1909-1931 жылдар аралығындағы A.J. Stevens & Co. Ltd тарихы

British automobile and motorcycle manufacturer from 1909 to 1931

A. J. Stevens & Co. Ltd was a British automobile and motorcycle manufacturer in operation from 1909 to 1931. The company was founded by Joe Stevens in Wolverhampton, England. After the firm was sold, the name continued to be used by Matchless, Associated Motorcycles and Norton Villiers on four stroke motorcycles until 1969, and since the name's resale in 1974, on lightweight, two stroke scramblers and today on small capacity roadsters and cruisers. The company held 117 motorcycle world records.

Although best known for their motorcycles the company made a few experimental cars with Meadows engines in 1923 but decided not to go into full production. AJS had manufactured car bodies for Clyno, but in 1929 Clyno went under.

The Stevens brothers tried again and started a new company as Stevens Brothers (Wolverhampton) Ltd to make 3 wheel delivery vans. (They could not call them AJS, as that name belonged to the Colliers.) These used a 588 cc single cylinder engine driving the rear wheels through a 3 speed gearbox and chain drive. The van could carry 5 cwt. It was improved in 1935 with shaft drive and uprated to 8 cwt. The last ones were made in 1936. In 1934 they also produced a new range of motorcycles under the Stevens name. These were made until 1938 after which the company continued until 1956 as a general engineering business.

AJS designer Harry Stevens was a keen amateur 'ham' radio operator since before World War I. In 1922, following the launch of Britain's first radio stations and the formation of the BBC he convinced the rest of the AJS board that radio receivers had a big future. The first radios made by AJS Wireless and Scientific Instruments were launched in 1923, all high quality models aimed at the top end of the market. The most expensive cost £75, which was substantially more than many AJS motorcycles, although prices soon fell. Initial sales were good and by 1925, there were 10 models ranging from under £14 in a simple wooden case to over £50 with a finely veneered console cabinet. Radio production was increased and moved to a factory in Stewart Street. However, radio technology had advanced rapidly and AJS was forced to offer new designs in order to compete. The company's reliance on battery power held them back at a time when rivals were turning to mains power and AJS was forced to adopt cheaper mass production techniques. In 1928, the company decided to give up radio manufacture and sold the factory and remaining components to the Symphony Gramophone and Radio Company.

Under AMC the AJS badge may have been put on the "bread and butter" Matchless motorcycles, but the Colliers were mindful of the AJS racing heritage, and used the name on some innovative racing machinery. These racing bikes kept the AJS name alive. In 1935, at the Olympia Show, an air cooled SOHC AJS 50° V4 was shown, a fully equipped road going version, which did not make it into production. In 1936 Harold Daniell rode a supercharged race version in the Isle of Man Senior TT, but despite its high top speed, it lacked acceleration. In 1939, a water cooled and supercharged version of the 495 cc AJS V4 was built to compete against the supercharged BMWs then dominating racing. In 1939 the dry sump V4 was the first bike to lap the Ulster Grand Prix course at over It weighed and its top speed was Then World War II intervened. At the end of the 1940s and start of the 1950s, the AJS Porcupine, a 500 cc forward facing parallel twin, and the AJS 7R (32 bhp, 350 cc OHC single) were being raced alongside their AMC stablemates the Matchless G50 (effectively a 500 cc 7R) and by 1951, the Matchless G45 (a 500 cc vertical twin). The AJS Porcupine had been designed for supercharging, before the rules changed banning supercharged racing motorcycles, but even so, Les Graham won the 1949 World Championship on an unsupercharged AJS E90 500 cc Porcupine. In 1951 AJS development engineer Ike Hatch developed a 75.5 mm bore × 78 mm stroke, three valve head version of the 7R making It was called the AJS 7R3, and was Ike's response to the Italian multi cylinder racers. They did well enough in their first year, not as well the second. For 1954 Jack Williams, the works team manager, developed the bike further, lowering the engine in the frame, and making some tuning changes that gave @ 7800 rpm. It immediately won the first two rounds of the World Championship and took first at the Isle of Man TT. These were factory specials, but one has survived, and a second has been reconstructed from spares. AMC withdrew from the world of works and one off road racing at the end of the 1954, with the death of Ike Hatch, and in the face of fierce competition from the other European bikes. After this AJS made a production version of the standard two valve AJS 7R, for privateers. In 1954 Norton was also moved to the Plumstead works. With the G15 line, AMC had built on the merits of the G12 but there were numerous changes to frame, forks, swinging arm, primary chaincase, transmission, cycle parts and lubrication system. The P11 was the last line of bikes with bonds to AMC. It used a modified G85CS frame but there were stronger forks, completely new cycle parts (making some was rather costly), altered lubrication and modified primary chaincases, to mention a few. The G15 series was offered as 3 brands: Matchless G15 comprising G15Mk2, G15CS and G15CSR; AJS Model 33 comprising M33Mk2, M33CS and M33CSR; and last not least Norton N15CS (no Norton branded roadster made as it would compete against the Atlas). The G15 series was produced from 1963 to 1969. They were initially for export only, but by 1965 these models were available in UK and Europe too. Associated Motorcycles and the AJS name eventually ended up with Norton Villiers in 1966. In late 1968 the Plumstead works at Burrage Grove, where engines from the Wolverhampton plant and frames from the Manchester plant were assembled into complete machines, were presented with a Greater London Council compulsory purchase order. The Plumstead works closed in July 1969. It is believed that production of the G15 series was halted late in 1968 (model year 1969) with unsold samples on offer through 1969. The AJS Model 33 was the last AJS badged four stroke produced.

