Grace's Guide To British Industrial History

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Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 167,711 pages of information and 247,105 images on early companies, their products and the people who designed and built them.

Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 147,919 pages of information and 233,587 images on early companies, their products and the people who designed and built them.

Swallow: Difference between revisions

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1. '''Swallow''' were motorcycles produced from 1903 to 1905, by a Mr Hodge, at his garage in Park Lane, Tottenham, London.  The name appeared on cars as well as motorcycles.
'''Swallow''' were motorcycles produced from 1903 to 1905, by a Mr Hodge, at his garage in Park Lane, Tottenham, London.  The name appeared on cars as well as motorcycles.


His machines used [[Chater-Lea]] frames fitted with [[Minerva]] and [[Fafnir]] engines, and a two-speed gear where required. A [[forecars|forecar]] model was also offered; this too with the [[Fafnir]] engine.
His machines used [[Chater-Lea]] frames fitted with [[Minerva]] and [[Fafnir]] engines, and a two-speed gear where required. A [[forecars|forecar]] model was also offered; this too with the [[Fafnir]] engine.


It is thought that normal garage business brought this venture to an end.
It is thought that normal garage business brought this venture to an end.
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[[Image:Swallow3-1954.jpg|thumb|1954 Dioretti]]
‎‎[[Image: ‎Im19361015MC-Swallow1.jpg|thumb|1936.]]
‎‎[[Image: ‎Im19361015MC-Swallow2.jpg|thumb|1936.]]
‎‎[[Image: ‎Im19361015MC-Swallow3.jpg|thumb|1936.]]
2. The '''Swallow''' motor scooter was made and sold by the [[Swallow Coachbuilding Co]] of Walsall, Staffordshire, from November 1946 until September 1951.
* 1947 Already well known for its sidecars, the firm introduced the ''Gadabout''.  It was fairly basic and lacked performance.  This was due to the combination of its weight and the use of the small Villiers 9D pre-war engine.
* 1949 The Mark II model was introduced, it had rubber in torsion front suspension and the foot-change [[Villiers]] ''10D'' engine with fan-cooling. Both ''Gadabout'' models had been available with a '''Swallow''' box sidecar, named the ''Gadabout Commercial''.
* 1951 Some later Mark II models were given the [[Villiers]] ''6E'' 197cc engine becoming the ''Gadabout Commercial Major Mark III'' The arrival of the sleek and stylish Italian makes brought production to a close.
* 1954 Advert for ''Dioretti'' on this page. <ref>[http://www.historyworld.co.uk/index.php] History World</ref>
* ''Note:'' The firm continued with its production of sidecars and then concentrated on the '''Swallow''' ''Dioretti'' sports car.
==See Also==
* [http://www.doretti.co.uk/page5.htm] Swallow Dioretti web page
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swallow_Sidecar_Company] Swallow Sidecar Company


== Sources of Information ==
== Sources of Information ==
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* The Encyclopedia of the Motorcycle by Peter Henshaw. Published 2007. ISBN 978 1 8401 3967 9
* The Encyclopedia of the Motorcycle by Peter Henshaw. Published 2007. ISBN 978 1 8401 3967 9
<references/>
<references/>
[[Category:Motorcycles]]

Revision as of 15:58, 27 January 2009

Swallow were motorcycles produced from 1903 to 1905, by a Mr Hodge, at his garage in Park Lane, Tottenham, London. The name appeared on cars as well as motorcycles.

His machines used Chater-Lea frames fitted with Minerva and Fafnir engines, and a two-speed gear where required. A forecar model was also offered; this too with the Fafnir engine.

It is thought that normal garage business brought this venture to an end.

Sources of Information

  • The British Motorcycle Directory - Over 1,100 Marques from 1888 - by Roy Bacon and Ken Hallworth. Pub: The Crowood Press 2004 ISBN 1 86126 674 X
  • The Encyclopedia of the Motorcycle by Peter Henshaw. Published 2007. ISBN 978 1 8401 3967 9
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