Hello,
I'm trying to compile information on the J F Wilson cycle shop on City Road. Does anyone have early memories/photos/info about the business which they would be willing to share? I am particularly interested in the early days, late 40's/ and 50's. Although anything at all would be greatly appreciated.
Also, I am planning a 60th anniversary ride, to take place sometime this summer. The ride would be aimed at any cyclists wanting to take part. Though I would like to get as many Wilson's out of the sheds as possible. Do we have any/many Wilson bike owners on the forum?
Cheers,
Mark

I had a bike made by Jim Wilson in the mid 50's and I was very proud of it. I spent almost all my time there whilst he was building it. I used to ride with the Beighton Wheelers but gave up bikes when I joined the RAF in 1959. I did, however have a Claude Butler which I used for work in the 70's.

Mike

Cheers Mike. Oddly enough, I've just bought an early 50's Wilson. Where from? Beighton.
Don't suppose you have any photos of you and your Wilson?

The shops still open, and being run by Nigel Wilson now. Pop in and have a chat, Im sure hell have plenty to talk about. Or you can contact him through their website

http://www.wilsoncycles.co.uk/

Sorry, no photographs, there's a lot of water gone under the bridge since my schooldays. I didn't live in Beighton, I lived in Richmond which was not too far away.

If my memory serves me correctly; my JFW had a black frame and was originally set up with five speed and double clanger although I used to ride it with fixed wheel a lot of the time. Could be a bit of a sod going down Baslow Hill. I had large flanged hubs too. I'll have a think about it in bed - I do a lot of thinking there when I can't sleep - the only time I get a bit of peace!

Mike

The shops still open, and being run by Nigel Wilson now. Pop in and have a chat, Im sure hell have plenty to talk about. Or you can contact him through their website

http://www.wilsoncycles.co.uk/

Hi,

Looked at the link with interest, memories came flooding back.

Mike

I've got a Wilson bike and I bought it 47 years ago and am still riding it today it's had a few bits replaced over the years due to crashes and rust.. it's had several resprays..it has the same Brooks leather saddle and GB handlebars and centre pull brakes....I knew Jim and his wife Olive very well and his Brother Syd (who I believe is still riding) he must be in his 80's by now...Some times I used to help out around the shop and do a bit of brazing on the frames in his celler under the shop...I often think back to one day many years back in Brittany when I was out on a training session with Jim and Syd and Ron Coe (5 times British National champion) at that time...Jim and I got completely wiped out by Ron and Syd...I met Jim thro: his intrest in music and we played together sometimes him on Hammond Organ or Sax and me on Bass...He used to manage a group in the 60's called the Four Blades....I have many stories about him and most of the have been documented by Nigel...I'm now living in Stockton on Tees..but willing to participate.

The shops still open, and being run by Nigel Wilson now. Pop in and have a chat, Im sure hell have plenty to talk about. Or you can contact him through their website

http://www.wilsoncycles.co.uk/

Yes, I put the world to rights with Nigel in the shop whenever I get chance. I have some info from him but I'm also keen to hear from the customers/fanatics of the business too.

I've got a Wilson bike and I boiught it 47 years ago and am still riding it today it's had a few bits replaced over the years due to crashes and rust.. it's had several resprays..it has the same Brooks leather saddle and GB handlebars and centre pull brakes....I knew Jim and his wife Olive very well and his Brother Syd (who I believe is still riding) he must be in his 80's by now...Some times I used to help out around the shop and do a bit of brazing on the frames in his celler under the shop...I often think back to one day many years back in Brittany when I was out on a training session with Jim and Syd and Ron Coe (5 times British National champion) at that time...Jim and I got completely wiped out by Ron and Syd...I met Jim thro: his intrest in music and we played together sometimes him on Hammond Organ or Sax and me on Bass...He used to manage a group in the 60's called the Four Blades....I have many stories about him and most of the have been documented by Nigel...I'm now living in Stockton on Tees..but willing to participate.

Great stuff. Riding with those three is history in itself. Fantastic. I'm hoping to try and track Sid down for a chat. I spoke to Nigel recently, and yes, Sid is still riding. Don't suppose you have any early photos of your bike, the shop or Sid and Jim you'd be willing to let me use?
Thanks for the post.

