Birmingham spares shop moves after 80 years

MOTORCYCLE DEALERS AND one-time manufacturers Vale-Onslow have left the Sparkbrook premises in Birmingham that they occupied for more than 80 years, to move to a new location.

Vale-Onslow had been a feature of Stratford Road in Sparkbrook since the 1930s and in British motorcycling’s 1960s hey-day the shop would see hordes of riders turn up on Saturdays for spares, while the company’s 1970s magazine adverts promoted café racer and custom bike parts by mail-order.

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Vale-Onslow was originally set up by Len Vale-Onslow Snr in the 1930s, following on from his exploits as a pioneering motorcycle manufacturer in the 1920s, creating the SOS or Super Onslow Special brand of JAP and Villiers powered racing and sports machines. The fourth generation of the Vale-Onslow family is now involved in the business.

All the stock, which ranges from classic spares accumulated over the past 80 years, to more modern parts and machines has been moved from the old Stratford Road shop to new premises, about three miles from the old shop. The new shop at Unit 12-13 Bordesley Trading Estate, Bordesley Green Road B8 1BZ is open Monday to Saturday 9am-5.30pm, with early closing on Wednesdays. Visit valeonslow.wordpress.com.


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