John Marston (businessman)
Encyclopedia
John Marston was a successful Victorian
bicycle, motorcycle and car manufacturer and founder of the Sunbeam
company of Wolverhampton. He company was also one of the country's largest manufacturers of japanware
and he was responsible for building 'Seagull' outboard engines for marine use and also for starting the Villiers
engineering company. He was Mayor of Wolverhampton
for two consecutive years and died in 1918 aged 82.
on May 6, 1836, in a landowning family. His father Richard Marston had been a Justice of the Peace
and Mayor of Ludlow. John was educated at Ludlow Grammar School
, and afterwards at Christ's Hospital
, London. In 1851 at age 15, however, John was sent to Wolverhampton
to be apprenticed to Richard Perry, Son & Co., tinsmiths and japanners, at the Jeddo Works of Wolverhampton
as a japanner (metal lacquerer).
His company began making bicycles in 1877 under the trademark Sunbeam, which was suggested by his wife. The factory was renamed Sunbeamland and Marston based his production on high build quality, with enclosure lubricated chains, which until 1936 became the best cycles on the market. The top model was the 'Golden' with alloy wheel-rims, epicyclic two- and three-speed gears and real gold-leaf pin-striping. The 'Royal' was of the same quality but had red lining and simpler equipment. These and other models were made at 'Sunbeamland', Pool Street, Wolverhampton until 1937 and subsequently, to the same designs, by AMC and BSA until 1957.
Between 1899 and 1901 they also experimented with prototype cars, but none were sold. Marston disliked motorcycles, as he saw them as dangerous and never rode one or drove a car, but remained a keen cyclist, most often using a tricycle.
The first production car named as a Sunbeam was introduced in 1901, after a partnership with Maxwell Maberly-Smith. The design was unusual with seats on either side of a belt-drive powered by a single-cylinder 3 hp engine. The design was a limited success, with 420 sold at £130 when production ended in 1904. At that point the company started production of a Thomas Pullinger designed car based on the Berliet
mechanicals. They introduced a new model, based on a Peugeot
motor they bought for study, in 1906 and sold about ten a week. In 1905, the Sunbeam Motorcar Company Ltd was formed separate from the rest of the John Marston business which retained the Sunbeam motorcycle
s and bicycles.
Many John Marston Sunbeam motorcycle models were produced and the first was a 350 cc in 1912 followed by a range of 500 cc singles and some v-twins. In 1924 a new model numbering system was introduced; Sunbeam Models 1 through 11. Other higher numbered models were produced in later years. The majority had single-cylinder engines developing relatively low power, though winning the TT races often, the last time was the 1929 TT
. A hallmark of all Marston Sunbeams was the superb quality and finish in black with gold-leaf pinstriping.
. A prominent figure in the local community, John supported education and joined the School Board in 1882, becoming Chairman from 1886 to 1888. He was also interested in local politics and was elected as a local councillor for St. Paul's ward, in 1885.
In 1889 John became Mayor of Wolverhampton and was reelected in 1890. In these two years he arranges for sanitation to be improved and instigated water and sewerage works that are in use to this day. He also oversaw the building of a new power station to supply electricity for electric lighting and the approval of the Local Government Act of 1888 that made Wolverhampton
a County Borough.
John retired from business on May 6, 1916 and died in 1918 aged 82.
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
bicycle, motorcycle and car manufacturer and founder of the Sunbeam
Sunbeam (motorcycle)
Sunbeam was a British manufacturing marque that produced bicycles and motorcycles from 1912 to 1956. Originally independent, it was ultimately owned by BSA...
company of Wolverhampton. He company was also one of the country's largest manufacturers of japanware
Japanning
Japanning describes the European imitation of Asian lacquerwork, originally used on furniture. The word originated in the 17th century.- Japanned :Japanned is most often a heavy black lacquer, almost like enamel paint...
and he was responsible for building 'Seagull' outboard engines for marine use and also for starting the Villiers
Villiers
-Places:In Canada* Villiers, Ontario, a small settlement near PeterboroughIn France* Villiers, Indre, in the Indre département* Villiers, Vienne, in the Vienne département* Villiers-Adam, in the Val-d'Oise département...
engineering company. He was Mayor of Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
for two consecutive years and died in 1918 aged 82.
Early life
Born in LudlowLudlow
Ludlow is a market town in Shropshire, England close to the Welsh border and in the Welsh Marches. It lies within a bend of the River Teme, on its eastern bank, forming an area of and centred on a small hill. Atop this hill is the site of Ludlow Castle and the market place...
on May 6, 1836, in a landowning family. His father Richard Marston had been a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
and Mayor of Ludlow. John was educated at Ludlow Grammar School
Ludlow College
Ludlow College is a sixth form college situated in the heart of Ludlow, Shropshire, England. Its history traces back to 1200, when it was known as Ludlow Grammar School. This makes Ludlow College one of the oldest educational institutions in England....
