The wide world of the Starleys

If you take a closer look at the history of ROVER, you will eventually come across the history of bicycles. This is inevitably linked to the name "Starley" - after all, there were some innovative minds with this name.

The abbreviated equations: James Starley = penny-farthings, John Kemp Starley (the nephew) = safety or modern low-wheel and Starley Brothers (the sons of James) = almost unknown are unfortunately often found, but not justified. Of course James Starley did not design the low-wheel, but John Kemp Starley also started with high-wheels, just like the Starley Brothers. And the first "ROVER" was not a low-wheeler either ...

---

James Starley

Long before the name ROVER appeared, Starley bicycles were being built. James Starley - unfortunately often called the "inventor" of the bicycle in ignorance of all the facts - is rightly considered the "father of the British bicycle industry". He succeeded in initially establishing a sport in high society with his bicycles, which became a true popular sport as competition increased. And this in turn contributed to Britain's roads being properly developed.

⇒ Among James Starley's most important bicycles

---

John Kemp Starley

The famous nephew learned to build all kinds of bicycles at the Coventry Machinists Company from his uncle James and associates who - like him - later became major bicycle manufacturers in their own right. Eventually one of his tricycles carried the ROVER name to the world. When he succeeded in making the low-wheeler a success in several steps, ROVER became a brand name.

⇒ The Bicycles of John Kemp Starley

---

The Starley - Brothers

James Starley's sons succeeded in building up a globally active company in the field of bicycle manufacturing and distribution. Subsidiaries in France, the United States of America and Russia testify to a wide distribution, and the names "Salvo" and "Psycho" had a good ring to them. It is a pity that knowledge of them has almost disappeared today.

⇒ The productions of the Starley brothers

---

The Letter Patents of the Starleys

All Starleys shone through their inventive and entrepreneurial spirit. In their respective periods and companies, they acquired patents related to the bicycle or its components. The following list is certainly not complete.