Raleigh: The Great British Bicycle Company
- Thread starter Canuk
- Start date
Canuk
Senior Retro Guru
The Lenton Sports represented real value for money. Its specifications, while lacking the Clubman's alloy components and pencil type backstays, gave the rider a quality, Reynolds framed machine of the highest quality at a most affordable price; £14. 16 s. 0. d vs. £21. 12. 11 d. for the Clubman.
This combination of price and quality was a hallmark of the Lenton Sports for most of its long production run. Even when bested in specification by the Clubman and later the Super Lenton, it simply offered the most for the money.
This combination of price and quality was a hallmark of the Lenton Sports for most of its long production run. Even when bested in specification by the Clubman and later the Super Lenton, it simply offered the most for the money.
Canuk
Senior Retro Guru
The company established by Bowden in December 1888 was still privately owned with unlimited public liability. In January 1889, it became the first of a series of limited liability companies with Raleigh in its name. It had a nominal capital of £20,000, half of which was provided by Frank Bowden.
Paul Angois was appointed director responsible for product design, Richard Woodhead was made director responsible for factory management, and Frank Bowden became chairman and managing director. Some shares were made available to small investors and local businessmen, but take-up was minimal, and Bowden ended up buying most of the public shares. He subsequently supplied virtually all the capital needed to expand the firm.[
Paul Angois was appointed director responsible for product design, Richard Woodhead was made director responsible for factory management, and Frank Bowden became chairman and managing director. Some shares were made available to small investors and local businessmen, but take-up was minimal, and Bowden ended up buying most of the public shares. He subsequently supplied virtually all the capital needed to expand the firm.[
Canuk
Senior Retro Guru
Nice!
Canuk
Senior Retro Guru
Frank Bowden created a business in Raleigh which, by 1913, was the biggest bicycle manufacturing company in the world, occupying seven and a half acres in purpose-built premises completed in 1897 at Faraday Road, Lenton, Nottingham. It subsequently became very much bigger. Many say that Bowden invented the Bowden cable but there is no evidence to support this myth.
Sir Frank Bowden died in 1921 and his son Sir Harold Bowden, 2nd Baronet took over as chairman and chief executive, guiding the company through the next 17 years of expansion.
In 1931 their new headquarters in the Howitt Building on Lenton Boulevard was complete. This building was designed by Thomas Cecil Howitt and won a RIBA Bronze Medal. In 2018 the building was Grade II listed.
Sir Frank Bowden died in 1921 and his son Sir Harold Bowden, 2nd Baronet took over as chairman and chief executive, guiding the company through the next 17 years of expansion.
In 1931 their new headquarters in the Howitt Building on Lenton Boulevard was complete. This building was designed by Thomas Cecil Howitt and won a RIBA Bronze Medal. In 2018 the building was Grade II listed.
Rode one of these that a friend lent me when I was about 13; remember thinking it was incredible after normal steel rimmed 27" gaspipe stuff. Lovely.
Old Ned
Old School Grand Master
My first 'proper' bike was a Raleigh - or at least the frame was! No idea of the model but it was probably a late 50's model in a silver main finish and yellow head etc.. Plain gauge 531 and I fitted it with an 'eclectic' mix of parts that I had, begged or found. I bought it from a member of the Wrexham Wheelers who later became a clubmate. It was sold to another young Wrexham Whs clubmate who used it as his workbike on fixed wheel until the rear dropout snapped one morning on his way to work.
BTW, I recogise Paul Sherwin on the team photo, who are the others?
BTW, I recogise Paul Sherwin on the team photo, who are the others?
Canuk
Senior Retro Guru
No idea! But I think Malcolm Elliott was a team member
