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A unique record of an apprenticeship and fascinating insight to the working practices of the motorcycle industry at the SE London factory of Associated Motor Cycles Ltd in the 1950s and 1960s.
***Now re-printed in paperback format - Click here for OBM review ***

Ex-AMC apprentice Bill Cakebread's second book about the world famous motorcycle manufacturer, in which he compiles the full history of the Collier family and their various achievements throughout the life of the Company.

Click here for OBM review       Click here for Jampot review

Book 1 of 2-part autobiography records Colin Seeley's close links with the Matchless factory and its G50 racing bikes.

Motorcycle Engineering - by Phil Irving
Temple Press (1961)

Written by an eminent designer of the 1960s, with an international reputation, this book (now out of print) sets out all the problems - technical, commercial and aesthetic - upon whose solution the success of any new motorcycle must depend.

Articles

This article by local historian Mary Mills combines material from both of Bill Cakebread's 'Matchless' books (see above) with reminiscences of her own family's connections with the Plumstead factory and the bikes made there.

A 4-page article in which Jock West, the successful road racer who became a sales executive, talks about his days at AMC.

In this 5-page article, Brian Slark gives an account of conditions and working practices at the AMC factory during his time there as a production worker and tester in the early '60s.

You can also view Brian Slark's 2012 induction speech to the AMA Hall of Fame here.

Ex-Matchless, AJS and Norton road tester Alan Jones recalls life in the golden age of the British motorcycle industry.

Ex-AMC mileage tester Nick Hyde recalls his experiences during the last two years of the Plumstead factory.

In-depth story of the design team responsible for the conception of the 'vibration-free' Norton Commando.

This 6-page article, reproduced from the May 1989 edition of MotorCycle Sport magazine, features reminiscences by ex-AMC employees of their work at the Plumstead factory from the early days up to its closure twenty years previously, as told at the anniversary exhibition and rally held in Woolwich to mark the occasion.

This 5-page article, reproduced from the March 1959 edition of Motor Cycling Illustrated magazine, features a guided tour of the Plumstead factory that includes conversations with long-serving employees about the parts they play in the manufacture of Quality Motor Cycles interspersed with a multitude of photographs

A four-part report on a tour of the AMC Plumsted Road factory, with detailed description of the many manufacturing stages, including assembly and racing shops, translated and reproduced from the original Dutch Motor magazine articles, published in 1962.

Reproduction of Motor Cycle Weekly's January 22, 1983 instalment of the series 'Roost Rulers: Potted Histories of the British Industry', complete with the original illustrations.
An interesting article covering the early exploits of the Collier brothers, through the Second World War years and up to the closure of the Plumstead factory, although containing many statements of dubious accuracy.

An interesting bulletin issued by The Collectors Club in 1961 that covers some of the history of the founding members of the Matchless Motor Cycle Company, as related by Bert Colver, a close friend and long-time work colleague of the Collier family.

John & Rose Rourke relate in 'no holds barred' detail their working lives at the Matchless factory, spanning 1928 until 1961.

A 12-page article published in the Alfred Herbert technical journal describes in detail their 1958 installation of new machine tools into the AMC factory extension.

Clubs

The AMOC caters for individuals and families who have an interest in either AJS or Matchless motorcycles.
Also worth visiting Jampot Archives for old time reviews and adverts.

The NOC is dedicated to the promotion, encouragement and development of interest in Norton motorcycles, their preservation and usage.

An American-based motorcycle discussion forum mainly focussed on Commandos but also covering classic bikes of other British marques.

Provides a focus for those that are interested in keeping the name, memories and products of this self-proclaimed ‘famous’ old British motorcycle manufacturer alive.

The FB Owners Club has the intention of “keeping alive the living legend”