Francis-Barnett was central in the two golden eras of the motorcycle industry, the 1930s and the 1950s. The company was founded in 1919 by Gordon Francis and Arthur Barnett, and based in Lower Ford Street, Coventry, England. Francis-Barnett played a key role in the motorcycle industry with the production of it's 'home to work' commuting two-stroke motorcycles. The author looks at the key role these innovative and unique bikes played in the glory days of the British motorcycling industry.

 

Arthur Gent, like most people in the 1950s, had a series of motorcycles for commuting to work and for pleasure purposes; these were James and BSA two-strokes. In 1980 he was given the remnants of a 1958 Francis-Barnett Cruiser 80, which languished in his garage until he joined the Francis-Barnett Owners Club and with their help rebuilt the Cruiser to award-winning condition. The enthusiasm of the Club members, especially John Baker, rubbed off on him so much so that he began obtaining other Francis-Barnetts. In 2000, he became a Francis-Barnett Owners Club committee member responsible for keeping the Register of surviving Francis-Barnetts and in 2003 he combined this with the post of Librarian.