1919 Swift Cheylesmore Ladies Swan-Neck Cycle
This Swift Ladies Model was made by Swift while they were still at their Cheylesmore, Coventry factory (which closed in 1931).
I believe it’s from 1919 but I’ll confirm it, in due course, with the Swift Club.
I recently fitted a new front tyre and the Swift has also had a good service.
A spin around the countryside has confirmed that she rides well.
Of course, you may wonder at the idea of a chap riding a Ladies model. (I might have wondered myself before I started collecting old bicycles). But these days I just don’t care; there’s no way such etiquette would stop me riding a beautiful 90-year-old piece of machinery with its own unique character. And anyway, I happen to know that blokes also rode them back in the day – ladies models were sometimes advertised as ’suitable for women and clergy.’
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Swift of Coventry Ltd History
The Coventry Sewing Machine Co. was set up in King Street, Cheylesmore, Coventry, c1859 by James Starley and Josiah Turner to import and market sewing machines from America. Later they manufactured their own sewing machines and changed the name to The Coventry Machinists Co. In 1869 they started to manufacture velocipedes, bicycles, tricycles and quadricycles and became the second largest cycle maker in Great Britain under the name of the Swift Cycle Co. They produced a vast range of these machines, one model being named the “Swift” and another the “Club” as many cycle clubs were being set up at that time.
In 1898 they produced their first motor cycle and a motor tricycle. The first prototype car was made in 1900 which went into production in1901. It had a tubular chassis, a single cylinder de Dion engine and a two-speed back axle. The Swift Motor Co. was formed in 1902 and produced one, two, three and four-cylinder cars, first using proprietary engines up to about 1907 and then those designed by their Works Engineer, William Radford, which were made in their own factory. During the early 1900’s Swift entered their cars in reliability trials and won many gold medals. Up to 1915 several models were produced each year.
During the First World War the factory produced munitions, Renault and Hispano-Suiza aircraft engines, military bicycles and other war equipment. In 1919 the Company joined the ill-fated Harper-Bean organisation and changed its name to Swift of Coventry Ltd. Production was then concentrated on the four-cylinder 10hp and 12hp models which were renowned for their reliability. Although Swifts had their faithful followers, by the late 1920’s their hand-built cars could not compete with the mass-production methods of Morris, Austin, and Ford, whose similar cars sold for only half the price of Swifts. In spite of producing a cheaper 8hp model, the Cadet, with a Coventry Climax engine and a centre-change three-speed gear box in late 1930, this was insufficient to save the Company and the factory closed its doors for the last time in April 1931.
History with thanks to the Swift Club – http://www.theswiftclub.co.uk/
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The most interesting feature of this bicycle is the leather and celluloid chaincase.
You can still just about see the name ‘Swift’ in its centre.
And, below, you can see the two clips which are for threading the skirt guard
The lamp-holder displays an ‘S.’
According to the inscription, the rear tyre is an original ‘John Bull Service Tyre.’ I’m not sure if it still contains 1919 air.
In old cycling magazines, I’ve often seen tyre company adverts that remind their customers to inflate their tyres. This John Bull warns: ‘Keep inflated hard.’
Frame number is D3908.
The pretty little Lucas rear light is a period accessory.
Though she’s now had her mechanical restoration….
…I rarely touch cosmetics. I’m a paid-up member of the Oily Rag Club.
See also Page 7 on this website, regarding the Coventry Machinists Company. PLEASE CLICK HERE
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Kirk & Merifield, Swift Cycle Co,
Swift Works, Moseley St, Birmingham 8
The names of established bicycle manufacturing companies were a saleable commodity.
The ads below relate to the new Swift Company, of Birmingham, owned by Kirk & Merifield, and are from 1939:
Finally, below you can see a woodcut from 1898, illustrating a Swift bicycle. It’s by Blamire Young of Australia.
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Compare the Swift with my smaller 1910 Triumph:
