Early History and the Triangulated Frame

The Cotton Motorcycle Company of Gloucester was founded in 1918 by Frank Willoughby Cotton at 11a Bristol Road, Gloucester. F.W. Cotton had competed in motorcycle hill climb and speed trials during 1912-13, and it is said that he took over from a Mr. A.H. Camery and developed further the motorcycle made by Mr. Camery known as the Sudbrook.

In 1913, Cotton devised a triangulated frame layout in order to cope with the alignment problems peculiar to the motorised cycle. Most early machines were really ordinary push cycle frames distorted almost out of recognition to accommodate engines, tanks, gearboxs, etc. Cotton chose not to use these diamond frames and instead utilised triangulation with its strength and lightness using straight tubes under compression and tension loading which avoided metal fatigue through flexing, and maintained wheel alignment under all conditions.

Cotton patented a triangulated motorcycle frame design in 1914. He persuaded the Levis Company to construct and test two frames. The First World War prevented marketing the company, but enabled the production design to be finalised. The first machine which, with its low centre of gravity making cornering easier, had a top speed of 60 mph and appeared in 1920.

The workforce consisted of two drillers, two frame builders, six assembly fitters, two boys for frame filing, a foreman (F.G. Morgan) and an office staff of three people in 1923. Another six or eight workers were taken on in 1924 when the J.E.S. Motorcycle Works closed down.