Alfred Wiseman Ltd., Glover Street Works, Birmingham built Sirrah, Macklum, Verus and Weaver motorcycles.
The firm produced overhead insulators for tramways along with transmission components for trams, trolley buses, steam locomotives and tractors.
Alfred Wiseman was born in Brompton, Kent. He served an apprenticeship with Aveling and Porter of Rochester, Kent, and was subsequently employed as a draughtsman in Chatham Dockyard. By 1891 was working as a commercial traveller based in Northampton before working as an engineer with Robey and Co. of Lincoln.
In 1896 Alfred Wiseman established the Glover Street Works in Birmingham.
The firm ceased motorcycle production ceased in 1926, but continued to manufacture transmission parts for many years. Alfred Wiseman and Co is now part of David Brown Gear Systems of Huddersfield.
Simple in design, this machine was scooter-style. The foot platform was
a one-piece steel stamping that doubled as the frame. It had a 292cc Union
or Peco engines positioned over the
front wheel, which it drove by chain.
More on Macklum.
Macklum Gallery.
Weaver motorcycles were produced from 1923 to 1925. The marque was named after its designer who was the works manager at Alfred Wiseman.
1923 - The first model was known as the Cyclette and was an open-framed commuter machine with the marque's own 150cc ohv engine, single-speed and chain final-drive.
1924 - That model continued and was joined by a true lightweight motorcycle known as the Colonial model. It had a 130cc version of the same engine, two-speed Burman gearbox, all-chain drive and 24-inch diameter road wheels. Later in the year, either a 147cc Villiers or Aza two-stroke engine became an option.
1925 - Only the motorcycles continued. It was the final year.
Sources: Graces Guide; sunbeam-mcc.co.uk; Graham Clayton.
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