Great stuff. Riding with those three is history in itself. Fantastic. I'm hoping to try and track Sid down for a chat. I spoke to Nigel recently, and yes, Sid is still riding. Don't suppose you have any early photos of your bike, the shop or Sid and Jim you'd be willing to let me use?
Thanks for the post.
I'll have a look see in to my archives.

I'll have a look see in to my archives.
Here is the bike today http://s219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/?action=view&current=0fc35bcd.pbw the transfer on the Head tube is one of my own co's when I had it resprayed it looked odd without one so I stuck that one on it...Maybe one day I might restore it back to original.

Here is the bike today http://s219.photobucket.com/albums/cc143/shiregreenbod/?action=view&current=0fc35bcd.pbw the transfer on the Head tube is one of my own co's when I had it resprayed it looked odd without one so I stuck that one on it...Maybe one day I might restore it back to original.

Excellent. I never get bored of seeing another Wilson. I love the GB stem. If you have any older pictures, I't would be great to see them.

Just wondering if there are anymore Wilson fans/owners out there who might like to share their memories or photographs etc?

Hi I'm very proud to hear all your comments on my father Jim Wilson and Uncle Syd...here is a link for all of you that may like further info, please click on links below

Whoops have to make 5 posts before allowing me to put links on

All the Best

Nigel Wilson

Hello,
I'm trying to compile information on the J F Wilson cycle shop on City Road. Does anyone have early memories/photos/info about the business which they would be willing to share? I am particularly interested in the early days, late 40's/ and 50's. Although anything at all would be greatly appreciated.
Also, I am planning a 60th anniversary ride, to take place sometime this summer. The ride would be aimed at any cyclists wanting to take part. Though I would like to get as many Wilson's out of the sheds as possible. Do we have any/many Wilson bike owners on the forum?
Cheers,
Mark
I first walked into Jims shop in 1954 ,I was a member of Sheffield Pheonix aged 11, I had a paper round at The Manor top and just used to go to Jims shop for odds and ends.
I just used to stand at the counter listening to my hero,s talking about there exploits and remember some of the biggest names in British cycling visiting the shop.
Jim new that more than anything on earth i wanted a pair of proper Italian cycling shoes and i started saving coppers over the weeks so as i could get some, After a couple of weeks i was stood there as usual when Jim threw the box of Italian shoes to me and said try them on kid.
I started to tell him that i had not enough money saved up yet but he told not to bother about that and give it him If! and when i had it.
It took me quite a few weeks to save this money and i eventualy paid him back , he let me have all sorts of gear over the years and never once asked about the money and sometimes just used to give me stuff.
He is [was] just one of the greatest Sheffielders i have ever had the privalage to meet and i will never forget his generousity.

Did it have one of those small petrol machines outside for your fire indoors? I lived at number 98 City Rd as a child.

Hi, i can tell you all you'll ever want to know about J.F.Wilson Cycles...when i have posted 5 post on the sheffield forum i can then post messages & replies with links to some of my sites with my father and his teams etc..on

Re the petrol pump outside that was a parrafin stand out side the hard ware DIY shop just below us...long since gone sadly for society, to be replaced by souless B&Q's etc..

When i was a kid i used to love to see the different coloured parrafin through the little window...today they'd probably blow it up!

Hi, i can tell you all you'll ever want to know about J.F.Wilson Cycles...when i have posted 5 post on the sheffield forum i can then post messages & replies with links to some of my sites with my father and his teams etc..on

All the Best

Nigel Wilson

Oh yes...and the little shop that stood on its own on like a precipise...my gran used to send me for "seperate shillings" for the meter.
And we had a bat that lived in the outside loo <wibbles>

Hi Nigel .
Welcome to the forum.

There used to be a proper square metal chewing gum machine on the wall between Wilson Cycles and Mr & Mrs BB's Bread and bucthers shop...a big penny for a big chunk of green gum..

yes i would have been glad of a bat in our loo when i was 5 yearsold at night time for a bit of company...mind you the candle used to make 4 or 5 shadows on the crumbling white wash wall with the wind that blew under the bog door, so you never felt completely alone...

