Stevens Light Commercials & Motorcycles
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After the demise of A.J.S, the Stevens brothers saw all their debts were cleared and creditors were paid 20 shillings in the pound.
Thereafter, in 1932, with no more than a bank overdraft, and a few gigs and tools, the five brothers; Harry, George, Joe, Jack and Billie formed a new company "Stevens Brothers (Wolverhampton) Ltd" to design and develop the "Stevens Light Commercial Vehicle".
Based on a prototype built in 1921 it was a three wheeler which used motorcycle technology with the steering wheel carried on heavy duty motorcycle forks. The photograph below shows young Alec Stevens (son of Joe) in the late 1920's
A limited number of these Stevens vans were manufactured during the early and mid thirties. The advert below comes from April 1933.
The vehicle was powered by a 557cc Stevens Motorcycle Unit. The water cooled radiator had only a 4 pint capacity. It had a kick start and the ignition was a combined magnet and dynamo. The gearbox had 3 speeds and a reverse. Steering was by a central steering wheel connected by a chain to the front wheel on the ratio. A foot brake operated the two rear wheels and a hand lever engaged the front wheels. Transmission was by a conventional spiral-bevel. There was a gravity fed petrol tank and a dry sump for engine lubrication. Both the throttle and the gear lever were hand operated. To drive the van you had to sit astride the engine on an oversized bike saddle!!
Although the vehicles sold quite well, Stevens Brothers (Wolverhampton) Ltd couldn't support all 5 directors so in 1934 Joe and Jack left to start their own company "Wolverhampton Auto Machinists Ltd".
Stevens Brothers (Wolverhampton) Ltd continued and an improved version was launched in 1935 which sold for £93. 9s. 0d. It was also available as an open truck.
Production continued until late 1936 by which time sales had declined as customers turned to four wheel models. Only about 500 Stevens vans were built of which few are known to have survived.
This picture of a 1935 Stevens van was found in the Sept/Oct 1973 addition of "Old Motor". The article states it had "recently been restored by Graham Hocking and entered in the London to Brighton Run".
Alec Stevens found this 1936 Stevens van lying derelict in a field near Ascot in 1984. It was in need of some restoration!
The restoration took nearly 7 years, and here is Alec pictured with the van in the early 1990's
Writing in 1991 he says
"Building up the chassis, body and exhaust system was child's play compared with the engine! The original van was in such a dilapidated state that I had to find a second and third Steven's engine. When found their condition was just as bad as the first! All were stripped to the last nut and rebuilt bit by bit. parts were either repaired or remade from scratch. Camshaft - valves - bearings - clutch - gearbox, you name it - we did it"
Alec later writes "The vehicle had a maximum road speed of around 45mph. It is fascinating to drive with a considerable amount of vibration and noise - although not as much as the similar Raleigh van with its air cooled engine!
As a boy I rode many hundreds of miles as a passenger in a similar demonstration model with both my father and elder brother at the wheel. It was an exciting and thrilling ride. au- the owner of this vehicles."
In 1993 Alec's van was an "Interim Award Winner" in the Scania Transport Trust Awards.
And here it is pictured at the Black Country Museum.
To find out more about Stevens commercial vehicles click the link below -
Stevens Brothers (Wolverhampton) Ltd. (historywebsite.co.uk)
The Company also produced a number of engines for E.C. Humphries of OK Supreme Company and AJW using the "Ajax" name.
Between 1934 and 1938 Stevens Brothers (Wolverhampton) Ltd also produced 1,000 motorcycles. Models include
- Stevens 249cc DS1 OHV
- Stevens 349cc LL4 OHV
- Stevens 500CC LP5 & HP6
- Stevens 500cc OHV Competition Model
Towards the end of the 1930's the brothers were approached by George Brough of Nottingham (maker of the "Brough Superior") who wanted to build a bike "to end all bikes" in time for the 1938 motor cycle exhibition at Olympia. It was to be called the "Golden Dream". Whilst Stevens Brothers built the proto-type engine in time, it remained a dream, with only one bike built which was on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham.
Production ended in 1938 as the war approached and the company turned to light engineering work, machined parts, assemblies, wire & tube manipulators, welding, light presswork, etc. It manufactured and machined components for most of the leading aircraft companies, including Bristol and Fairey Aviation, Avro, Handley Page. They were sole manufacturers of the torpedo depth-setting gear fitted to every Fairey Swordfish torpedo bomber.
After the war the firm continued with light engineering work, and also produced office equipment for Ellams Duplicator Co under licence.
In the early 1950's, after the death of the five brothers, the decision was made to sell the company and the family once again concentrated on the Stevens Screw Company.
Details from
Stevens Motorcycles Gallery (cybermotorcycle.com)
See also