, and afterwards at Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital is an English coeducational independent day and boarding school with Royal Charter located in the Sussex countryside just south of Horsham in Horsham District, West Sussex, England...
, London. In 1851 at age 15, however, John was sent to Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
to be apprenticed to Richard Perry, Son & Co., tinsmiths and japanners, at the Jeddo Works of Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
as a japanner (metal lacquerer).
Business
In 1859, at the age of 23, John Marston's apprenticeship was competed and he bought Daniel Smith Lester's japanning business at Bilston which had amalgamated with Fred Walton & Company and Thurston and Company and established his own company John Marston Ltd, producing tin goods. He did so well that when Perry died in 1871 Marston took over the company and merged it with his own.His company began making bicycles in 1877 under the trademark Sunbeam, which was suggested by his wife. The factory was renamed Sunbeamland and Marston based his production on high build quality, with enclosure lubricated chains, which until 1936 became the best cycles on the market. The top model was the 'Golden' with alloy wheel-rims, epicyclic two- and three-speed gears and real gold-leaf pin-striping. The 'Royal' was of the same quality but had red lining and simpler equipment. These and other models were made at 'Sunbeamland', Pool Street, Wolverhampton until 1937 and subsequently, to the same designs, by AMC and BSA until 1957.
Between 1899 and 1901 they also experimented with prototype cars, but none were sold. Marston disliked motorcycles, as he saw them as dangerous and never rode one or drove a car, but remained a keen cyclist, most often using a tricycle.
The first production car named as a Sunbeam was introduced in 1901, after a partnership with Maxwell Maberly-Smith. The design was unusual with seats on either side of a belt-drive powered by a single-cylinder 3 hp engine. The design was a limited success, with 420 sold at £130 when production ended in 1904. At that point the company started production of a Thomas Pullinger designed car based on the Berliet
Berliet
Berliet was a French manufacturer of automobiles, buses, trucks and other utility vehicles, based in Vénissieux, outside of Lyon, France.-Early history:...
mechanicals. They introduced a new model, based on a Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
motor they bought for study, in 1906 and sold about ten a week. In 1905, the Sunbeam Motorcar Company Ltd was formed separate from the rest of the John Marston business which retained the Sunbeam motorcycle
Sunbeam (motorcycle)
Sunbeam was a British manufacturing marque that produced bicycles and motorcycles from 1912 to 1956. Originally independent, it was ultimately owned by BSA...
s and bicycles.
Many John Marston Sunbeam motorcycle models were produced and the first was a 350 cc in 1912 followed by a range of 500 cc singles and some v-twins. In 1924 a new model numbering system was introduced; Sunbeam Models 1 through 11. Other higher numbered models were produced in later years. The majority had single-cylinder engines developing relatively low power, though winning the TT races often, the last time was the 1929 TT
1929 Isle of Man TT
For the 1929 Isle of Man TT races the Velocette marque had high expectations of another win in the Junior TT Race. Despite the early lead of Alec Bennett, riding a Velocette, and Wal Handley, now riding an AJS motor-cycle, it was Freddie Hicks that led from the third lap and won the 1929 Junior TT...
. A hallmark of all Marston Sunbeams was the superb quality and finish in black with gold-leaf pinstriping.
Later life
In 1865 John married Ellen Edge. She was seven years younger than him and they had ten children, two of whom died young and John and Ellen outlived several of the others. They lived most of their lives at The Oaks, Merridale Road, WolverhamptonWolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
. A prominent figure in the local community, John supported education and joined the School Board in 1882, becoming Chairman from 1886 to 1888. He was also interested in local politics and was elected as a local councillor for St. Paul's ward, in 1885.
In 1889 John became Mayor of Wolverhampton and was reelected in 1890. In these two years he arranges for sanitation to be improved and instigated water and sewerage works that are in use to this day. He also oversaw the building of a new power station to supply electricity for electric lighting and the approval of the Local Government Act of 1888 that made Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
a County Borough.
John retired from business on May 6, 1916 and died in 1918 aged 82.
See also
- John Marston Ltd
- Sunbeam MotorcyclesSunbeam (motorcycle)Sunbeam was a British manufacturing marque that produced bicycles and motorcycles from 1912 to 1956. Originally independent, it was ultimately owned by BSA...
- Sunbeam (car company)