GEORGE BROUGH
Andy Milne's middle name, "Brough" (pronounced "Bruf" and by which he was commonly known), came down through his mother, Elizabeth, who was born in Yorkshire to the Brough family, famous for the manufacturer of motor cycles. Elizabeth's sibling, George Brough, was the designer and manufacturer of the "Brough Superior" motorcycle.
Extract From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
George Brough (April 21, 1890-1969), was a motorcycle racer, world record holding motorcycle and automobile manufacturer, and showman. He was known for his beautifully hand-crafted, powerful, and expensive Brough Superior motorcycles. His devotion as a racer and showman won over the hearts those who pursued and could afford the fastest and most prestigious motorcycles that money could buy.
In 1928, George Brough recorded the speed of 130.6 mph at Arpajon, unofficially the world's fastest speed on a solo motorcycle.
In 1928, George Brough recorded the speed of 130.6 mph at Arpajon, unofficially the world's fastest speed on a solo motorcycle.
Extract from www.dropbears.com "All things Brough"
(which also has some wonderful photos of the Brough Motorcycles)
In 1919, after parting with his father W.E. Brough who had been building Brough machines for many years, George Brough set out to begin manufacturing his own motorcycles. George had visions of a far more luxurious machine than the reliable but somewhat pedestrian vehicles his father made, and named his motorcycle the Brough Superior - and superior they were, in every aspect.
Brough presented his first bike at the Olympia show in late 1920 and began production in 1921. This first machine had an OHV J.A.P. engine, and although models with the Swiss Motosacoche V-twin and the Barr and Stroud sleeve-valve engine were built, J.A.P. was the almost exclusive supplier from 1923, with the introduction of the SS80, until towards the end of 1935 when Brough switched to the more reliable Matchless motor.
The SS100 was introduced in 1925, and some 400 of these were produced including about 100 with Matchless engines. In 1938 he produced the legendary Dream, an elegant horizontally-opposed four cylinder design with shaft drive.
Brough achieved many racing successes and speed records, and in fact one machine achieved the astonishing speed of 180mph at Budapest in 1938 - but no record, as the rider, Eric Fernihough, crashed and was killed on the return run.
In 1940, shortly after the onset of war, George ceased motorcycle manufacture in favour of aircraft components, and although he did build one experimental post-war machine, he decided against going into production. He continued in business building precision engineer's tools and Brough Superior parts for many years before his death in 1969.
Brough Superior motorcycles have become one of the most sought-after of all collectors machinery, not least because of their strong connection with the enigmatic Lawrence of Arabia.
(which also has some wonderful photos of the Brough Motorcycles)
In 1919, after parting with his father W.E. Brough who had been building Brough machines for many years, George Brough set out to begin manufacturing his own motorcycles. George had visions of a far more luxurious machine than the reliable but somewhat pedestrian vehicles his father made, and named his motorcycle the Brough Superior - and superior they were, in every aspect.
Brough presented his first bike at the Olympia show in late 1920 and began production in 1921. This first machine had an OHV J.A.P. engine, and although models with the Swiss Motosacoche V-twin and the Barr and Stroud sleeve-valve engine were built, J.A.P. was the almost exclusive supplier from 1923, with the introduction of the SS80, until towards the end of 1935 when Brough switched to the more reliable Matchless motor.
The SS100 was introduced in 1925, and some 400 of these were produced including about 100 with Matchless engines. In 1938 he produced the legendary Dream, an elegant horizontally-opposed four cylinder design with shaft drive.
Brough achieved many racing successes and speed records, and in fact one machine achieved the astonishing speed of 180mph at Budapest in 1938 - but no record, as the rider, Eric Fernihough, crashed and was killed on the return run.
In 1940, shortly after the onset of war, George ceased motorcycle manufacture in favour of aircraft components, and although he did build one experimental post-war machine, he decided against going into production. He continued in business building precision engineer's tools and Brough Superior parts for many years before his death in 1969.
Brough Superior motorcycles have become one of the most sought-after of all collectors machinery, not least because of their strong connection with the enigmatic Lawrence of Arabia.
