Calcott Brothers

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Calcott was a small English motor vehicle manufacturer^[1] from Coventry in Warwickshire^[2]. The company began as a bicycle manufacturer in 1886 taking advantage of a boom in the cycling industry at that time^[3]. The end of the century brought an end to the cycling boom and the demise of many bicycle manufacturers however Calcott managed to continue production and by 1904 was also building motorcycles^[4]. Production switched to automobiles in 1913 of which around 2,500 were made^[5]. By the early twenties Calcott was producing 55 cars a week^[6] however this was not enough to generate the funds needed for expansion, restricting their automobile manufacturing to a space designed to accommodate bicycle construction^[7]. Following the death of chairman James Calcott in 1924 and large financial losses in 1925^[8] it was acquired by the Singer automobile company in 1926^[2].

Calcott Brothers

Modified: 2009/06/29 10:47 by ctmadmin - Tagged as: Calcott, Singer, White and Poppe

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interior of the Calcott motor works, showing the car's distinctive radiators

The Calcott Brothers were cycle manufacturers initially but were later involved with motor production until 1926.

Beginning as Calcott Bros. & West in 1886, the company began by offering 'XL' cycles at Much Park Street. Some 20 years later, they began to experiment with motorised vehicles, but it was not until 1911 that they seriously entered the market with a motorcycle fitted with a 3.5hp White and Poppe engine.

In 1913 they made their first cars which were generally tailored to the light-car market. It is believed that the company produced some 2,500 vehicles before eventually being taken over by theSinger Company in 1926.