It was a pleasure at a young age, when it had snowed deep to plunge each slippered foot into its silence...to go to the out side toilet; candle in hand, covering the flame by the other...but knowing there was a damp box of matches somewhere inside that tardis should it fail on the way...

yes i would have been glad of a bat in our loo when i was 5 yearsold at night time for a bit of company...mind you the candle used to make 4 or 5 shadows on the crumbling white wash wall with the wind that blew under the bog door, so you never felt completely alone...

It was a pleasure at a young age, when it had snowed deep to plunge each slippered foot into its silence...to go to the out side toilet; candle in hand, covering the flame by the other...but knowing there was a damp box of matches somewhere inside that tardis should it fail on the way...

I remember getting stuck in the snow on the Quarry thing on the way home from school on Wybourn to City RD...had to be rescued!

Hi there put all your stories of Jim on here....they are very very precious....i've a lot to put on with the sporting side of Jim that the music side gets a bit neglected...more the the merrier....2 channels are better than one...

As Jim's son i will never forget the night time listening to Jim play the Hammond organ and singing the blues down stairs in the bike shop, being carried off to sleep by it...Jim played regularly with Jack Dupree for a period....no wonder today i sing gospel to the guitar and Morrissey/Smith songs to the bass!...I have pictures of me at 5 or so years old in Jacks arms out side his house in Bradford, and next to his car with Champion Jack Dupree on the doors next to Jim all of us standing in the snow...

Olive (my mum) had an ladies hairdressing salon across from my bedroom...the ladies used to walk through Wilson cycles, climb the stairs, pass my bedroom, say hello Nigel (when i was a little lad) and enter Olive's salon.

In the day time looking back at the hubub of life there at 220 City road it was an incredible atmosphere...with the smell and noises of ladies hair spray, customers' happy laughter & chat, bike building, brazing smells, and grandma's home made cooking lasting all day in to late evening...

To Jim this was his dream lifestyle... after dunkirk it was never really considered as work or a job...open 8.30 till 6pm every day, even 'serving' on Christmas day if a customer called in.

I have been there 45 years, and I'm 45.

Yes it has changed in line with society...there has to be shutters everywhere now...but they don't keep out the marvelous memories of those times, on the contrary they keep them in.

Somewhere we have a photo of several Beighton Wheelers setting off for somewhere, our son Russell used to ride with them though he hasn't ridden a bike for years, kids and mortgages get in the way! Most of the Beighton Wheelers had JFW frames, they used to go out riding with Phil Axe.

We was out in Derbyshire on a Sunday run when a bloke on a rusty old Wilson came flying past and we all said the same thing. Thats Syds bike! so we followed him to a house on Windy House Lane and next day Syd fetched it back .
It had been pinched from outside the shop and was instantly reconisable as the frame was unsprayed and red rusty.
This would have been about 1959.

This ties in very well with a true story that Syd crashed in a road race a week before going to ride the 1959 Manx Premier Professional Road Race on the IOM with his brother Jim's team...well Jim repaired the tubes and did not have time to re stove enamel it,

So syd started a new trend...no paint, less weight!...and you could see the craftsmanship of the brazed lug work...there's a picture of Syd riding up Snaefel with the legend Fausto Coppi on the same BIKE / frame!....imagine that today...the riders would cry in shame...

i guess Syd kept riding it after...no worries my father's frames were made to last and be used...unlike the disposable Carbonfire rubbish they PAY the pros to ride and thus promote today...

click on link and go to W...click Wilson...

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/builders.html

also

http://www.wilsoncycles.co.uk/shop/aboutus.php

www.wilsoncycles.co.uk

Enjoy and Merry Christmas

Nigel Wilson and Family

Nigel Just clicked on your links above and made the photo of Syd and Coppi in the Isle of Man my background page .
Cavendish won the BBC sports personality last night what a turn up for cycling eh! all these years after another local hero Tom Simpson.
Have you seen my thread on your dad and Sid .
Jim Wilson and Sid Wilson cyclists.

