The company was founded by Frank Baker in 1906 to build bicycle fittings under the Precision name. Frank Baker had worked for Eadie, Royal Enfield and Premier Cycles.
Precision motorcycles were produced from 1912 to 1919, in Moorsom Street, Birmingham. They continued to produce engines for some years thereafter.
There was an earlier company of the same name, mentioned at the end of this article.
1911 Ninety-six machines at the Olympia Show, in London used Precision engines: 293cc, 499cc and 599cc singles, or 760cc V-twins. Early Scottish Victoria motorcycles utilised these engines.
1912 Complete machines were produced, but this was found to be less than popular with existing engine customers. The complete machines were therefore exported - to Australia in particular.
1913 Moved to a new factory and by the following year they employed 400 persons and produced 100 engine per week. Long description of this factory in 'The Engineer'. Tom Biggs joined as chief designer.
1918 The company employed 800 people.
Post-World War I they released a complete motorcycle designed by Biggs using their own 350cc two-stroke engine, in 1919. At this time they were calling themselves Beardmore Precision after Scottish industrial giant William Beardmore and Co injected new capital into the company.
Their engines were featured in numerous trials and race winners in the 1920s, but sales were sliding and an attempt to introduce a new 250cc engine failed when the leaf-spring valves caused excess guide wear. There was also a model with a Barr and Stroud engine, and an ohc model which did not see production. William Beardmore and Co withdrew its capital in 1924 and Frank Baker pulled out, to make two-strokes under his own name (as F. E. Baker) and the company closed.
Note: The company was eventually sold to James in 1930.
Marques which employed Precision powerplants include:
Precision 1902-1906
These were typical of the period and powered by a Minerva
engine. The company is not believed to be related to F.E. Baker's Precision.
Sources: Graces Guide, FEB Precision Group.
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