Victor Sidecars
VICTOR SIDECARS.— Lightest, strongest, from £10/10/; catalogue with pleasure.
Victor Motor Manuf , 223 High St., Malvern.
Winner Wed 21 Apr 1915 (Trove NLA)
Wagener of Adelaide
Walker Bullpup
Built in 1927 using a 980cc V-Twin, it appears to be a one-off and does not appear in Saward. The machine, reg# OT891, is discussed in an article in The Classic Motorcycle of March 2021.
Source: ozebook.com
Ward
Built in Victoria 1912 to 1915 using JAP SV V-twins.
Sources: OTTW, Simon Fleming.
Watson (Adelaide)
Watson Cycle and Motor Works at 140 Unley Road, Adelaide, established 1903.
John Henry Watson worked with Edwin P Rush in Adelaide. He married Ada Nancy Webb in 1903.
His first motorcycles appeared in 1903, powered by Minerva.
"He built a motorcycle and trailer before the marriage, and before his works were established, it is said, on finance from Ada." ~ VCCSA. The machine is pictured in the photo of John and Ada on their honeymoon, headed to Victor Harbor.
Another photograph (c.1905-06) shows Claud Kerrison (L) with a Watson Minerva, on which he completed a 1000 mile tour, and John Watson (R) with machine which may be powered by Sarolea. They are with members of the Sturt Cycle Club, of which Watson was Chairman.
"Claud Kerrison has just arrived in Adelaide after doing a thousand miles tour around the Peninsular and North country on his Watson motor cycle."
Quiz newspaper, (Adelaide, SA) Fri 3 Nov 1905. ~ Trove.
Sources:
VCCSA
Trove NLA
Other marques with the Watson name: Disambiguation
Watson (Sydney)
A motorcycle of this brand is listed as being built in Sydney prior to WWI.
The Sun newspaper of 25th March 1913 writes: "A little time ago Mr. Daft took over Mr. Frank Watson's cycle works at Burwood."
bicycles.net.au lists:
Watson, R., Sydney Road, Granville, 1910
Watson, George R., 88 South Street, Granville, 1911-1932
Sources: Simon Fleming, Trove NLA
Webster of Bendigo
Two sources list them as motorcycle manufacturers. This advertisment appears to confirm that.
The Bendigo Independent, Tue 15 Dec 1914
Sources: Trove NLA, Leon Mitchel, Simon Fleming.
West 1920 (W.A)
Western Star
Thought to have been assembled by a business in Hamilton, Perth, the machine is a rebadged Arno.
Dated 1911, the 500cc motorcycle is in the Sammy Miller Museum. It is probably the sole survivor.
Source: Muzza Guzzisti at Early Motorcycle Literature
Whalley
Albert Whalley of North Brunswick, Melbourne, is listed as having constructed motorcycles with Fafnir engines in 1911-1912.
Albert James Whalley was fined ten shillings for speeding on his motor cycle along Sydney Road, Brunswick, in 1910. Other than this the press was silent on his exploits.
Sources: Simon Fleming, Trove NLA
Whitbourn
Saward lists Walter Whitbourn Pty. Ltd. of Melbourne as producing two motorcycles of 2¾ h.p. in 1910. These are not mentioned in the newspapers of the day.
The agents, Walter Whitbourn Pty. Ltd., 58 a'Beckett-street, have only been able to land a small shipment, consisting of complete cars and chassis. Intending purchasers should take an early opportunity of inspecting, as it is very problematical how long the few cars at present in stock will remain unsold...
Graphic of Australia (Melbourne, Vic.) Fri 7 Jun 1918
Walter Whitbourn Pty. Ltd.
Phone 8081. 58 A'BECKETT STREET, Oakland Cars
The Herald (Melbourne, Vic) Mon 31 Jul 1916
Whitbourn advertised Paige cars in 1919
Sources: Simon Fleming; Trove NLA
White
Manufactured by Topic Cycle Works, Melbourne c.1903~1904
Scientific Australian stated that all parts were locally made.
Sources: OTTW, Simon Fleming.
P. J. Williams
Pulteney Street, Adelaide
The business was already established as "P.J. Williams' Bicycle Depot - Manufactory and Repair Workshop" in 1895, as attested by a photograph from the era.
John Bullock worked with them as a mechanic before opening his own business around 1902.
Saward writes that they are thought to have built motorcycles from roughly 1906 to 1910.
Sources: Simon Fleming, adelaideaz.com, et al
Willow
Built in Tasmania in the 1920s, believed to be a bicycle with a motorwheel attachment.
Sources: OTTW, Simon Fleming.
Wimmera 1914-1915 (Vic.)
Windsor
A. W. Johnson of 6 Chapel Street Windsor, Melbourne, is listed as a motorcycle manufacturer in 1912-1913 using British and Continental engines. The only advertisement in Victorian newspapers of the era which has surfaced mentions bicycles, but not motorcycles.
The Age (Melbourne, Vic.) Sat 29 Jun 1912
Source: Trove NLA
Winton
Manufactured by Alexander Johnson, 171 St. George's Road, North Fitzroy, Melbourne in 1909 and 1910.
ALEXANDER JOHNSON,
CYCLE and MOTOR MECHANIC,
171 St. George's Road, NORTH FITZROY.
Builder of the "WINTON" Cycles and Motors.
Motor Car Tyres Supplied and Repaired.
Gas & Oil Engines repaired. Sundries Stocked.
Table Talk (Melbourne, Vic.) Thu 4 Aug 1910
Similar advertisements appeared from Oct 1909 to Oct 1910. There are no other mentions of the marque other than the well-known American machines built by Alexander Winton.
Source: Trove NLA
N.B. Perhaps there is a relationship between the Winton by Alexander Johnson of 1909-1910 and the Windsor of A.W. Johnson of 1911, built just a few miles apart.
Withington
Built by A&G Withington in Lindisfarne, near Hobart Tasmania, about 1916.
(There was a T. Withington who rode dirt track on a Douglas for Manchester in the 1920s. Likely no relation.)
Source: Simon Fleming
Wizard 1914
Wood & Co 1901-03 (NZ)
Woolston
Manufactured by B. B. Woolston, Eudunda in 1905 using Minerva and Brown engines.
Cycle and Motor Building Establishment,
Cycles built to Order from £7 10s
Best Motors only Built to Order. Brown
or Minerva. Prices from £45 to £60,
A Real First-class Minerva Motor, B.3.A. parts, 3 1/2 hp-, for sale at £50, only just tested. This a bargain. Trial given.
A FIRST-CLASS EDISON CONCERT PHONOGRAPH, 5-inch cylinder and 14 records, for sale at £12 10s. Bargain. Cost £40. Write for particulars.
WATCHES, CLOCKS. JEWELLERY, AND ALL KINDS OF REPAIRS
Kapunda Herald (SA ) Fri 26 May 1905
There was also an F. W. Woolston of Jamestown (about 100 miles away) who had S.A. registration numbers 121 and 122 in 1907. In 1911 he had #1573, with a De Dion Bouton engine.
Source: Trove NLA
Wyatt S.A.
Rarer Australian Marques
