Blackburne

Blackburne was the trade name associated with Burney and Blackburne Limited, a British engineering company that manufactured motorcycles and supplied engines to a broad range of motorcycle, light-car, aircraft and industrial makers. The company operated as a motorcycle manufacturer principally from 1913 to 1922, with production based at Tongham near Farnham in Surrey. After motorcycle production ended, the Blackburne name remained significant as an engine marque, with engine manufacture continuing until 1937. The technical origins of the business reach back to designs developed by Geoffrey de Havilland before his better-known aviation career. Around 1905, de Havilland sold motorcycle engine designs and patterns to associates when he needed funds. Cecil Stanley Burney, Edward Alexander Burney and Harold Blackburn subsequently became associated with the enterprise. A 1912 patent for adjustable motorcycle belt pulleys identifies them trading as Burney and Blackburne at Northchurch, Berkhamsted. The company was incorporated shortly afterward, and Harold Blackburn left the business while retaining a motorcycle and sidecar from the initial production batch. He used it in connection with flying displays in Yorkshire. Blackburne motorcycles quickly developed a reputation for sound engineering and sporting ability. Three 499 cc machines entered the 1914 Auto-Cycle Union Six Days Trial, where the judges praised their engine design. The First World War interrupted the civilian motorcycle market, and several company directors served as dispatch riders or in military repair and engineering roles. Following the war, Blackburne concentrated increasingly on supplying engines rather than complete motorcycles. Its engines powered machines sold by companies including Cotton, Wolf, Coulson, Excelsior, Hawker, Victoria, New Scale, Verus, Sirrah, Rex, Rex-Acme, Wilkin, Sheffield-Henderson, Hoskinson, Chater-Lea and OK-Supreme. Competition success was central to the brand's technical reputation. Blackburne-powered motorcycles achieved strong results in the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy during the 1920s, including second and third places in the 1920 Junior TT and several high finishes in the 1922 Lightweight and Junior events. Stanley Woods won the 1923 Junior TT on a Blackburne-engined Cotton. Blackburne KMA, KMB and KMC engines also supported successful racing and sporting machines through the later 1920s. The company broadened its engineering activities into aviation. It developed the Tomtit two-cylinder light aircraft engine around 1922 and the Thrush three-cylinder engine from 1924. The Thrush was developed in different capacities for British light-aircraft trials and passed a demanding Air Ministry 100-hour operational test in 1925. Blackburne engines were also used in early de Havilland DH53 Humming Bird aircraft. These products were unrelated to the Blackburn Aircraft Company despite the similarity of the names. A related but distinct motorcycle venture appeared in 1923 when Burney Baldwin & Co introduced Burney motorcycles. These machines used engines designed by E. A. Burney and manufactured by John Warrick & Co. Most used a 497 cc side-valve engine, while a small number of larger 679 cc engines were built in 1926. Burney motorcycle production ended by 1927. Blackburne engine production continued after the motorcycle marque disappeared, with engines reportedly exported to several European countries and Japan. The historical Blackburne manufacturing business ended in the twentieth century, but the name was registered again in 2024 by Phil Bevan of Bevan Davidson International. That organization subsequently began developing the Blackburne Swift, an electric motorcycle concept using two electric motors. The modern project represents a revival of the name rather than an uninterrupted continuation of the original company.