From 1962 Cotton motorcycles were the main customer for 250 Starmaker engines. The 250 Starmaker engines were used in the Cotton Cobra scrambler and the Telstar Racer. Cotton therefore was very involved in the development of the Starmaker engine

Peter Inchely formerly from Ariel and BSA was involved with the 250 Road Race project. Inchley rode a Bultaco based 6 speed, 250 Villiers Starmaker powered special to 3rd place in the 1966 Lightweight TT. Several pre production AJS 250 Racers were built and raced but the project came to halt in 1967 after an unsuccessful second TT attempt. The scrambles project continued with considerable success. From 1966 to 1968, Villiers developed the "Stormer" Motocross motorcycle. In 1968 Malcolm Davis won the British 250 Championship on a pre Stormer, Y4 scrambler. In late 1967, a special project was undertaken with the Stormer. Four bikes were built at Marston Road, all equipped with spark arrestors on the end of the tailpipe and with a rudimentary lighting system. Three of them had 250 cc engines and were badged as AJS machines. The fourth one had the "360" engine (actually only 334 cc) and was badged as a Matchless. This bike was probably the last one built with a Matchless badge and the only two stroke Matchless. The four bikes were taken on by members of the Royal Air Force motor Sports Association and entered in the 1968 International Six Days Trial. The two stroke AJSs had been built in Wolverhampton, at the Villiers factory but in 1970 the UK government provided a special subsidy that enabled AJS to open a new factory on Walworth Industrial Estate in Andover, where they assembled Stormer off road motorcycles. The competition department was located next to the famous race track at Thruxton, Andover. AJS scramblers were produced from 1968 until 1974 in 250, 370 and 410 guises. The early 250 was designated the Y4. In 1969 The 370 (Y5) was added and the name changed to Stormer. The 410 followed in 1972. A little known about motorcycle was the 37AT Trials bike which was partially built by Cotton Motorcycles using some AJS parts and Villiers's 37A engine. By 1974, Norton Villiers was having financial trouble, and the rights to manufacture the Stormer under the AJS banner were purchased. In September 1974 the business was moved to Goodworth Clatford near Andover. Initially selling spare parts for existing motorcycles, the business expanded to produce complete motorcycles still using the Starmaker based engines under the FB AJS name. The Starmaker/Stormer four speed engine was becoming outdated and could not compete with the new arrivals from manufacturers such as Husqvarna, CZ and later, scrambles bikes from Maico, Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha. From 1974 Stormer based scrambles and trail bikes were sold from modified AJS stock. Keeping the model updated until 1980. During the early 1980s off road and trail bike with Austrian Rotax engines of 250 cc, 410 cc and 495 cc were produced.

