Vale Onslow Motorcycles - Birmingham - 2010

[Derelict-UK]

This was a permission visit, mainly due to the fact it is still in use, well most of it anyway!


This is a working shop, it is still trading and open to the public, the owners gave me permission to document the workshops and trade area as well as everything else. The owners would not like other people coming in asking if they can take pictures, so please don't hassle them.


An old colleague of mine, is the son-in-law of one of the owners of Vale-Onslow Motor Cycles in Birmingham.


History:

Leonard Leslie Hubert Vale-Onslow Snr. rode his first motor cycle at the age of 8 back in 1908.

Around 1926 Len Vale-Onslow Snr. invented the Super Onslow Special (SOS) motor cycle, the first ever motor cycle with a welded production motorcycle frame, the method most companies still use to make bikes today.

Len had a very active life and enjoyed riding bikes up until the age of 102. He was made an MBE in 1995 for his life long services to the motor cycling world.

Unfortunately in 2004 Len died at the fine age of 103. Part of the business is still a shrine to himself and the family still run the shop and repair workshop to this day.

I would just like to thank everyone who allowed me to take the time to document this place, It is one of Birmingham's (If not, England's) more important sites of motor heritage that is still active.


This place reminded me of the Parker & Hale gun factory, so many items in every nook & cranny.


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16. This is Len Senior's workshop, left exactly as it was when he died...


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[Derelict-UK]

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D-UK

[KingElvis]

Some awesome stuff in there, bet it goes back years.

Great report.

[ROYALBOB]

Wow, what a place, real timewarp, love stuff like this, top pics too!

[yorkietommo]

Wow. Seriously cool place. Some years worth there!

The numberplate shot with the 8 hangin off is proper goodness.

[blueink]

awsome place dude image 28 is a real winner for me

[Derelict-UK]

Yeah the number plate shot is a good favourite of mine too

[tornado64]

awesome !! we used to have a place like that close by ( unfortunately lost to fire ) love the little blue honda cb50j my mate had one of those ( same colour too ) i rode it and they're a nice little bike , most of the british junk seems to be in "as new" condition

very intresting place bet those new old stock triumph tanks sell for some hefty wonga !!

thanks for shareing !!

[sqwasher]

Thats ace to see, well done for documenting it, some great shots of some wonderful heritage!

[tornado64]

Thats amazing, love it. is that a old BSA i can see in shot 11 ?? sick photography this

certainly is a beezer , looks like a bsa rocket !!