Australian Motorcycles

Riley by Leitch

Leitch Motorcycles

Leitch-1904-Adv-Trove.jpg
Leitch Motors 1904


Manufactured by Leitch & Co., Gray St, Hamilton, Victoria. Motorcycles are believed to have been built using JAP and Fafnir engines and Chater Lea chassis components from 1907 to 1911. There is a report of a four page catalogue showing such machines from 1909. It is likely that they also produced motorcycles 1902 to 1907 using Minerva and Fafnir engines.

    June 1904, Leitch Motors Built to Order. Ernest Leitch & Co. 385 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.
    March 1912, advertised Leitch motorcycles, £65.
    1913 advertised Rudge, Thor, E.W.B. (Melbourne-built), JAP, King Dick, FN, Douglas - but no mention of a Leitch motorcycle.
    1914 & 1916 they advertised Indian.
    In December 1915 Leitch advertised a new Riley 4½ h.p. with 3 speed gearbox complete with coach-built sidecar for £100. Don Riley worked as a mechanic for Leitch Cycles. See Riley
    1917 they advertised Leitch Cycles and Indian motorcycles.


LEITCH CYCLES IS AS WIDE AS THE WORLD.
See our LATEST LEITCH MOTORCYCLE. Catalogues Post Free.
REPAIRS Executed Promptly and at Right Prices. TENNIS RAQUETS restrung Neatly.
Only the Best Material and Repairs - Our Workshop is the best, and repairs entrusted to us will be executed promptly in a first class style. We repair in a style second to none. Only best material used.
E. LEITCH & CO. Prop. Ltd, Gray St , Hamillton,
N. M'DONALD, Manager. D. D. RILEY, Travelling Representative.
Telephone No. 144.

Trove NLA: Hamilton Spectator Tue 21 Sep 1909

Sources: Jason Palmer at VVC; Trove NLA.

Notes.
1. Hamilton had Leitch Pictures (cinema) in those days, possibly related.
2. In 1918 and 1924 there was a Sandford, Leitch Motors in Exhibition St, Melbourne, a car dealer. There is no indication that there was a motorcycle side to this business.
3. A 1912 Grandex rebadged as Leitch was offered for sale in Belgium by HD Classic BE in 2021. There is more on this matter under Comet-Precision.

If you have a query or information about Leitch motorcycles please contact us

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