S.A.F.U.
Newspaper reports of S.A. registrations:
George Albert Laver, Mizpah avenue, Unley, 2 1/2 S.A.F.U. ~ 31 January 1917.
H, L. Goldsmith, Edithburgh, 2 3/4 S.A.F.U. ~ The Register, Feb 18th 1920
N.B. SAFU = South Australian Farmers' Union.
Source: Trove NLA
Sampson
Leon Mitchel writes "Sampson's, 108 Pulteney Street in Adelaide c.1921."
Results from Trove:
1. 1920 Sampson's 158 Rundle St sold motorcycle tyres, accessories etc, but no Samson or other brand of MC mentioned.
2. 1924 Sampsons sold bicycles, 164-166 Pulteney St.
Sources: Leon Mitchel, Trove NLA.
Samson
3. "SAMSON Motor Cycles. Australian Motor with finish, lightness, durability; cash or terms.
Country orders. 239 Clarendon st. S. Melb." 1915.
Sources: Leon Mitchel, Trove NLA.
Sarich Orbital Engines (W.A.)
Scamander
Saward reports that a Scamander Peugeot motorcycle was registered by J. Berwick of Scamander, Tasmania, in 1916. No record of this has been found in the Trove archives.
Source: Robert Saward
Seven Star
Saward reports that T.G. Williams of Seven Star Motor & Cycle Works, 1 Gouger Street, Adelaide, S.A., built motorcycles to order in 1908. No record of the business has been found in Trove.
Gard Brothers were at 21 and 23 Gouger street.
Source: Robert Saward
Shamrock
E.E. Gibbons of the Renmark Cycle Works, Renmark, S.A. sold a limited number of "Shamrock" motorcycles in the years c.1906-1911.
Renmark and Paringa Historical Society states, "They opened the "Renmark Cycle Works" in 1914 in the Lyric building..."
Source: Robert Saward
Silo
Saward states that a Silo motorcycle was re-registered in Tasmania in 1912.
Google AI claims (in June 2025) that this is likely a Wesson, but this information appears fallacious.
Source: Robert Saward
Silver Star
Manufactured from 1905 to 1907 using Minerva engines.
Source: OTTW
Simmons
Saward states that a Simmons JAP was registered by Norman Simmons of 31 Albion Street, Launceston, Tasmania, in 1910.
Source: Robert Saward
Sirdar, Victoria
Manufactured by Sirdar Cycle Co., 360 Chapel Street, South Yarra, Victoria, c.1914.
Walter Todman, who had taken over the business from Ed Wills a few years earlier, built a limited number of Sirdar motorcycles. He was previously based at 580 Chapel Street.
Sirdar Cycle Works (Edw. Willis), South Yarra, Vic. —Sold out to Walter Todman. Dun's gazette July 24, 1911. Trove NLA
Source: Robert Saward
Sirdar, Tasmania
Saward writes that four or more Sirdar Precision motorcycles were built by William J. Ingamells, cycle builder, of Westbury, Tasmania. in 1915.
W. J. INGAMELLS, WESTBURY.
Though not an actual exhibitor at the Longford Show, as on previous occasions, owing to pressure of business, this well known manufacturer of the "Sirdar" cycles was on the ground, and stated that "Sirdars" are holding their own with the best, maintaining everywhere their well-won reputation on road and track, and a large business is being done in "Sirdars," both in bicycles and motor cycles, each of which is guaranteed to worthily uphold the name it bears for speed, durability, and reliability, in relation to Tasmanian conditions. The "Sirdar" is a well made, well finished, and thoroughly reliable machine, comprising all the latest imnprovements, and the price- £10 to £18, cash or terms brings it within the reach of all. The works are situated at Westbury, in which district Mr. Ingamells has earned his reputation for producing a machine which will bring satisfaction to every purchaser.
Examiner (Launceston) Thu 15 Oct 1914. Trove NLA
Source: Robert Saward
Skipee E-Trike
Designed by Monash University honours student Dimitrios Scoutas, the electric tricycle won the $10,000 Dyson Product Award.
Source: Monash News May 2001 - monash.edu.
Sol Invictus
Assembled in Alexandria NSW using mainly Chinese components. The firm began production in 2007.
