BSA (Birmingham Small Arms Company) star logo badges (1960’s - 1980’s)
The Birmingham Small Arms Company Ltd (BSA) was established in 1861 by a group of fourteen gunsmith members of the Birmingham Small Arms Trade Association to produce guns using machinery and modern techniques. In 1880, BSA branched out into manufacturing bicycles and together with refinements in the small internal combustion engine, the next step was the production of motorcycles and later, cars. Their first model was a 498cc 3.5 HP motorcycle that went on sale in 1910 and was an immediate success. By this time, BSA had scaled back bicycle production in favour of motorcycles. The golden decades for BSA motorcycles were the 1950’s and 1960’s.
By the late 1960’s, BSA were in decline due to unfavourable financial circumstances and overseas competition, especially from Japanese motorcycle manufacturers. By 1973, BSA’s motorcycle production had come to an end and BSA’s remaining interests were subsumed into the Norton-Villiers-Triumph motorcycle company. Its remaining non-motorcycle businesses were taken over by Manganese Bronze Holdings and who are now a Chinese-owned subsidiary of Geely Holdings.
The BSA name in motorcycles was revived in 1997 when BSA Regal Ltd started production of hand-built motorcycles with their 400cc Gold SR and later the more powerful 500cc Gold SR. They also produce a comprehensive range of spare components for older BSA models.
If anyone can give me a more precise dating for the issue of these badges, I’d be grateful to hear from you.
.
References:
www.classic-british-motorcycles.com/bsa-motorcycles.html (Short history of BSA motorcycles).
www.theworldofmotorcycles.com/vintage_motorcycle_bsa.html (Main models for BSA motorcycles with photos).
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_Small_Arms_Company (The BSA conglomerate of companies. Many non-motorcycles companies were controlled by BSA.)
.
Enamels (both badges): 5 (blue, black, red, yellow & white).
Finish: Chrome or tin plated.
Material: Brass.
Fixer: Pin.
Size: 1" diameter (26mm).
Process: Die stamped.
Imprint: No maker’s name or mark.
BSA (Birmingham Small Arms Company) star logo badges (1960’s - 1980’s)
The Birmingham Small Arms Company Ltd (BSA) was established in 1861 by a group of fourteen gunsmith members of the Birmingham Small Arms Trade Association to produce guns using machinery and modern techniques. In 1880, BSA branched out into manufacturing bicycles and together with refinements in the small internal combustion engine, the next step was the production of motorcycles and later, cars. Their first model was a 498cc 3.5 HP motorcycle that went on sale in 1910 and was an immediate success. By this time, BSA had scaled back bicycle production in favour of motorcycles. The golden decades for BSA motorcycles were the 1950’s and 1960’s.
By the late 1960’s, BSA were in decline due to unfavourable financial circumstances and overseas competition, especially from Japanese motorcycle manufacturers. By 1973, BSA’s motorcycle production had come to an end and BSA’s remaining interests were subsumed into the Norton-Villiers-Triumph motorcycle company. Its remaining non-motorcycle businesses were taken over by Manganese Bronze Holdings and who are now a Chinese-owned subsidiary of Geely Holdings.
The BSA name in motorcycles was revived in 1997 when BSA Regal Ltd started production of hand-built motorcycles with their 400cc Gold SR and later the more powerful 500cc Gold SR. They also produce a comprehensive range of spare components for older BSA models.
If anyone can give me a more precise dating for the issue of these badges, I’d be grateful to hear from you.
.
References:
www.classic-british-motorcycles.com/bsa-motorcycles.html (Short history of BSA motorcycles).
www.theworldofmotorcycles.com/vintage_motorcycle_bsa.html (Main models for BSA motorcycles with photos).
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_Small_Arms_Company (The BSA conglomerate of companies. Many non-motorcycles companies were controlled by BSA.)
.
Enamels (both badges): 5 (blue, black, red, yellow & white).
Finish: Chrome or tin plated.
Material: Brass.
Fixer: Pin.
Size: 1" diameter (26mm).
Process: Die stamped.
Imprint: No maker’s name or mark.