Norman Downs
Imperial were motorcycles produced between 1901 and 1903, by Norman Downs in Birmingham. It was the name he used when he founded the company and before he added New in front of it.
1901 Having already been established in the bicycle trade, Downs entered the powered market at the Stanley Show. A model was exhibited that had a 3.5hp engine mounted above the front wheel which it drove by belt. Only one machine was sold and all the others were used by staff.
1901 It is also said that he created New Imperial in 1901 but no official record of the earliest company formation has been found. Official records do show the formation of a limited company in 1908, called the New Imperial Cycle Company.
1902 At the show they had a 2hp model.
1903 They were no longer in the market.
See Also
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