Hi, i have, they are marvellous memories and have inspired me along with the other contributers found here to write again now there is time in the Christmas holidays...

what a coincidence, i only obtained that 1959 Manx Race Programme last week, relating to the Coppi / Syd photo on our website (and confirming the date!) and neepsendlane posted the story of Syds un painted bike being stolen with the date 1959!

By the way Syd used to have other eccentric finishes on his JF.Wilson frame's over the years, as well as no paint!

such as the barbers pole design ...not just red and white but for example Powder blue and pink....Gold and Metallic Red...if there was one mass production company with an ouce of imagination they'd make millions selling bike frames with finishes like that today...and be remembered for something!

but no its got to be Carbonfire Black, Canonfodder dale red...plain, bland and characterless...notice too that this has rubbed off on today's cycling society...and they even ware the clothes and the attitudes to match.

But thankfully there are always through backs to bygone eras...I'm one..but my pal Mark Hudson for example had a frame unpainted like Syd's but we went one better and applied the Wilson transfers to the bare tubes and then powder coated over it all in clear powder coat...so people could see the brazing workmanship and the frame's well protected too..

Hi, i have, they are marvellous memories and have inspired me along with the other contributers found here to write again now there is time in the Christmas holidays...

what a coincidence, i only obtained that 1959 Manx Race Programme last week, relating to the Coppi / Syd photo on our website (and confirming the date!) and neepsendlane posted the story of Syds un painted bike being stolen with the date 1959!

By the way Syd used to have other eccentric finishes on his JF.Wilson frame's over the years, as well as no paint!

such as the barbers pole design ...not just red and white but for example Powder blue and pink....Gold and Metallic Red...if there was one mass production company with an once of imagination they'd make millions selling bike frames with finishes like that today...and be remembered for something!

but no its got to be Carbonfire Black, Canonfodder dale red...plain, bland and characterless...notice too that this has rubbed off on today's cycling society...and they even ware the clothes and the attitudes to match.

But thankfully there are always through backs to bygone eras...I'm one..but my mucker Mark Hudson for example had a frame unpainted like Syd's but we went one better and applied the transfers to the bare tubes and then powder coated over it all in clear powder coat...so people could see the brazing workmanship and the frame's well protected too..
Hi again Nigel ,you refurbed my old Wilson about 7 years ago with all the new gismo,s.And a smashing job it was But! i soon started to miss my old down tube changers and centre pull brakes so now they are back on old habits die hard.
Are you still building frames the last i heard was that you and a lad at clowne were the last two proper frame builders left in the area[by that i mean useing Renolds tube].
Did your dad ever tel lyou about a frame builder called Thomson who had a shop near Heeley Bridge ,Him and his wife also had the Pewitt cafe at Owler Bar and that is where all the clubs used to end up after the Sunday run.
I remember your dad pushing me up Baslow Hill on the race to be first to the Pewitt[ my age about 13 or 14] as i have said before not many blokes stick in your mind throughout life but Jim is one i will never forget he and his team where hero,s to me as a kid. I could go on all day!

Hi yes, still building frames using the proper stuff, built my first frame on my own at 19, Jim kept an eye on me even so, he was pleased with the end result...it took 5 years though to get that approval!...and i raced on it for years...

http://www.wilsoncycles.co.uk/shop/double_diamond.php

Don't recall Thomson mentioned but there was a lot going off...i remember Pewitt cafe though, like something out of a dream scape, a little shack out there near the top of Owlar Bar....10p for a cup of tea and a penguin buscuit...that was the first step to Derbyshire for a young lad or lass riding a bike from Sheffield...

the mobile phone media culture & its society...would never be able to relate to that lifestyle...happily for me they can't harm that memory..

there's a grand house there now with its own stables and clock tower marking the spot of little Pewitt cafe...the new mansion is probably owned by some media mogul....who no doubt will be miserable enough in their collective ignorance ; )...today's society has lost a lot of its real gems for fake ones...and what they don't know of, is infact hurting them.

timbuck
some names bring back memories.late 50s i used to ride with sheffield phoenix and on wednesday night in wharncliffe hotel firth park they used to have cycle racing on rollers great night.one guy who nobody could beat was ron coe,and after the races he would cycle home to barnsley

timbuck
some names bring back memories.late 50s i used to ride with sheffield phoenix and on wednesday night in wharncliffe hotel firth park they used to have cycle racing on rollers great night.one guy who nobody could beat was ron coe,and after the races he would cycle home to barnsley
Most lads in those days would ride out to an event with there best wheels strapped on the bike some how, they would then ride a fifty or sixty mile race and have to cycle another 20, or 30 miles back home.
And on Monday back to work by bike of course.

