| Display Name: | Jack Taylor | Country: | England |
| Years of Operation: | 1936 - 1990 | Primary Focus: | Bicycle Frames |
Under the leading of the eldest brother Jack three of four Taylors (all have been enthusiastic for cycling) developped their sideline business of making racing bike frames to the nowadays highly esteemed name of vintage bicycles. At first influenced by Claud Butler bicycles, since the beginning of the 1950ies their acknowledgement of french bicycle makes as René Herse and Alex Singer and the possibility to import french components has been an important kick to their reputation as an highly estimated touring bicycle and tandem builder. Also it was exceptional that Jack Taylor began early to weld (bronze-welding with so-called Sifbronze rods) bicycle frames in the absence of lugs during the war. That enabled them to built frames with non-standard angles and this decisively released tandem production. Another point was their very good connection to Reynolds, so they could fulfill their needs concerning special tube features. That's the reason why they have preferred 531-tubing, but they have also used other makes like Columbus. After not selling a huge amount of somewhat mass produced frames the Taylors began to build frames for individual demand. This has been the preliminary action to conquer the north-american market, which became a key to success since the beginning of the 1970ies, not least for the exceptional finishing of the frames. By closing their firm in 1990 they had built 8628 frames.
Source: Jack Taylor Cycles. Interview with Jack, Peggy and Ken Taylor by Mark Lawrence in May 2008, published in: Bicycle Quarterly Summer 2009
Further information -not always consistent to the here quoted- you will find in the Jack Taylor chapter in The Custom Bicycle by M.J.Kolin and D.M. de la Rosa, 1979
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In 1936 Jack Taylor and three friendly members of the Stockton Wheelers Cycling Club started the business as "Bell & Taylor" with lugged brazed frames. It was located in Stockton-On-Tees, England. A little while later the three compaigns left the business due to Jack Taylor's intent to buy some land and to run the business properly (although until 1947 he did not work as a fulltime worker). It is not exactly mentioned when but about this time his younger brothers Ken and Norman began to help Jack in the business.
1940 Frame No. 558 was built
1943 The brand "Jack Taylor" has been registered.
1945 Ken joins the business as the first fulltime worker.
In 1946 his brother Norman follows.
During the year 1950 were built 347 frames.
1951 Jack and his wife Peggy paid their first visit to the Paris Cycle Show, the beginning of a new influence. Number of built frames arrives 2000.
1957 Frame No. 3000
1961 Frame No. 4000
1964 Frame No. 5000
1969 Frame No. 6000
1976 Frame No. 7000
1983 Frame No. 8000
1990 Business closed, last frame is No. 8628
From 1990 until 2001 Norman built another amount of 130 frames.
Source: Jack Taylor Cycles. Interview with Jack, Peggy and Ken
Taylor by Mark Lawrence in May 2008, published in: Bicycle Quarterly
Summer 2009
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