© 2021 Olive McLeod. All rights reserved, except where noted. This material may not be reproduced, displayed, modified or distributed without the express prior written permission of the copyright holder. For permission, contact olivia@olivemcleod.com
George Brough also turned his hand to motorcars and between 1935 and 1939, produced the now classic and rare Brough Superior of which only 85 were made.
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Further biographical details relating to
George Brough.
(Courtesy of Lorraine Milne-Smith - thanks Lorraine!)
George was the second son of motorcycle pioneer William Edward Brough and was born at 10 Mandalay Street, Basford, Nottingham on 21 April 1890. William Brough had been building motorcycles at his factory in Nottingham since the 1890s so it was expected that George and his only surviving sibling William would join in the family business.George Brough.
(Courtesy of Lorraine Milne-Smith - thanks Lorraine!)
George wanted to develop his father's business and make high-performance motorcycles. His father was not convinced, however, so George set up his own factory nearby in 1919 at Haydn Road in Nottingham to produce what he called the Brough Superior range of motorcycles and motor cars. The Haydn Road factory, where he worked his magic, was used to make Spitfire engines during World War Two.
The name "Superior" was suggested by a friend but his father reputedly took it personally. George's motorcycles lived up to the claim, however, and he brought together the best components he could find and added distinctive styling details. 3,048 motorcycles of 19 models were made in 21 years of production.
Nicknamed the "Rolls Royce of motorcycles" in The Motor Cycle newspaper because of George Brough's attention to detail and quality, the Brough Superior SS100 motorcycle was built between 1924 and 1940 at his factory in the city's Haydn Road.
Most were custom built to customers' requirements and rarely were any two of the same configuration. Lawrence of Arabia famously owned 8 of the motorcycles. In August 1949, George Brough went to the Bonneville Salt Flats in western Utah to support Noel Pope in his hope to set a new world land speed record (then 173 mph) in an enclosed streamlined Brough Superior motorcycle.
They calculated the streamlined motorcycle--named the "Silver Fish" because of its polished aluminum body shell--could possible reach a speed of 213 mph.
However, on his first timed run, Noel Pope's motorcycle crashed after reaching 150 mph. Fortunately, Noel escaped serious injury. George continued to ride motorcycles until nearly the age of 60.
Obituary - " Mr. George Brough, who died in Nottingham yesterday, at the age of 79, will be remembered for the legendary Brough Superior motor cycles which he designed and built in Nottingham.
Large, powerful, fast and beautifully finished, the Brough was sometimes called the two-wheeled Rolls-Royce. Being practically hand made a Brough was not cheap, its price between the two world wars was between £150 and £200.
George Brough's father, W. E. Brough, was also a designer and manufacturer and George once rode a Brough flat-twin, belt-driven in a Scottish Six-Day trial on a single gear.
"Ixion", the notable motorcycling journalist, recalls in his Motor Cycle Cavalcade, two memorable Brough ventures, a motor cycle incorporating an 800 c.c. Austin water-cooled engine and a "Golden Dream" with an embryo transverse four cylinder power unit.
Perhaps the most famous machine to come out of the Brough stable was the S.S. 100, which was powered by a 1,000 c.c. overhead valve J.A.P. vee-twin engine, super- tuned. Prospective buyers who called at the Brough factory could see it touch 100 m.p.h., on the road "possibly with the demonstrator riding with hands off". In 1937 one 1,000 c.c. model established a world speed record at nearly 170 m.p.h.
"T.E. Lawrence ("Lawrence of Arabia") was a passionate admirer of the make and found immense satisfaction and consolation in riding the various Broughs he owned, as can be gathered from his correspondence with George Brough and others--as interesting to motor-cycle enthusiasts as to those whose interest in Lawrence is historical or literary-- which is to be found in his published Letters.
He records many remarkable fast rides--and some crashes--and writing to E.M. Forster in 1925 mentions that some anonymous person or persons (it was, in fact, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Shaw) that bought and sent him "a new and apolaustic Brough". He was riding one of his make when he was involved in his fatal road accident in 1935.
From 1939 to 1945, Brough's factory was devoted to sub- contracts for Rolls-Royce Merlin aircraft engines. - (from The Times, January 13, 1970)
Jay Leno's collection of Brough motorcycles.