Both my late gran and Mother used to come to your mum's hair shop upstairs like you say via the cycle shop. Think someone once told me your Dad used to either roadie / manage or both local groups in the 60's. I remember a couple of guitar amplifiers Vox 30's ? in the back of the cycle shop for many years.
The bread shop next door was Mrs Beebee and Havenhands, Shelia and her mum kept the hardware shop with the parrifin machine outside, then next door was Bowdlers shoe shop, paper and toy shop, Malcolm the bucther, Fisher's fruit shop, Harry Smails sweet shop, further down Rolfes bread shop, Jack Wild's buthcers, wool shop, ladies and gents hairdressers, Audrey Hobson had the ladies, Wagstaff's fruit and veg shop who used to deliver by horse and cart, Ned was the delivery guy and Smith's bread shop - now the sandwich shop which before today's supermarkets had massive ques outside on a Saturday morning for its bread, bacon etc.

Hi, Peter Underwood has asked permission to put your story of Syd with the stolen rusty frame on his site http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/

Peter does this for the love of it and is a none profit making site...also he asked for your name if you don't mind?

Regards

Hi, Peter Underwood has asked permission to put your story of Jim and the leather shoes on his site http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/

Peter does this for the love of it and is a none profit making site...also he asked for your name if you don't mind?

Regards

Nigel

Hi, Peter Underwood has asked permission to put your story of Syd with the stolen rusty frame on his site http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/

Peter does this for the love of it and is a none profit making site...also he asked for your name if you don't mind?

Regards
Please use the story P M me if you would like to know more.Cheers

Hi, Peter Underwood has asked permission to put your story of Jim and the leather shoes on his site http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/

Peter does this for the love of it and is a none profit making site...also he asked for your name if you don't mind?

Regards

Nigel
Would be proud to contribute cheers. pm me if you need info.

Re Thompson cycles of Heeley.In 1955 I had a JRJ (BobJackson) frame in which the front wheel would go in lopsided.Thompson investigated it for me and found one fork blade was 1/8th inch longer than the other,and corrected it by filing the slot in the longer fork blade deeper.The frame was a show model from the York Rally and was supplied through Henry Holmes of Sharrowvale Rd.It was copper plated,polished and finished with a red translucent varnish which was not very robust.
I raced against Sid and Jim in the 50s and again against Sid only 3 years ago in the VTTA 25 Champs.In the early days I was in the Sheffield Sports CC..

Hi, i can tell you all you'll ever want to know about J.F.Wilson Cycles...when i have posted 5 post on the sheffield forum i can then post messages & replies with links to some of my sites with my father and his teams etc..on

All the Best

Nigel Wilson

I'm DELIGHTED to hear that J F Wilson is still a going conern!

The names Jim, Syd and Ron Coe are a real 'blast from the past' for me.......

Back in the 60's, I was in the Beighton Wheelers and used to time trial most sunday mornings..... what got me into that was spending my Saturday Afternoons in Jim's shop, but he did eventually build two frames for me!

The first one I wrote off when I hit the back of a Triumph Dolomite with my head down, (putting myself in hospital in the process) the other I still have...... sadly, it's outside looking a bit the worse for wear. I've resisted my wife's attempts to dump it though! It still has all the original Campagnolo hubs, brakes, seat stem, gears etc etc.......

All the best to you Nigel!

Great to hear you have hung onto to one of Jim's frames let your wife know its like keeping a Van Gogh painting outside....all of our hand built frames go up in value each year...un like the disposable Carbonfire rubbish the pros are paid to ride!

Please checkout these links...

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/riders/j-f-wilson-riders.html

http://www.wilsoncycles.co.uk/shop/double_diamond.php

http://www.wilsoncycles.co.uk/shop/points_of_view.php?pov_id=13

All the Best

Nigel