AJS Motorcycles
From the early 1900s to the present day, AJS motorcycles have seen many ups and downs. The original company, formed by the Stevens' family in the UK, has been bough and sold a number of times but is again British owned.
Although there have been a number of stops and starts over the years, the AJS motorcycle name has been around since the early 1900s to the present day.
The original AJS company was established by the Stevens family, which consisted of Joe, Harry, George, Albert John (known as Jack) and Joe Junior.However, the original company - Stevens Screw Company Ltd. – which was based in Wednesfield, England, was started by Joe Senior, who had earned a reputation for quality engineering work.
The first foray into motorcycle production came about in 1897 when the Stevens company produced a basic motorcycle using an American Mitchell single cylinder 4-stroke engine.Before long, the Mitchell engine became the basis for the company's own designs, which included singles, twins and V-twins. These engines were initially sold to other motorcycle manufacturers such as Clyno, Werner and Wolf. The first complete motorcycle built by the company was offered for sale in August 1910 and was known as the AJS model A.
The name AJS name was derived from Albert John Stevens' initials.
As with most of the early motorcycle manufacturers, AJS saw racing as an ideal place to showcase their machines. The 1911 IOM TT saw AJS machines finishing 15th and 16th, the latter machine ridden by Jack Stevens.
As demand for the AJS engines and motorcycle grew, the company did not enter a works’ bike again until 1914 when the company took first, second, third, fourth and sixth places in the Junior TT.
Demand for the company's products was strong after these early results, which forced the company to relocate to larger premises’ build around Graiseley House in Wolverhampton. At this time the main product line included a 349-cc machine (the 2¾ hp) and a 6-hp 800-cc V-Twin.
The First World War interrupted motorcycle development and manufacturing at AJS as the company went over to munition production. However, in 1917 the Russian army ordered a number of military vehicles including some of the AJS model Ds.
After the war, the 350-cc machine was developed to include an overhead valve design which helped to increase the power to 10-hp. The new bike also had internal expanding brakes and a chain driven primary transmission. Further wins in the TT came with this machine ridden by Cyril Williams.
In 1921 AJS machines also excelled at the TT including a win in the senior race with one of their 350-cc machines ridden by none other than Howard Raymond Davies (HRD Vincent). The 350 AJS would be one of the most popular AJS models for street and track during the 20s. However, many other models were produced around this time including V-Twins, touring and sporting side valve 350s, OHC 350s, 498-cc OHV and OHC models (MR8 and M10), and various sidecar options for touring, sports and commercial use.
Success on the track did not always translate to sales in dealers’ sales rooms. And one machine in particular had a far reaching effect on the entire company--a V-twin transverse 500 with alloy cylinder heads and shaft drive produced in 90. It had cost the company a considerable amount to develop and had put the company into financial trouble. The financial situation became so dire that the company declared bankruptcy in 1931. The assets were purchased by the Collier brothers who owned Matchless motorcycles. Motorcycle production moved to Plumstead in London.
In an effort to streamline and standardize motorcycle production, a new company was formed in 1938 called Associated Motorcycles. Within this company AJS and Matchless motorcycles were effectively the same machines with different badges.However, the AJS name was used on some road racers such as the Porcupine and the 7R (affectionately known as the boy racer).
As the AJS brand name had been absorbed into Associated Motorcycles, new machines of varying types appeared over the years, badged accordingly. However purists often argued that only motorcycles built up to 1931 were truly AJS's.
Note: Today, AJS is a British owned company manufacturing small to medium sized motorcycles in China.
1. AJS Motorcycles
Although there have been a number of stops and starts over the years, the AJS motorcycle name has been around since the early 1900s to the present day.
The original AJS company was established by the Stevens family, which consisted of Joe, Harry, George, Albert John (known as Jack) and Joe Junior.However, the original company - Stevens Screw Company Ltd. – which was based in Wednesfield, England, was started by Joe Senior, who had earned a reputation for quality engineering work.
The first foray into motorcycle production came about in 1897 when the Stevens company produced a basic motorcycle using an American Mitchell single cylinder 4-stroke engine.Before long, the Mitchell engine became the basis for the company's own designs, which included singles, twins and V-twins. These engines were initially sold to other motorcycle manufacturers such as Clyno, Werner and Wolf. The first complete motorcycle built by the company was offered for sale in August 1910 and was known as the AJS model A.
The name AJS name was derived from Albert John Stevens' initials.
As with most of the early motorcycle manufacturers, AJS saw racing as an ideal place to showcase their machines. The 1911 IOM TT saw AJS machines finishing 15th and 16th, the latter machine ridden by Jack Stevens.
As demand for the AJS engines and motorcycle grew, the company did not enter a works’ bike again until 1914 when the company took first, second, third, fourth and sixth places in the Junior TT.
Demand for the company's products was strong after these early results, which forced the company to relocate to larger premises’ build around Graiseley House in Wolverhampton. At this time the main product line included a 349-cc machine (the 2¾ hp) and a 6-hp 800-cc V-Twin.
The First World War interrupted motorcycle development and manufacturing at AJS as the company went over to munition production. However, in 1917 the Russian army ordered a number of military vehicles including some of the AJS model Ds.
After the war, the 350-cc machine was developed to include an overhead valve design which helped to increase the power to 10-hp. The new bike also had internal expanding brakes and a chain driven primary transmission. Further wins in the TT came with this machine ridden by Cyril Williams.
In 1921 AJS machines also excelled at the TT including a win in the senior race with one of their 350-cc machines ridden by none other than Howard Raymond Davies (HRD Vincent). The 350 AJS would be one of the most popular AJS models for street and track during the 20s. However, many other models were produced around this time including V-Twins, touring and sporting side valve 350s, OHC 350s, 498-cc OHV and OHC models (MR8 and M10), and various sidecar options for touring, sports and commercial use.
Success on the track did not always translate to sales in dealers’ sales rooms. And one machine in particular had a far reaching effect on the entire company--a V-twin transverse 500 with alloy cylinder heads and shaft drive produced in 90. It had cost the company a considerable amount to develop and had put the company into financial trouble. The financial situation became so dire that the company declared bankruptcy in 1931. The assets were purchased by the Collier brothers who owned Matchless motorcycles. Motorcycle production moved to Plumstead in London.
2. AJS Motorcycles, From England to China
In an effort to streamline and standardize motorcycle production, a new company was formed in 1938 called Associated Motorcycles. Within this company AJS and Matchless motorcycles were effectively the same machines with different badges.However, the AJS name was used on some road racers such as the Porcupine and the 7R (affectionately known as the boy racer).
As the AJS brand name had been absorbed into Associated Motorcycles, new machines of varying types appeared over the years, badged accordingly. However purists often argued that only motorcycles built up to 1931 were truly AJS's.
Note: Today, AJS is a British owned company manufacturing small to medium sized motorcycles in China.
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