New Imperial is one of the venerable, lost marques of motorcycling. It’s origins reached back to the 19th century in Birmingham, England, when Norman Downes began making parts for bicycles around 1887. Fifteen years later, New Imperial Motors Ltd began serious production, with three models available, a 4¼ h.p. 610cc , a 2½ h.p. 293cc and a 3½ h.p. 499cc.
1912. New Imperial (right)
In 1914, the 300cc New Imperial Light Tourist model appeared. Its light weight enabled it to outperform some of the heavier 500cc bikes of its time. The Light Tourist was the beginning of a line of advanced and innovative motorcycles.
Sales were boosted with a win in the 250cc class of the 1921 TT. This was the first of six Isle of Man Lightweight wins by New Imperial, and there was one Junior victory.
By the mid-1920s the company was doing well, making about 300 machines a month. In 1926 they started manufacturing their own engines and in 1929, New Imperial production moved to a 6-acre (24,000 sq m) purpose-built facility.
Despite winning the 1935 Lightweight TT, sales were difficult during the Great Depression, then the company’s founder, Norman Downes, died. A receiver was brought in and put the company up for sale on this day in 1938, 26 years after it began. Jack Sangster of Triumph bought and almost immediately sold the company, but New Imperial never regained it’s status.