In September 1974 after the collapse of Norton Villiers, Fluff Brown and Clive Ellis took over the AJS concern, tooling and parts for the AJS Stormer scrambles bikes. They started trading as FB AJS of Andover, at Flint Farm, Goodworth Clatford in Hampshire and were granted rights to manufacture motorcycles under the FB AJS name. FB AJS became incorporated as AJS Motorcycles Ltd. in August 1987. Clive Ellis left the company in 1975. Fluff Brown continued to supply the trade with Stormer spare parts he also manufactured and sold scrambles bikes for the clubman racer throughout the 1970s and 1980s, finally using Austrian Rotax engines and a new chassis developed by Brian Curtis. In the 1990s Fluff Brown, along with his eldest son Nick, produced replica Cotton Cobra 250 Pre'65 scramblers and replica Cotton Telstar racers. Fluff's venture formed the platform for AJS Motorcycles Ltd. and the continuation of the business today. Today whilst AJS have a degree of design control over the aesthetic features of their products, they no longer have involvement in the mechanical design of their motorcycles or scooters, opting instead for a mass produced base model manufactured in China which then has logos and custom detailing features fitted to set them apart from other. Their 124cc range are built around the Jianshe JS125 frame and engine. These are first imported from China then distributed through their UK dealer network and exported to Germany, Portugal, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Japan and S. Korea.

Model Years produced Notes Type Photograph AJS Stormer 2014 ON Villiers Starmaker derived 4 stroke engine. Liquid cooled Road bike FB AJS 1974 1987 Villiers Starmaker derived 2 stroke engine. 250, 370 & 410 Moto X & Trail Cotton Cobra Replica 1991–2000 Villiers Starmaker derived 2 stroke engine. 250 Road bike Cotton Telstar Replica 1992–1998 Villiers Starmaker derived 2 stroke engine. 250 Classic Racer Cotton Triumph Replica 1992–2000 Triumph 500 unit twin Pre 65 Moto X AJS YX R 125 2006–2008 4 stroke, air & oil cooled single cylinder, 4 valves Trail AJS CR3 125 2006–2008 4 stroke, air cooled single cylinder Sports AJS Regal Raptor DD50E 2002–2007 50 cc, 4 stroke, air cooled single cylinder Custom AJS Regal Raptor DD125E since 2005 2019 125 cc, 4 stroke, air cooled twin cylinder Custom AJS Regal Raptor DD125E 8 Silverhawk 2007–2008 125 cc, 4 stroke, water cooled twin cylinder Custom AJS Regal Raptor Eos 125 2007 2018 125 cc, 4 stroke, water cooled twin cylinder Custom AJS Regal Raptor Eos 250 2008 2009 250 cc, 4 stroke, water cooled twin cylinder Custom AJS Regal Raptor DD250E 9B 2006–2008 250 cc, 4 stroke, water cooled twin cylinder Custom AJS NAC12 2010 2019 125 cc, 4 stroke, liquid cooled, twin cylinder Naked AJS Regal Raptor Daytona 125 2010 2019 125 cc, 4 stroke, water cooled twin cylinder Custom AJS Regal Raptor Bobber 125 2010 2016 125 cc, 4 stroke, water cooled twin cylinder Old Skool Custom AJS Eco1 (JS125 E) 2007–2008 125 cc, 4 stroke, air cooled, single, OHC, with Balance Shaft Roadster AJS Eco2 (JS125 E) 2009 2015 125 cc, 4 stroke, air cooled, single, OHC, with Balance Shaft Roadster AJS JSM 125 2009 2011 125 cc, 4 stroke, air cooled, single, OHC, with Balance Shaft Super Motard or Trail versions AJS Cadwell 125 since 2016 125 cc, 4 stroke, air cooled, single, OHC, with Balance Shaft Cafe Racer AJS Tempest Roadster 125 since 2018 125 cc, 4 stroke, air cooled, single, OHC, with Balance Shaft Classic Roadster AJS Tempest Scrambler 125 since 2018 125 cc, 4 stroke, air cooled, single, OHC, with Balance Shaft Street Scrambler AJS Highway Star 125 since 2019 125 cc, 4 stroke, oil cooled, twin cylinder, OHC, with EFI Custom Cruiser