Description
By: Mick Walker .
Description
For almost half a century the Bristol-based Douglas marque was a stalwart of the British motorcycle industry, and was famed for its flat-twin engines.
William Douglas had set up a foundry business in Bristol in 1882 and began motorcycle production in 1907 in an attempt to strengthen his company's position. The first Douglas was designed by Joseph John Barter and was virtually identical to Barter's previously constructed Fairy machine. Between then and the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Douglas not only produced bikes for everyday use, but was also successful in motorcycle sport, the Bristol firm winning their first Isle of Man TT victory (the Junior) in 1912.
After providing the British Army with thousands of military bikes in the First World War, Douglas entered a golden decade during the 1920s when it not only garnered three more TT victories (including the very first Sidecar event in 1923), but produced some outstanding motorcycles. The 1930s brought the Depression and financial problems, including several changes in ownership.
After the Second World War Douglas produced one of the very first all-new British motorcycles and went on to build several other models including not only the Mark III and Mark V, but the sporting Plus 80 and 90 machines.
Their final motorcycle, the Dragonfly, debuted at the end of 1954 and production ended in 1957. But a licence agreement with the Italian industrial giant Piaggio meant that Douglas was to continue with the Vespa — joined by the Gilera brand from the early 1970s — until the company closed down in 1982.
Profusely illustrated with colour and blackand-white pictures throughout, this new book by Mick Walker is the full history of Douglas and the Douglas motorcycles.
