer (Mechanical) Managing Director of Motor Cycle Engineers. With his wife Clara Alice Baker (age 51 born Monhampton, Herefordshire) and their two daughters Dorothy Ethel Baker (age 13 born Salisbury) and Laura Alice Baker (age 11 born Upper Norwood). One servant.[2]
1926 Founded Baker Motor Cycles
1941 January 4th. Died, of 198 West Heath Road, Northfield. Administration of his widow Clara Alice Baker.
1941 Obituary.[3]
The death has taken place of Mr. Frank Edward Baker, founder and managing director of F. E. Baker, Ltd., Precision Works, King’s Norton.
Mr. Baker was born at Poole, Dorset, sixty-five years ago and at the age of twenty came to Birmingham. During the next fifteen years he became in turn works manager of the Eadie Manufacturing Company, Ltd., Redditch, the Motor Company, and Webley and Scott, Ltd.
During a period spent in America he became associated with the late Mr. Samuel A. Miles, whom he assisted in the publication of 'The Cycle Referee'. He was vicepresident of the Cycle Engineers Institute (which later became the Institution of Automobile Engineers) during the time when Messrs. H. Austin (now Lord Austin), Hillman, J. L. Norton, C. Sangster and W. Starley were developing the British cycle and motor industry. Many patents stood in his name.
About the year 1910 he formed a company in Birmingham to manufacture the Precision motor-cycle engine. The premises soon became inadequate an in 1913 he built the present Works at King’s Norton.
Until the time of his death Mr. Baker was Midland representative for Associated Motor Cycles, Ltd. He was a Freemason of many years standing and held offices in the Province of Worcestershire in both Craft and Royal Arch Masonry.
Mr. Baker is survived by his widow and two daughters. The funeral will take place Northfield Parish Church to-morrow.