Peters

1924. Exhibit at the National Motor Museum.

Peters were motorcycles produced from 1920 to 1925 by J. A. Peters (t/a Peter Motors), an aircraft designer. The company had an address at Ramsey, Isle of Man, but manufacture took place on the mainland.

• 1920 The machine was first described late that year.

• 1921 The motorcycle was introduced at the Olympia show and differed from most other lightweights of the period as it had a Peters engine in place of the usual bought-in one, and was fitted with rear suspension. The engine started out at 296cc but soon increased to 346cc, with the cylinder inclined forward and a large flywheel incorporating a variable-gear pulley for the belt drive. The spine frame had a large welded sheet-steel assembly that included petrol and oil tanks and steering head.

• Little more was heard of Peters for a few years and production was very small.

• 1924 Production was taken over by C. L. Brock and Co of Teddingtonn, Middlesex, and a version with a three-speed Burman gearbox and chain-cum-belt drive appeared.

• 1925 All-chain drive was an option on all models and a new one was launched. This had a 348cc sv Blackburne engine coupled to a three-speed Jardine gearbox. Nothing further came of Peters and they disappeared from sight.

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