DESIGN ARCHIVE: PASHLEY CYCLES

Design Archive: Pashley Cycles

Est. 1926

Location: Stratford-upon-Avon (UK)

Pashley Cycles is England's longest established bicycle manufacturer. Founded in 1926 and based in Stratford-upon-Avon, they design and hand-build a unique range of specialist bicycles and tricycles.

In 1926 William Rathbone “Rath” Pashley founded ‘Pashley and Barber’ in New John Street West, Birmingham.  Pashley and Barber proudly declared that they were ‘Manufacturers of every type of cycle’ (a claim still valid today) and that ‘Birmingham produces the Finest Cycles, these are Birmingham’s Best’.  The model range included everyday roadsters, clubman’s racing machines, tradesman’s carrier cycles and ‘the famous Pashley tandem’.  Barber was Meg Pashley’s (Rath’s wife) maiden name.  ‘Rath’ had been apprenticed to the Austin Motor Company before the first world war and saw military service as adispatch rider.  These occupations in his early years gave him both engineering knowledge and skill, and a lifelong interest in two wheeled transport.

Competition in the cycle trade was very fierce and after a short while ‘Rath’ Pashley realised that success would come through identifying a market niche.  A new company, Pashley Carrier Cycles, was formed to concentrate on building tough carrier cycles which were designed to withstand the abuse thrown at them by errand boys.

In 1936 the company was incorporated as W. R. Pashley Ltd. and moved to a spacious new factory (over 30,000 square feet) in Chester Street, Aston.  As prosperity returned after the depression the company increasingly focused on delivery and vending tricycles – for dairy products, ice cream and general deliveries.  This led on to the manufacture of Ice Cream Carts, Platform Refreshment trolleys and specialist units for the dairy and catering trades.

In the 1930s Pashley made almost every single part of their cycles in their own factory – for the frames, only the tubing and lugs were bought in.  Frame building, brakes, wheels, sheet metal work, polishing and enamelling were all carried out in the works.

During the Second World War, Pashley, like many other engineering firms, turned some of its production capacity over to aid the war effort.  Pashley’s multi-disciplinary manufacturing capability proved to be of considerable value to the country and the company produced Browning machine gun mounts amongst other equipment.

In the years following the war carrier cycles were still in high demand but it was the continuation of the supply of larger tricycles, and the infant development of the motor car for the mass market that received most of Pashley’s attention.  Having made motor rickshaws in the late 1940s, Pashley started the manufacture of Brockhouse Indian Motor Tricycles in 1950 – J. Brockhouse and Co. of Birmingham having acquired the Indian Motorcycle Company of Massachusetts and sub-contracted the manufacture to Pashley.  These had a conventional ‘two wheels at the back’ tricycle layout, similar to the Pashley Pelican motorised rickshaw – with seats for up to four passengers – and the driver.  It is understood that Pashley were the first company to fit hydraulic brakes to what was, technically, a motorcycle.  This innovation may have been influenced by John Pashley, Rath’s younger son, who worked at Girling.  The prototype Pelican rickshaw has recently returned to the company and awaits restoration.

Pashley also dabbled in car manufacture in 1953, again with a conventional tricycle layout.  Perhaps the most successful of the motorised Pashley tricycles was the ‘3 cwt Light Delivery Truck’, this with a ‘kendrick’ wheel layout – two wheels at the front, giving the driver a view of both the loadspace and the overall vehicle width, useful for manoeuvering in tight spaces.

As more conventional motorised transport became available to most businesses in the early 1960s, Pashley’s focus moved away from motorised vehicles and, together with the carrier cycles, trolleys, carts and street barrows, large numbers of road trailers were manufactured, both as simple chassis and fully bodied.

The 1960s was a pivotal era for Pashley.  Rath’s son, Dick, took control of the company on his father’s retirement.  Dick had recently moved to Stratford-upon-Avon, and took the bold decision to move the company from Aston to brand new premises on Masons Road, Stratford.   At one time Pashley had three factories all in the Masons Road area. John Kerby became Factory Manager in 1968 and remains in the same job at Pashley to this day.

With the advent of small wheel bicycles, pioneered by Alex Moulton in 1962, Dick Pashley developed a simple ‘shopping’ tricycle, now known as the Pashley Picador.  Many thousands of these have been sold since, users being delighted with the stability and low step-through frame.  It’s all welded construction was very unusual for the cycle industry at the time, and many years were to pass before other manufacturers adopted this method.  A similar two wheeled shopping bicycle, the Piccolo, was also manufactured. 

As traditional roadster bicycles were being removed from the ranges of other British manufacturers, Pashley decided to focus on classic roadsters (indeed some famous manufacturers sold ‘badge-engineered’ Pashley roadsters in the 1980s), to the original 1920s design.  For many years versions of these saw service in large numbers in developing countries under the patronage of UNICEF.  These classic bicycles remain true to their roots in design and manufacture and are still in high demand in home and export markets.

From the early 1970s Pashley supplied bicycles to the Royal Mail, who operate what is claimed to be the largest bicycle fleet in the western world.  With Pashley’s history and expertise mainly devoted to the Carrier Cycle, it is a natural partnership that still remains strong, despite Royal Mail’s decreasing commitment to bicycles for postal delivery.  Reinforcing their position in the carrier cycle market, Pashley acquired Gundle, the last other surviving manufacturer of Carrier Cycles, in 1974.  For many years Gundle models were built alongside the Pashley range, before being absorbed into the Pashley RH (famously named after Rath’s ‘local’ - the ‘Robin Hood’ pub in Hall Green’) and SW (now Delibike) range.

