AJS
Production was started by four Stevens brothers in 1897 using a proprietary engine. Sons of a blacksmith, they built their own complete motorcycles in 1909 & named it AJS after the initials of the eldest brother, Albert Jack Stevens. Two years later they produced the first machine which was entered into the Isle of Man TT, but it was three years later that success in the TT came and with it expansion, with numerous other successes.
The company was taken over by Matchless in 1931 up to which they produced a wide range of machines & in 1930 the company held 117 world records despite being in financial difficulty by that time. Matchless was the trade name of Collier & Sons who originally produced pedal cycles in the late 19th century.
After producing their first motorcycle in 1902 they too manufactured a wide range of machines until their take-over of AJS when the two marques started to conform. In 1935 the Clubman range of 250, 350 & 500 cc singles evolved to provide the basis for the post-war AMC singles, which are so well known today.
In 1938 Associated Motorcycles (AMC) were formed & eventually encompassed the marques of AJS, Francis Barnett, James, Matchless & Norton. A glorious array singles & twins filled the post war years until AMC became bankrupt in 1966. The company was taken over by Manganese Bronze Holdings who formed Norton-Villiers to run the operations.
Four-stroke production ceased within a couple of years although the two-stroke trials and scrambles machines are still manufactured today under the AJS banner.
The superb range of four-stroke machines, which included the legendary racing AJS 7Rs, Porcupines & the Matchless G50, passed into a history which the Owners Club is now proud to preserve.