Book Review

“New Imperial Motorcycles” – Second Edition

Author: Chas G Lipscombe

Foreword: David Jarvis, Technical Secretary, New Imperial Owners’ Association. Dedicated to the late Fred Pateman, founder and former Honorary Life President of the New Imperial Owners’ Association. Available from Andy Dean via email andy@keephatch.net or call 07799 848914. Hardbound, 215 x 300mm (portrait); 385 pages, with circa 1000 photographs and illustrations – limited run of 500 copies.

ISBN: 978-1-3999-0062-1

£48 UK; $82 Canada, $65 USA; $91 Australia, all prices plus postage.

The history of The Imperial Cycle and Motor Company, later New Imperial Motors, is really the story of one man, Norman Tuckwood Downs. Downs founded these companies and remained virtually in sole control until his death in 1936.

Norman Downs’ first known connection with the cycle and motorcycle trade was as company secretary of a cycle manufacturer called Heal & Tonks. Downs later purchased part of Heal & Tonks from the receiver to found his own company called The Imperial Cycle and Motor Company. New Imperial as such was not formed until 1908.

The 1920s were very prosperous times for New Imperial, with cycles and JAPengined motorcycles selling well and their riders gaining world speed records and winning two Lightweight Isle of Man TTs.

A young Matt Wright joined the company as chief engineer and they started producing their own engines and gearboxes, along with having a new modern factory built and greatly increasing their model range. This was, indeed, a bad decision, as following the world recession they were left with many unsold machines.

In line with the public’s so-called ‘demands’ they produced modern machines with unit-construction, geared primary drive and full rear suspension. However, when it came to it, the conservative buying public were not impressed and sales were very poor, except for their brilliant little 150cc ohv Model 23 Unit Minor which sold very well, but, unfortunately, its profit margin was so small it did little to help the company’s increasing debts.

The 250cc Grand Prix model was a popular and successful production racer along with the fabulous 500cc V-twin, most famously ridden by

Ginger Wood.

The untimely 1936 death of the dynamic Norman Downs was juxtaposed with Bob Foster winning the year’s Lightweight TT on his works, unitconstruction New Imperial. Despite this success, sales were still poor and the company went into receivership.

Author Chas Lipscombe is to be congratulated on this excellent second edition, which is the complete guide to New Imperial motorcycles and the result of many years’ research, combining much new information in this 385-page tome. It features approximately 1000 photographs and illustrations depicting every model ever made by New Imperial, with complete descriptions of all models and interviews with famous personalities associated with the marque.