Always looking for unusual niches in the cycle market, Pashley launched the ‘Pickle’ children’s tricycle was launched in the 1981.  It was closely modelled on the Raleigh “Winkie” trike of the 1950s and featured proper ball bearing hubs, headset, bottom bracket and pedals which make it easier and more fun to ride than its cheap competitors.  Pashley tandems made a re-appearance in the late 1970s with the introduction of the Tourmaster.  These were constructed along more simple lines than conventional tandems, and, like the Picador, used lugless construction, - as a result they were versatile and inexpensive – and very popular.

In 1984 Pashley launched what was to be the last ‘All British’ bicycle – the Patriot.  This was a conventional sports light roadster design with all components sourced from the UK.  Some components soon became unavailable and the Patriot name was used later for a 24” wheel hire bike.

In 1991 Pashley entered into an agreement to manufacture the new small-wheeled, full suspension Moult

on ‘All Purpose Bicycle’ (APB), which brought all the features of the state-of-the-art Moulton AM series to mass-market customers.  The APB 12 and APB 5 were launched in the spring of 1992.   In 1995, a unique licensing deal with Land Rover resulted in the launch a versatile, durable variant of the Moulton APB, the ‘Land-Rover APB’.  This innovative bicycle sold in large numbers both to Land Rover owners and Moulton enthusiasts.  Further, more conventional, ‘Land Rover’ models followed, including the XCB, one of the first bicycles with hydraulic disc brakes in the UK.

1992 also saw significant updates to the bicycle for the Royal Mail, bringing safe, reliable drum brakes and the luxury of three gears to Postal delivery staff.  Design input from Pashley in 1998 much improved this, the final Royal Mail designed bicycle.

For much of the 1990s, Pashley were producing one-, two- and three-wheeled cycles.  Unicycles were an interesting side-line for the company and as well as standard and tall (‘Giraffe’) models, Pashley created the UMX (BMX type) and the Muni (Mountain Unicycle), surprisingly successful in off-road cycle racing events. “Muni” became a generic term thereafter in unicycling circles.

In late 1994 the Pashley family relinquished control to the employees in a management buy-out.

Pashley Special Products, was set up to develop and market new models and the stylish Tuberider modelled on the war-time BSA Paratrooper’s bicycle with twin curved tubed frame was the first of these new products. Star of the Bike '96 show it was received with much acclaim by the leading cycling and style magazines alike. The Paramount then “Parabike”, using the same frame but fully fitted out for commuting and city use followed soon after.

At the end of 1997 Pashley absorbed Cresswell Cycles, a manufacturer of folding bicycles and specialist trailer trikes.  Production of these was transferred to Stratford-upon-Avon.

During 1998, the “TVSeries” range was introduced. There are times when a radical departure from tradition is justifiable, and the TVSeries was just that. With so many young, enthusiastic riders at Pashley, it found an outlet for their talents and energies. A range of Trials and Trails frames was the result. All were cleverly designed to handle extreme riding conditions and configured for optimum performance and agility. Team riders included brothers Matt & Eddie Tongue, Tim Stedman, Kye & Toby Forte and Dylan Clayton.

At the turn of the century, the British bicycle industry was at a low ebb. Raleigh, like so many others, had closed its manufacturing plant and outsourced their frame production overseas (they were shortly to close their factory entirely) and major suppliers like Haden Bros. and Sturmey Archer ceased trading.  Whilst working to ensure continuity of supply of hundreds of components, Pashley shareholders also managed to save Brooks, the famous leather saddle company, from the bankrupt husk of Sturmey Archer.  Brooks is now under the ownership of Selle Royal and Sturmey Archer has been re-born in Taiwan – Pashley continue to enjoy a special relationship with both of these major suppliers.

During this time, Pashley were also facing international competition for the supply of Royal Mail bicycles.  For the first time, Royal Mail required the supplier to design the bicycle as well as manufacture it.  After a year-long test programme, involving 180 bicycles from three manufacturers, the Pashley MailStar was chosen as the new Royal Mail bicycle and deliveries began in 2001. The company continues to supply Royal Mail and other mail delivery companies at home and overseas.

In recent years Pashley has seen strong demand for its Classic models, particularly the ladies “Princess” traditional looped framed bicycle, with wicker basket and Brooks leather saddle and the gents “Roadster” with its regal riding position atop 28” wheels.  Pashley has continued to evolve these time-served designs and in 2007 – having taken inspiration from an old ‘30s catalogue - persuaded Reynolds to re-introduce its legendary “531” tubing which was then employed firstly in the trend setting “GUV’NOR” model and latterly the “Clubman” range of urban and leisure / touring bikes.

Pashley today employs 54 people and exports 40% of its production to up to 50 countries worldwide.

Many thanks to Adrian Williams, CEO of Pashley Cycles, for sharing these exclusive insights, along with allowing Obsessionistas unique access to the company's historical archive material.

Visit the Pashley Cycles website here.

All images © Pashley Cycles and published with their with kind permission.