Notes on a number of Canadian makes
This page lists brands for which we currently have only an historical precis.
For a more complete listing visit the Canadian Index.
Alouette
Manufactured by Alouette Recreational Products, Ltd., of Canada in 1973-1974
Coleco Canada bought snowmobile manufacturer Featherweight Corporation in March 1972 and changed the name to Alouette Recreational Products, Ltd. The Alouette model AX-125 enduro motorcycle was released that year to less than unanimous aclaim, attracting unwanted attention from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration who issued safety warnings and a recall notice. Coleco posted a large loss for 1973, after 12 consecutive years of record profits. The AX-125 was an unmitigated disaster.
In total some 700 were produced with Sachs 125cc 6-speed engines, fibreglass bodywork, Motoplat ignition and steel-rimmed wheels. Considered by many to be "bog ugly", it ranks high in the World's Worst Bike stakes.
Sources: thedoteaters.com, classicjapcycles.com, et al
Brantford
Manufactured by Brantford Autocycles Ltd, 1912
In 1912 the trade magazine, Canadian Machinery, described construction of the firm's factory.
Source: documents.techno-science.ca.
Campagna
Manufactured by Campagna Motors, Quebec, Canada
The firm was founded by Daniel Campagna, who began construction of the T-Rex prototype in 1994.
In January 2019, the firm's president Andre Morrisette announced that Campagna Motors entered bankruptcy. The following February 2019 they stated that new investors had been found, and production was soon back under way.
Models
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, campagnamotors.com, et al
CCMC (aka CMC)
Manufactured by the Canada Cycle and Motor Company of Weston, Ontario between 1903 and 1912.
The first models were fitted with Motosacoche clip-on bicycle engines and it is believed some utilised the 3½ h.p Fafnir.
An article at the former bluespark.com.au site reads:
Cycle parts including Chater Lea frame castings, high-tensile strength steel tubing and Birmingham hubs from Britain. French Traffault-style forks achieved a degree of good steering, fine road-holding and tolerable comfort and Bowden rim brake retarded progress at a pinch. Forward motion was provided by a Swiss Dufaux (Motosacoche) 288cc single cylinder engine, which featured side-by-side mechanically operated valves (most early engines had automatic inlet valves). A Longuemare spray carburettor made for easier starting and running than the popular but primitive surface carbs. A US-made trembler coil and spark plug brought it to life. It was a very advanced machine; probably the best in the world at the time.
CCMC had a branch in Australia: CCMC Brisbane
Sources: bluespark.com.au, documents.techno-science.ca.
Crocker
Manufactured by The New Crocker Motorcycle Company of 1719 Flint Road, North York, Ontario (and later Los Angeles, CA.)
Markus Karalash and Michael Schacht formed a partnership in 2002, and by 2007 the first production machine kits were almost ready. In 2012 the workshops had moved to Los Angeles and production of complete motorcycles was underway. In 2017 the price for one of these artworks was in the vicinity of US$300,000.
N.B. Andrew Schywiola writes in the comments on the Vintagent article that he is not greatly enamoured of Schacht, not least because he has been given little credit for the enormous effort he and Daryl Tearne put into building the first Crocker in Ontario in 1996/97. Further comments by others paint a less than rosy picture of Mr Schacht.
Sources: thevintagent.com, crockermotorcycleco.comet al
Emmo
Manufactured in Toronto, Ontario. Established 2009.
Products include: Electric Bicycles, Motorcycle Style Ebikes, Scooter Style Ebikes, Mobility Scooters, Electric Kickscooters.
Website: emmo.ca
Hannigan Sidecars
Manufactured in Canada from around 1975, Hannigan offered a dozen different models including the Astro with adjustable air suspension and which could be converted into a sleeper.
Their Classic model is built along the lines of the TR500 Steib, but has a fibreglass body and is therefore lighter.
Sources: Gespann-Lexikon; Hal Kendall
Havoc
Manufactured by Havoc Motorcycles of Prince Edward Island.
Jarrod Wiener established the company in 2014 and the first model, the "Iron Flight Mike Tyson Special Edition", was launched in September 2015.
In 2016 they formed an association with Wild West Motor Co., using that company's designs as a basis for two new models. The Havoc 124SS was announced in early 2017, and the 60s styled Havoc 127 VooDoo arrived in 2019. Their website was last updated that year.
Sources: havoc-motorcycles.com, fb.com/HAVOCMotorcycles, en.wikipedia.org, et al
Jordan
Albert Jordan of Toronto built DOHC 500cc motorcycles using an engine of his own design housed in frames from other manufacturers.
Sources: motorencyclopedie.nl, et al
Joshua Hill
Designed and built by Joshua Hill of Essex, Ontario in 1912, it is believed that only five of these 1000cc motorcycles were built and that they were the first Canadian-designed machines.
Sources: documents.techno-science.ca.
Moto-Skeeter
Manufactured by Moto-Ski of La Pocatiere, Quebec, a division of Bouchard Industries, 1971-1972 and possibly later.
Moto-Ski manufactured snowmobiles from 1964 to 1975. Bombardier bought the company in 1971 and moved production to their factory in Valcourt in 1976.
The Moto-Skeeter came in at least three models. A 1972 model had a 72cc two-stroke engine, auto transmission, alloy guards, drum brakes front and rear, and a fuel guage integral with the tank cap.
Sources: mecum.com, classicjapcycles.com, et al.
Paragon-Villiers
Produced by Fred Deeley Motorcycles, 539 West Broadway, Vancouver.
Fred Deeley began his business in 1917, and became Canadian distributor for Harley-Davidson and Triumph..
Deeley began importing parts from England to construct his own machines named Paragon-Villiers. These were Sun "kit" bikes which used a Villiers engine mounted in a Sun frame with a variety of other British components, delivered in crates ready for assembly.
The British firm named Paragon motorcycles ceased trading in 1921.
Source: winnipegfreepress.com
Queen
In 1903 the Queen Cycle Company produced 3½ hp and 5½ hp motorcycles in Toronto.
Source: documents.techno-science.ca
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