92 McEvoy Street Alexandria NSW
101 Hunter St Newcastle
Source: Wikipedia
Solar (NZ)
It seems likely that Solar NZ rebranded Sun motorcycles. See Sun Motorcycles
Southern Cross NSW
Southern Cross (Qld)
In the mid 1930s a Toowoomba motorcycle dealer sold Royal Enfield model A two-stroke motorcycles under the Southern Cross name.
They appear unrelated to the Southern Cross engines produced by the Toowoomba Foundry.
Another machine of this name was built by Southern Cross NSW
Sources: Robert Saward; forums.tomm.com.au.
Sovereign Tas.
Speedway
South Australian registry records for January 1920 mention "15857. S. W. Grabia, Yorketown, 2¼ Speedway."
There is no other mention in the press of such a marque, and it does not appear in Saward.
In Jan 1917 an article reads, "A young man named Grabia proceeded on a motor cycle to Yorketown (nine miles distant) for medical aid. Dr. Russell was soon on the scene, and found that Baker had sustained an injury to the spine."
Source: Trove NLA
Sporton
Manufactured by Peter Gardiner Enterprises Pty Ltd, Old Cleveland Road Capalaba.
The firm also built RTV engines, and is involved in aviation. Peter flies a Yak-52.
The Sporton housed a Harley-Davidson Sportster engine in a Norton Featherbed Wideline frame, available as a kit for AUD$5000, or as a complete machine for just under $20k.
Sources: ozebook.com, et al
Springbett
SA Registrations
7630 - A. R. Zennert, Angaston, 3½ Springbett
The Register, Adelaide, Wed 26th Jan 1916.
Source: Trove NLA
Stolford
Edwin Ebenezer Odd and his son Edwin, from Ryde, were exhibiting their Stolford motor bicycles in 1902.
Entrants in the Dunlop Reliability Motor Contest from Sydney to Melbourne
F. Odd. N.S.W. (3½ h.p. Stolford)
Table Talk (Melbourne, Vic.) Thu 16 Feb 1905
Sources: Jenny Fawbert via VMCC NSW; Trove NLA.
Strand
Constructed c.1914 to 1924
Advertised as Villiers-Strand, these machines were assembled by Cornell Ltd at Strand Service Station, corner of Pirie and Hyde Streets, Adelaide. Powered by Villiers 2-stroke engines, the machines were imported from Villiers-Strand of Great Britain.
William Cornell established his business in 1881 as a tobacconist, and entered the bicycle trade around 1897. He is believed to have imported the first motorcycle into South Australia, a Werner, in 1897. In 1907 he formed W Cornell & Son, a wholesale cycle and accessories business run by his eldest son, Fred, at 95 Grenfell Street, Adelaide.
Sources: Robert Saward p.73; Graham Clayton.
N.B. One source gives dates of 1904-1914
Strike
Manufactured by Ken Seeber of Wanneroo, W.A., in 1999, the two-seater trike was powered by a Ford Festiva rotary engine.
Ken Seiber was formerly an engineer of the Orbital Engine team, and purchased a number of their engines when the Ford Festiva projected ended.
Plans were afoot to build a batch of Strike trikes, but only the one eventuated.
His firm, Strike Products, manufactures a variety of karting products.
Website: strikeproducts.com.au
Sources: strikeproducts.com.au, The West Australian newspaper.
Sunlight
R.J. Dean of Dean's Motor Garage in Breadalbane, Launceston is listed in Saward in relation to the Sunlight motorcycle. The brand does not appear in any of the newspapers of the day.
FOR SALE
DEAN'S Motor Garage.— For sale, owner leaving State: 2 Buick cars, 1 new 5-6 H.P. Motor Cycle, 1 Douglas Motor; also number of second hand cycles, thoroughly renovated. Large quantity of motor cycle accessories, to be sold at cost. 25 cases benzine, at 21/6 per case; motor oils and greases, etc., etc.
Call or write particulars R. J. DEAN, Breadalbane.
Daily Telegraph (Launceston, Tas.) Sat 9 Sep 1916
Source: Trove, et al
Rarer Australian Marques
