Osborne Brothers of Lincoln

[Richard Tann]

Does anyone know anything about the Osborne brothers of Lincoln who made various designs of drive pulley for belt driven motorcycles in the period 1900 - 1910? They went on to make the Osborne motorcycle with a J.A.P. or Peugeot engine. As far as I can see there is no connection with OEC.

Ryle Samuel Osborne and his father, William Henry Osborne, the Vicar of Stainton, were very active in the Osborne Brothers business at this time. They had a business address in Rosemary Lane, and Princess Works, Monk's Road, Lincoln. There are plenty of press cuttings and adverts in period publications, but they don't tell the whole story.

RSO later moved to Birmingham and joined forces with J Taylor, the Peugeot engine importer. I believe thay produced a motorcycle marketed as the H.A.L, which were the initials of the sole agent, Holborn Autochange Ltd, 100, High Holborn, London EC. There is an advert on page 10 of "The Motor Cycle" June 29th, 1911 if you have a copy to hand!

I am researching and restoring a Peugeot engined motorcycle that I believe came from this enterprise.

Thank you for reading this, and the use of the message board. Any help gratefully received.

richard.tann (at) btinternet.com

[Buffers]

Confusingly between 1901 and 1909 Frederick Osborn marketed his early motorcycles under the name Osborne (with an e) before founding the Osborn Engineering Company (OEC) in Gosport, Hants. post WW1, so you're right in supposing there's no connection with the Osbourne brothers. Good luck with your restoration and quest for information.

[NeilD]

might be worth asking the museum of Lincolnshire life as they cover the local industrial history and have at least one locally made bike on display (a or possibly 'the' Lincoln Elk )
http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/visiting ... hire-life/

[Richard Tann]

I too have read that Frederick J Osborn, later of OEC, had a hand in the Osborne Motor Manufacturing Co of Lincoln in the early 1900's, but I can't see it. Different spelling, very different location, how would that work? Osborne Bros of Lincoln definitly had an Osborne Motor Bicycle with 4 speed and free engine pulley, and sliding back wheel (to take up the slack of the belt) at the 1908 Stanley Show. There doesn't seem to be any information on FJO's early bikes for comparison.

Also, I did try the Lincolnshire Vintage Vehicle Society which is part of the Lincolnshire Road Transport Museum, but no luck.

Thanks for your interest.

RT

[kenilworth]

Richard - you have obviously carried out a lot of research on this already!
Re the Osborn and Osborne names - In the 1931 book "Early Days in the British Motorcycle Industry", author Eric Walford writes-
"This was a period when experts often put together special machines with large engines, chiefly for track racing, Mr. F.J. Osborn, the designer of the O.E.C. motor bicycle, built a typical one in 1901, with a 4hp engine fitted in the 'Minerva' position." (i.e. ahead of the front downtube). An accompanying photo shows Osborn on the machine, its frame extended at the steering head to allow the large de Dion engine to fit in this position.
In 1961, author James Sheldon in "Veteran and Vintage Motorcycles" has-
"....during 1902 a number of makers who preferred the extra power of the big old single(de Dion), adopted this frame, including Alert, Excelsior, Matchless, Osborne (later O.E.C.) and Riley."
Probably, from thereon in, the confusion between the two names began and was repeated.
As you say, the Osbornes of Lincoln were particularly inventive, especially with their sliding rear wheel system that kept belt tension constant; but in their several patent applications, none of the family has the 'F.J.' initials. I suggest you are correct and the two similar namestyles are quite distinct and separate entities.
Osborne of Lincoln seemed to be going well, in a modest sort of way, by 1911 when, on 23 August, their factory was put out of action by a fire. Perhaps surfing the local newspapers of that date can reveal what happened next!

[Buffers]

Hang on, what's going on here? The subject line in this thread keeps changing from Osbourne to Osborne and back again...how can that happen? Don't know about you lot, but I'm starting to get confused

[Richard Tann]

As a result of my posting on this forum I have been contacted by a distant relation of Ryle Samuel Osborne. The respondant, not a motor cycle enthusiast and living in South Africa, was researching his own family history on the Internet and came across my posting by chance. He has given an interesting insight into RSO's family, and contact with more immediate descendants. He has also sent a photo of RSO standing proudly by an Osborne machine of c 1909 vintage.

The events leading up to the tragic fire at Princess Works are a tale in their own right, in fact, there is a booklet on it "Devils Let Loose" by Pat Nurse... the Story of the Lincoln Riots, 1911. The similarities to the Tottenham riots last year are uncanny... and our Government blamed the Internet!!

Immediatly after the fire RSO reformed under The Lindum Engineering Co, started dabbling with aircraft, and moved to Birmingham where he married twice and produced nine children. He fell out with a few people along the way, died in Birmingham, age 80.

With research and help from two friends I am putting together a document on my machine and it's maker. It's constantly changing as new information comes to light, but I will be happy to email it on to anyone who would like to see it.

Thanks again for you interest... and that changing subject line is certainly a mystery

Richard Tann