Overview
There is no more famous motorcycle than the Triumph Bonneville, the Bonnie, ""the best motorcycle in the world,"" and the Meriden factory producing this icon was a personal Mecca to fans of the marque. Film stars such as Steve McQueen visited Meriden for their Triumphs. But on the brink of what should have been its biggest ever sales season, the BSA parent company dramatically collapsed. The Conservative government reacted, and Norton-Villiers-Triumph was created. The new owners decided to close down Meriden ... so the workers locked them out. There followed protracted political negotiations, affected all the while by national government changes, ministers' attitudes, national and international economic conditions and, throughout all this, the world's continuing desire for the Triumph. As much a study of changing sociopolitical attitudes as of an economically traumatic time for both Triumph and the country, socialist John Rosamond's unique position within the workers' co-operative makes this work a fascinating account of a story never before told from the inside. The reversal of his role from worker to chairman brought with it new responsibilities, bringing home to him the passion that employees, customers and dealers had for Triumph, and how that could keep Meriden from closing and the Bonneville in production. During all these desperate struggles, the Triumph Bonneville became the best-selling motorcycle of its class, winning the coveted Motor Cycle News Motorcycle of The Year award at the end of the seventies. Yet within just a few years of this, Meriden and the Bonnie were finally gone. All the rescue attempts, the lifesaving international orders, and the negotiations for a reprieve with the new Thatcher Government are covered here in unique detail, as is the introduction of new models that Meriden hoped would attract a 'white knight'. Lavishly illustrated with never-before-seen photographs from the personal collections of the factory's workers, this inside-story of Triumph's last years at Meriden is the definitive history of the most famous of the Tony Benn Workers' Co-operatives.
Full Product Details
Author: John Rosamond ,
Tony Benn
Publisher: David & Charles
Imprint: Veloce
Dimensions:
Width: 15.20cm
, Height: 2.70cm
, Length: 22.50cm
Weight: 0.897kg
ISBN: 9781845842659
ISBN 10: 1845842650
Pages: 448
Publication Date: 15 July 2009
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Out of Print
Availability: In Print
Limited stock is available. It will be ordered for you and shipped pending supplier's limited stock.
Reviews
A densely packed narrative reproducing detailed reports, letter and minutes of meetings from the era that portray an unremitting and unequal struggle against under-funding, economic depression and a collapse in the motorcycle market. It rewards the effort though, and is sure to bring a lump to the throat of all but the most hard-hearted of readers. - Triumph World<br> <p>This is set to become an important historical record of the efforts of the workforce to save the iconic Bonneville. - British Motorcycle Charitable Trust News<br> Recommended - if you want to find out why such a well-known name went to the wall. - Teme Valley Times<br> A compelling read. - Truck & Driver
As a case study of how political idealism and industrial realism cannot work together, this is a must for any student. As a book of interest to a classic motorcycle enthusiast, John Rosamond is to be commended. - Classic Bike Guide
A lively glimpse of the Midlands of the 70s. **** - Coventry Telegraph
Author Information
John Rosamond was, like the British motorcycle industry, born in the West Midlands. After leaving school he learnt his trade as a skilled welder, and shortly thereafter was employed by the world-famous Triumph motorcycle factory at Meriden to work on its new oil-bearing frames. A socialist and union man, John was elected spokesman on behalf of his fellow welders. Returning to welding frames after the Meriden sit-in, in 1977 John then became the second and last chairman of the Triumph workers' board of directors, seeing through the continuing development of the acclaimed Bonneville model until the factory's closure in 1983. After Meriden, John was employed by the new Triumph firm in Hinckley, before returning to his original trade as a welder, assessing students in the craft until his retirement in 2003.
