Blackburne was a trade name of Burney and Blackburne Limited a British manufacturer of motorcycles from 1913 to 1922 at Tongham near Farnham, Surrey. They were also a major supplier of engines to other motor cycle and light car makers and continued to make these until 1937. Burney and Blackburne also made small aircraft engines.
Blackburne motorcycles
The origins of the Blackburne motorcycle engine start with Geoffrey de Havilland, who had designed and built a motor cycle before he became interested in aviation. In about 1905 he sold the designs and patterns to two student friends for £5 when he was short of money, and they went on to form the Blackburne engine company.
A patent for adjustable belt pulleys for motorcycles dating back to 1912, shows Cecil Stanley Burney, Edward Alexander (Alick) Burney, and pioneer aviator Harold Blackburn trading as Burney and Blackburne (not Blackburn), operating from Northchurch, Berkhamsted. They were incorporated shortly afterwards as Burney and Blackburn Ltd, at which point Harold Blackburn sold his stake to the competition riders Cecil and Arthur Roberts. As a "dividend" for his investment, Blackburn was given a motorcycle and sidecar from the original production batch. Harold Blackburn used this machine to promote flying displays in Yorkshire.
Production moved to Tongham, Surrey shortly after incorporation, and they remained there throughout the war, but adverts for their engines from 1922 show a change of address to Atlas Works, Bookham, Surrey. This was the year motorcycle production ceased, and the main focus became engine manufacture. The Atlas works was 56,000 square feet by the end of the war, and is the subject of research by P. Taplee of the local history society. Although there are reports of a link with Osborn Engineering Company (OEC), these were most likely just another customer for Blackburne engines.
Blackburne motorcycles performed well in the 1913 and 1914 ACU six days trials. Three 499cc Blackburne motorcycles were entered in the ACU six days trial in 1914 one ridden by John Spear Roberts (ex Motosacoche Ltd ), who is named as joint applicant in a Blackburne patent of 1918. In the judges summary of the event they stated that the "Blackburne machines are also worthy of very favourable notice on account of their good engine design". With the outbreak of the war in mid-1914, three directors of Burney and Blackburne Ltd volunteered as despatch riders, these were Cecil Burney, Alec Burney and C.Q. Roberts (also Q.A.Roberts his brother). Reporting back to the Motor Cycle later that year, Alec Burney had lost his machine when it was run over by the heavy artillery during the night. Reporting in November Cecil Burney stated that his Armstrong (hub gears) were standing up wonderfully well, but was adamant that a hand clutch (instead of the common foot clutch) was an absolute requirement. In November 1916 it was reported that the Burney brothers had received lieutenants commissions, Alec running a motor cycle repair base in France, and Cecil running a repair shop for engine-driven electrical lighting units for a signals station.
Blackburne motorcycle engines
After the 1914-1918 war Blackburne became a major supplier of engines to motor cycle manufacturers. The following are examples :
Cotton - 2 3/4 hp Blackburne engined model launched at Olympia motorcycle show in 1921, with 2-speed Sturmey-Archer gearbox with clutch and kick-start. Cotton were to continue to offer Blackburne engines until 1938 (using stock following Blackburne's cessation of engine manufacture in 1937). Wolf (made by Wearwell Cycle Co) - offered a 2 3/4 hp Blackburne engined model in 1922, with 2-speed Sturmey-Archer gearbox with clutch and kick-start. Coulson - offered four Blackburne engined models at the 1922 Scottish show. The 2 3/4 hp T.T. with sprung frame, all chain drive and close ratio Burman gearbox less clutch and kick-starter, two and three speed standard touring version of the same bike were also available. Also a 4 1/4 hp side valve tourer with optional sidecar.