Defiance Cycle Company

The Defiance Cycle Company was formed in 1880 to produce bicycles in Wales.[1] It was founded by two brothers of the Williams family, Arthur and William Williams who established the factory at the top of the Amman Valley.[2]

They started making ordinary bicycles in 1878,[1] and made their first chain-driven bicycle in late 1884 or 1885.[1]

On Easter Monday, 9 April 1885, a chain-driven Defiance Cycle was ridden from the factory at Glanamman to Swansea and back, a distance of some 35 miles.[1] Many people turned out to see this event, which is commemorated by riders tracing the ride route to Swansea.[3]

The company thrived through the 1880s and in 1895 opened a retail premises in Eloff Street, Johannesburg, South Africa. to sell bicycles exported from Wales.[4] Their manufacturer’s trademark changed to 'The Defiance Cycle Company of Glanaman & Johannesburg' to reflect this development.

They produced a motorcycle in 1901, but only for a short time.[1] Arthur Williams & Co. continued to sell bicycles until Arthur's death in 1948.[1]

Just three of these bicycles are known to be still in existence, one is in private ownership while the other two are in the museums of Birmingham and Carmarthen.

See also
  • List of bicycle manufacturing companies

References
  1. Lynn Hughes (Winter 2002). "Royal Defiance Cycle Co" (PDF). The Boneshaker. Vol. 17 no. 160. pp. 24–27. Retrieved 2 January 2015. Masterminded by the talented William Williams, in 1885, they produced a chain-driven bicycle, which on Easter Monday, Arthur rode all the way to Swansea.
  2. Amman Valley Chronicle & East Carmarthen News, 23 February 1933 p6.
  3. "The Defiance Cycle Ride". Swansea and West Wales CTC (Cyclists’ Touring Club). 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2015. On Easter Monday in 1885, a momentous event took place in south west Wales. For the very first time, a modern, chain-driven bicycle was ridden all the way from Glanaman in the Amman Valley to Swansea and back.
  4. Steve Dube (2002). "First and only cycle company in Wales remembered; HERITAGE: Farming family caused sensation with `bone-shaker' bicycle they built in 1880s". The Free Library. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
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