Bill Cakebread gave us a talk on Matchless motorcycles and the Collier family that founded the company. The company was founded by Henry Collier b1859. Henry, originally from Cheshire, moved south to work at the Woolwich Arsenal. He developed a sideline of manufacturing bicycles and then hiring them out. He was involved in a steam laundry partnership, which later was dissolved.
The company Matchless, later to become AMC was sited in Plumstead. As his two eldest sons grew up, they took an active interest in the business and in 1899, Henry, the eldest was the driving force in adding engines to the bicycles. At one time they even built an aeroplane.
In 1907, Charlie the second son won the first ever TT race on a Matchless. Both brothers continued as successful racers and Harry took the TT 24 hour solo record in 1909. Charlie was still competing in his 50s.
The daughters also worked in the factory. Although it was located close to the Woolwich Arsenal, the factory escaped any major damage during World War II. Unfortunately the third son, Bert who lived in Sevenoaks was killed in a motorcycle accident in the war.
Despite their success, the Colliers remained a modest family with few luxuries except a country cottage at Wrotham. By 1954, all three sons were dead. The company by now Associated Motor Cycles Limited failed to keep pace with modern demands. The sidecar no longer appealed to families, the mini had taken over. The design of the solo machines was not keeping pace with the market either. Without the sons’ enthusiasm, the company struggled and in 1966, AMC was declared bankrupt. Taken over, it carried on until finally closing in 1969.
Bill showed pictures from Collier family archive, which had been made available to him for his book of the Collier family history. There were also pictures from the factory dating from his joining in 1958. These highlighted the changes that have been made in factory environments today. They illustrated the camaraderie that existed at the time. It was a reminder that the days of mass reproduction of motorcycles in Britain are no longer.
Report by Sue Hudswell