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This website aims to throw some light on the people whose enthusiasm for motor bikes drew them to work at the Plumstead Road, S E London factory of Associated Motor Cycles, where the world-famous products of Matchless, AJS and (latterly) Norton were designed, manufactured and assembled.

As well as giving a general history of the factory, this website hopes to provides an in-depth look at each of the many departments in turn, giving an insight into the day-to-day work undertaken, the tools and machinery employed and the various skills of the workforce necessary to undertake the tasks involved in playing their part in the production of a large range of first-class motorcycles.

Information on known personnel is included on each department page, all of which has have been extracted from a list painstakingly compiled over many years by several ex-AMC employees, without the benefit of access to official company records. In consequence, there will be numerous omissions and inaccuracies which we hope, with help, may be rectified over time.

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The following facilities are provided to help make your navigation/search efforts easier.
Just click on an icon to be taken to the relevant section.

	An online database is available that includes details of all the personnel that we have information on, including department worked in, job title and dates of employment.
	A Face Finder facility is also available to help shortcut the search for any photos on the website that show family members, friends, etc. who worked at AMC.
	if you are already familiar with the site's contents, you can use this hierarchical shortcut list to jump straight to the required page, sub-page, article or diagram.

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The content on the site represents the combined knowledge of the authors who both served apprenticeships in the factory, followed by several years in the Design and Drawing Offices, back in the 1960s.

As around fifty years has passed since then, memories have faded and hard information has become ever more difficult to find, and to verify what we remember. So, if you have had any contact with the factory over its years of existence, and have any information, corrections, pictures, etc. that you feel would enhance the site, please contact the authors who would be very grateful for your contributions to this ongoing project.

Thanks for coming along for the ride.

OBITUARY

William Alfred Cakebread known as Bill died peacefully at home in East Sussex on 17 October 2024 at the age of 82.
He was born on 9 November 1941 in New Cross S E London and leaves behind his devoted wife Valerie, brother Bob, son Stephen, daughter Alison and grandchildren.

Bill was educated at Wilsons Grammar school, Camberwell and gained an HNC in mechanical engineering while undertaking an apprenticeship at Associated Motorcycles in Plumstead S E London and started a career as a design draughtsman.
From there he moved to St Leonards in East Sussex and, after a few jobs, he found his feet at Wylie Weighload in Hastings where he quickly rose to chief draughtsman and then to director, staying there for much of his working life.

Historic motorcycles and cars were always a hobby, restoring them and researching their history, gradually building up a fine collection.
His thirst for knowledge and his experiences drove him to write two books “Motorcycle Apprentice” and “The Matchless Colliers” both well received by the motorcycle fraternity.

It was Bill's authorship of his first book that sparked off the idea for this website which, through his astute guidance and contribution of material and personal recollections, has grown to be such a unique resource for all seekers of information on AMC.

STOP PRESS

Apr 2024
Kate Perkins has identified her father, John (Jack) Frankin, on a couple of photos of the Assembly department, where he worked as a gearbox assembler from 1929 - early '60s. You can view the photos here

Dec 2023
Bill Cakebread has submitted a story about heavyweight boxing champion Henry Cooper's brief involvement with the Plumstead factory, linked to the Grinding page (centreless grinding section). You can also read it here.

Aug 2023
A video clip of Brian Slark's 2012 induction speech to the AMA Hall of Fame has been added to his 'Working for AMC' article on the Links page.

Aug 2023
A set of seven photographs from the Packman family album have been added to the Scrapbook page. Copies of three of the set, showing father Albert in the Tool Design Office and son Paul with colleagues from the Race Shop, have also been attached to their relevant pages.

Mar 2023
A set of three photos has been added to the top of the Scrapbook page, showing some of the AMC transport vehicles.

Mar 2023
A recently published article entitled 'The Cult of the Matchless Bikes of Plumstead' has been added to the Links page. It appeared in the Greenwich Weekender magazine and was written by local historian Mary Mills, combining material from both of Bill Cakebread's 'Matchless' books with her own family's reminiscences of the Plumstead factory.
(You can also use this shortcut to view the article).

Feb 2023
A set of four photos taken in the early to mid-50s of G3C assembly and testing has been added to the Scrapbook page.

Feb 2023
A photo of Jock West (ex. sales manager/director) taken at the 1981 TT races has been added to the Scrapbook page.