Wally Watkins info please.

[TheCyclingRooster]

Hi to those of you that could well be at the older end of Veteran status,albeit some of the younger members might just know.

Can anyone tell me where Wally Watkins (Liverpool cycle frame builder) - but specialising in track frames; had his shop in the city?

 

[Venod]

His son was Professor Sid Watkins, it says in this article that the bike shop developed into a small garage, sounds as if it was in the Bootle area

http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/f1/history/lunch-with-professor-sid-watkins/

 

[TheCyclingRooster]

Hi Afnug. Thank you very much for your quick reply. I have passed the info and the link to a long-time friend of mine that lives in Spain.

 

[steveindenmark]

I have just read an article that Wally Watkins had a place to another famous frame bulder, Harry Quinn. Harry Quinns premises were on Edge Lane, Liverpool.

 

[TheCyclingRooster]

I have just read an article that Wally Watkins had a place to another famous frame bulder, Harry Quinn. Harry Quinns premises were on Edge Lane, Liverpool.

Hi Steve NO that is not correct. Harry Quinn had his shop in Walton Road,just up from the Astoria Cinema and Blair Haal (a Dance Hall above the cooperative retail shop.
The move from Walton Road to Rice Lane at the end of Walton Vale and opposite The Windsor Castle (hostelry) was when the business was known as H&J Quinn (Harry & Jimmy),they were brothers.
The shop in Edge Lane was Quinn Bros - they were cousins and the sons of another Quinn - Ron,I think.
I have since found out that Wally Watkins had his premises quite close indeed in Bootle and close to Harry Quinn at Walton Road.
Bootle and Walton were only separated by Stanley Road. Stanley Road ran from Litherland towards the city centre and then became Scotland (Scottie) Road.
Scottie Road was of course Cilla Black territory (Cilla White) to those that new her when she had her natural hair colour.

 

[Alistair Watkins]

Hi Steve NO that is not correct. Harry Quinn had his shop in Walton Road,just up from the Astoria Cinema and Blair Haal (a Dance Hall above the cooperative retail shop.
The move from Walton Road to Rice Lane at the end of Walton Vale and opposite The Windsor Castle (hostelry) was when the business was known as H&J Quinn (Harry & Jimmy),they were brothers.
The shop in Edge Lane was Quinn Bros - they were cousins and the sons of another Quinn - Ron,I think.
I have since found out that Wally Watkins had his premises quite close indeed in Bootle and close to Harry Quinn at Walton Road.
Bootle and Walton were only separated by Stanley Road. Stanley Road ran from Litherland towards the city centre and then became Scotland (Scottie) Road.
Scottie Road was of course Cilla Black territory (Cilla White) to those that new her when she had her natural hair colour.

Hi, I'd love to track down one of the Wally Watkins bikes and find out more about him. He was my grandfather. Who might know more and how would I find one of the bikes?

 

[TheCyclingRooster]

Hi, I'd love to track down one of the Wally Watkins bikes and find out more about him. He was my grandfather. Who might know more and how would I find one of the bikes?

Hi Alistair. I search for quite a long time for any info/leads of your late grandfather;I did it on behalf of a longtime school friend of mine (The John Hamilton Technical High School) that was in the throws of writing a book about his late father that had owned a red Wally Watkins track bike and had given it to his his son George Munday;I believe that it was George that fitted the straight handle bars that are seen on the bike in the attached image that was taken in the late 50's or very early 60's overlooking the River Mersey on a typical windy day.

My late father apparently was acquainted with Wally and several other cycling names of the past such as James Fothergill whom I believe had a shop premises somewhere in the south of the city (Liverpool).
My late father lived in Buchanan Road which was but a very short ride from the garage that Wally Watkins built his frames/complete cycles.
It is very probable that those that would have had any first-hand knowledge of Wally and his bike building years will now be in the 'bike shed' in the sky.

 

[classic33]

In the 1950s: LIVERPOOL CYCLEWORKS Lightweight Cycle Manufacturers Fothergill & Flying Swan Cycles Milner's Building, Upper Parliament Street, Liverpool, England

Later: 250 Smithdown Lane, Liverpool



http://www.classicrendezvous.com/British_isles/Fothergill_James.htm

 

[TheCyclingRooster]

Hi classic 33. The original C&G Finishes were at the top of Upper Parliament Street,Liverpool a short distance before the right-hand bend near that is just before the junction of Tunnel Road.
I wonder if their frames were finished there !!!