The Blackburne story began with early motorcycle-engine work associated with Geoffrey de Havilland. Before focusing on aircraft, de Havilland designed and built a motorcycle and later sold related designs and patterns. Cecil Stanley Burney, Edward Alexander Burney and Harold Blackburn became connected with the resulting engineering activity. By 1912 they were trading as Burney and Blackburne from Northchurch, Berkhamsted, as documented by a patent covering adjustable belt pulleys for motorcycles. The business was incorporated soon afterward as Burney and Blackburn Limited, with Harold Blackburn selling his interest to motorcycle competitors Cecil and Arthur Roberts. Production moved to Tongham near Farnham in Surrey. The company manufactured complete motorcycles under the Blackburne trade name from 1913 until 1922, while also developing engines for external customers. Its motorcycles competed in reliability trials, including the 1913 and 1914 ACU Six Days Trials. Three 499 cc Blackburne motorcycles entered the 1914 event, and contemporary judges gave favorable comments about the design of their engines. The First World War curtailed normal commercial activity. Several company directors volunteered for military service as dispatch riders or served in repair and engineering assignments. The wartime experience reinforced the practical importance of dependable motorcycle and small-engine technology, but after 1918 the company increasingly focused on component and engine supply rather than complete motorcycles. Advertisements in the early 1920s show the business operating from Atlas Works in Bookham, Surrey. The works expanded substantially, and the company became a major engine supplier to the British motorcycle trade. Blackburne engines appeared in motorcycles made by numerous firms. These included Cotton, Wolf, Coulson, Excelsior, Hawker, Victoria, New Scale, Verus, Sirrah, Rex and Rex-Acme, Wilkin, Sheffield-Henderson, Hoskinson, Chater-Lea and OK-Supreme. The engines included side-valve and overhead-valve configurations and were offered in capacities suited to lightweight, middleweight and touring motorcycles. Their broad adoption reflected both the fragmented structure of the interwar British motorcycle industry and the reputation Blackburne engines gained through racing. Blackburne-powered motorcycles performed particularly well in Tourist Trophy competition. In the 1920 Junior TT, Blackburne-engined machines took second and third places. In the 1922 Lightweight TT, Blackburne-powered entries achieved several strong finishes, while Sheffield-Henderson, Coulson, Cotton and other machines placed in the Junior TT. Stanley Woods won the 1923 Junior TT on a Blackburne-engined Cotton. From 1923 to 1930, racing riders including Norris, Harold Beart and Jackson continued to use Blackburne KMA, KMB and KMC competition or sporting engines. The company's engineering scope extended into aviation. Around 1922 it produced the Tomtit two-cylinder light aircraft engine, followed by the three-cylinder Thrush in 1924. The Thrush was developed from approximately 1,100 cc to about 1,500 cc and passed the Air Ministry's 100-hour test in 1925. Blackburne engines were also installed in de Havilland DH53 Humming Bird aircraft, where they were selected in some cases to improve reliability. The aviation products created an additional identity for the company, although Blackburne was not connected with the separately named Blackburn Aircraft Company. Complete motorcycle production under the original Blackburne marque stopped in 1922, but engine production continued. A 1932 catalogue described exports to France, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Italy and Japan, among other markets. The company continued manufacturing engines until 1937. A related Burney motorcycle venture, Burney Baldwin & Co, introduced a 495 cc motorcycle in 1923 using an E. A. Burney-designed engine. That production ended by 1927 and should be distinguished from the original Blackburne business. In 2024 the Blackburne name was registered by Phil Bevan of Bevan Davidson International. The later development of the Blackburne Swift electric motorcycle concept revived the name in a modern technological context. The concept reportedly uses two electric motors connected separately to the rear wheel by chain drives. This modern activity is a new use of the historical trade name rather than evidence that the original motorcycle manufacturer remained continuously active.

1. 2024Blackburne name revived for electric motorcycle development

   The name was registered by Bevan Davidson International, which began work on the Blackburne Swift electric motorcycle concept.

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2. 1937Engine manufacture ends

   Blackburne engine production continued beyond motorcycle manufacturing and ended by 1937.

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3. 1925Thrush passes Air Ministry endurance test

   The Blackburne Thrush passed the Air Ministry's 100-hour operational test after further development.

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4. 1924Thrush aircraft engine introduced

   Blackburne developed the three-cylinder Thrush light aircraft engine for British aviation trials.

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5. 1923Stanley Woods wins the Junior TT on Blackburne power

   Stanley Woods won the 1923 Junior TT riding a Cotton motorcycle powered by a Blackburne engine.

