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Vintage Royal Enfield

Royal Enfield History

The Enfield Cycle Company began in 1893, founded by George Townsend as a division of the Givry Works which manufactured sewing needles. After Townsend 's death his son George Jr. decided to get into the burgeoning bicycle business, starting off with a iron-framed cycle with wooden wheels.



In the late 1891 the company was facing financial difficulties and was taken over by R.W. Smith and Albert Eadie, and renamed the 'Eadie Manufacturing Company, Ltd.' By the late 1800s Eadie was supplying weapons parts to the 'Royal Small Arms Factory' located in Enfield, Middlesex, and decided to name their new bicycle line the "Enfield."

The "Royal" was added to the bicycle's name in 1892, becoming the 'Enfield Manufacturing Co. Ltd.,' and the slogan "Made Like A Gun," was added a year later.


The Royal Enfield Motorcycle

Royal Enfield built their first motorcycle in 1901, with a 150cc or 239cc engine. In 1907 Enfield merged with the 'Alldays & Onions Pneumatic Engineering Co.' of Birmingham, and began manufacturing the Enfield-Allday automobile.



1968 Royal Enfield Interceptor 755
1968 Royal Enfield Interceptor 755

By 1910 Royal Enfield was using 344cc Swiss Motosacoche V-Twins engines, or large-displacement JAP and Vickers-Wolseley engines.


The Royal Enfield Bullet

At the start of World War II Royal Enfield began building motorcycles for the military war effort, producing the 125cc 'Airborne,' or "Flying Flea" which was designed to be parachuted to the troops in the field. In 1931 Royal Enfield also introduced a single-cylinder four-valve motorcycle that was named the "Bullet."



Royal Enfield Flat Track Fury
1965 Royal Enfield Flat Track Fury

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