Bicycle made by James Harrison of Manchester

Made:
circa 1960 in Hulme
Bicycle made by James Harrison of Manchester

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Bicycle made by James Harrison of Manchester
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Bicycle made by James Harrison of Manchester, and used by local racer Joe Pendleton. Joe Pendleton's racing career spanned from 1960 - 1980.

James Harrison was one of a group of precision bike makers embedded in the story of decerning cycle enthusiast and professional cyclists in Manchester.

James (Jim) Harrison (1914 - 1994) made bicycles by hand in Manchester from 1934 - 1987. Initially using the name James Harrison, he changed to Jim Harrison as it sounded more modern. He started work in a cellar in Old Trafford. His first shop was at 131 Ebden Street, Hulme from 1937 to 1953. He continued to build bicycles whilst in the army during the Second World War. In 1953 he moved to 45 Princess Road, Moss Side. He had both shops for a short period before closing the Ebden Street premises. In 1981 he had just decided to retire when the shop was looted and then burned out in the Moss Side riots of 6th to 8th July, 1981. He continued to make frames and bicycle repairs from the garage of his house in Poynton until 1987.

Jim Harrison was a greatly respected bicycle frame designer and builder and took immense pride in his work. Despite very high demand, it is likely that only about 150 frames were made in his 50+ years of bike building. He was a perfectionist and it’s said he only built frames for people he liked. No frame or wheel was ever returned to him for adjustments or repair as they were so well made. He had a wealth of knowledge, and his shop was used somewhat like a club room where enthusiasts met and discussed bikes.

James/Jim Harrison bikes were ridden in the most prestigious of places and races including Austria’s Grossglockner, Italy’s Dolomites, Spain and Switzerland. With postcards from the riders pinned up in his shop.

Details

Category:
Road Transport
Object Number:
Y2013.18
Materials:
metal (unknown), rubber (unidentified), leather, plastic (unidentified) and paint
Measurements:
overall: 960 mm x 420 mm x 1680 mm, 14 kg
type:
bicycle
credit:
Gift of Joseph Pendleton