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6. 1922Complete motorcycle production ends

   The company stopped producing motorcycles under the Blackburne marque and concentrated on engine manufacture at Bookham.

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7. 1920Blackburne engines gain Tourist Trophy results

   Blackburne-powered motorcycles took second and third in the Junior TT, strengthening the engine maker's sporting reputation.

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8. 1914ACU Six Days Trial participation

   Three 499 cc Blackburne motorcycles entered the ACU Six Days Trial, receiving favorable comments for their engine design.

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9. 1913Blackburne motorcycle production begins

   The incorporated Burney and Blackburne business produced motorcycles at Tongham near Farnham in Surrey.

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10. 1912Burney and Blackburne patent activity documented

    A patent for adjustable motorcycle belt pulleys identified Cecil Burney, Edward Burney and Harold Blackburn trading as Burney and Blackburne.

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11. 1905Early motorcycle designs associated with de Havilland

    Geoffrey de Havilland sold motorcycle designs and patterns that later became part of the engineering lineage associated with Blackburne.

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Historically positioned as an engineering-led British motorcycle and engine marque, emphasizing reliable engine design, competition performance and supply to independent vehicle manufacturers.

• Blackburne motorcyclesMotorcycles1913

  The original Blackburne motorcycles were British machines produced from 1913 to 1922. They included motorcycles used in reliability trials and competition, notably 499 cc machines entered in the ACU Six Days Trial. After the First World War, the company shifted away from complete motorcycles and toward supplying engines to other manufacturers.

• Blackburne motorcycle enginesMotorcycle engines

  Blackburne supplied side-valve and overhead-valve engines in several capacities to a wide group of British motorcycle manufacturers. The engines powered touring, sporting and racing machines made by firms such as Cotton, Rex-Acme, Sheffield-Henderson, Chater-Lea and OK-Supreme. KMA, KMB and KMC designations were associated with competition and sporting use during the 1920s.

• Blackburne TomtitLight aircraft engine1922

  The Tomtit was a two-cylinder light aircraft engine developed by Blackburne around 1922. It was based on the Lympne 696 cc V-twin concept and formed part of the company's expansion from motorcycle engineering into aviation powerplants.

• Blackburne ThrushLight aircraft engine1924

  The Thrush was a three-cylinder light aircraft engine introduced in 1924. Initially designed at about 1,098 cc for the Lympne trials, it was enlarged to approximately 1,494 cc and passed a 100-hour Air Ministry operational test in 1925.

• Blackburne SwiftElectric motorcycle concept2024

  The Blackburne Swift is a modern electric motorcycle concept developed after the Blackburne name was registered by Bevan Davidson International in 2024. The concept is described as using two 65 hp electric motors, each driving the rear wheel through a separate chain, for a stated combined output of 130 hp.

• 2024Blackburne Swift electric motorcycle conceptProduct launch

  Following registration of the historical Blackburne name by Bevan Davidson International, the name was applied to a new electric motorcycle development.

  What changed. Bevan Davidson International began developing the Blackburne Swift, a concept using two electric motors and separate chain drives to the rear wheel.

  Aftermath. The project represents a modern revival of the Blackburne name; its commercial production status is not established in the available material.

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• 1922Shift from complete motorcycles to engine supplyStrategy

  Blackburne had established a reputation in motorcycle trials and racing, while the postwar market provided opportunities to supply engines to many independent motorcycle manufacturers.

  What changed. The company ended Blackburne-branded motorcycle production and made engine manufacture its principal commercial activity.

  Aftermath. Blackburne engines became widely used in British motorcycles and were exported internationally, with production continuing until 1937.

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• 2024Blackburne name registered for a modern revival

  The Blackburne name was registered by Phil Bevan of Bevan Davidson International, which later began developing the Blackburne Swift electric motorcycle concept.

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1. Blackburne (motorcycles)