James of Birmingham

Harry James (1860-1905) started making his cycles about 1880 in a small factory in Constitution Hill, Birmingham.

By 1890 he had moved to larger premises in Sampson Road North, Sparkbrook, Birmingham, and the James Cycle Company was established in 1897. However, he was a sick man and retired as Managing Director in 1898. In 1908, after Harry James's death, the Company built new works at Greet. In 1902 a young engineer named Frank Kimberley was engaged: he was later to design the first James motorcycle, He retired in 1955, by which time the firm had been taken over by the AMC Company. On its failure in 1966, James was no more. Harry James's brother, John Thomas James (1861-1902), founded the Birmingham Rim Works, in Loveday Street, Birmingham. He manufactured cycle and motor cycle rims for tyres and after his death in 1902, Harry probably ran his firm which was re-named James H. and Co. (Rims).