George Marsey Jackson (b. 18 May 1879 d. 22 Nov 1964) built motorcyles between 1907 and 1911 powered by Minerva and JAP engines. He also used the Marsey brand, possibly somewhat earlier.[1] The JAP, an OHV V-twin, was likely built for him by John King & Sons. Jackson raced both cars and motorcycles.
He ran the Tasmanian Motor Garage at 108 George Street, Launceston, from 1910. The firm became an automobile dealership with agencies for Buick and Oldsmobile, and in the 1920s had 45 employees. Jackson sold the business in 1925, and then set up shop again at a new location very shortly thereafter. In 1926 he began selling the Ford Model T, and the business thrived. It continues to do so - see jacksonford.com.au.
George Jackson on his 8hp twin J.A.P. at the 1907 Tasmanian Auto Club reliability trial to Hobart. (Weekly Courier, November 14, 1907) (Kingston Beach)
HILL CLIMBING CONTEST. LAUNCESTON, September 27.
Jackson J.A.P. 89-h.p, G. M. Jackson, 34 2-5sec, 31 1-5Sec.
The Mercury (Hobart, Tas.) Mon 28th September 1908
G. M. Jackson, with his 9 h.p. Jackson J.A.P. racer, will not, as far as I can learn, be competing in class "H." No doubt he prefers the luxurious upholstering of a Clement-Talbot car seat to the "give" of a B100 Brooks' saddle.
Examiner (Launceston, Tas) Tue 3 November 1908
Note: The Marsey image is cropped from a photograph dated c.1903, captioned "Riders are P Harrison, T Abbott, G Jackson, S Spurling, and A Bosworth." In the same photograph is a Minerva which is identical to a much clearer image of an identical machine photographed at Mt Buffalo, Victoria, also dated c.1903. Image via Tasmanian Libraries (libraries.tas.gov.au).
Sources: Trove NLA, Robert Saward; fb.com/launcestonhistory; T.G. Parker; et al
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