Classic and Vintage Australian Bicycles

Collectable Cycles

Bullock

In the year 1896, John Bullock, a rising young mechanic employed by W. Tyler (one of Adelaide’s oldest bicycle and tricycle makers, and also a champion rider) decided to enter business on his own. He began by building bicycles at his home, and so quickly did he become known for the excellent machines that he built, that it became necessary to open a workshop and showroom in the city, to keep up with demand. He took on a small shop in Hanson Street, but shortly afterwards moved to larger premises in Pine Street. So great was the demand for the Bullock cycle that, in a very short time, a staff of mechanics were working at high speed and the Bullock premises became a hive of industry.

Besides building the ordinary roadster and touring bicycle, as it was known in those days, he specialized in racing machines and practically every racing cyclist of note rode the famous ’Arrow’, the name by which his machines were known. So highly esteemed was the Bullock racer that apart from the great number of local racing men, many visiting riders at the big cycling carnivals on the Exhibition and Adelaide Oval tracks, preferred to ride a Bullock. Many records were established on this speedy machine.

After nearly forty years in the bicycle business, Bullock Ltd., still carried on the traditions of the founder of the firm, and the same skilful and careful methods adopted in the building of the early Bullock cycles were embodied in the present machines. The ever increasing number of riders was evidence that for durability, speed and scientific construction, no better cycle was built in Australia.

It is interesting to recall that Mr. Bullock was the first man in Adelaide to establish chain stores, and from the humble beginnings at his home in 1896, he had in a few years well-stocked cycle stores in Gawler, Kadina, Port Pirie and agencies in every large country centre, besides three big stores in the city. The extensive business of Bullock Ltd. Was built by integrity and keeping faith with the purchaser, and by building a machine that ensured the purchaser the fullest confidence in its endurance and reliability.

A galaxy of speedy riders selected the Bullock bicycle, realizing it was the speediest machine built in South Australia. It would be difficult to enumerate the many records established on Bullock cycles and the many hundreds of riders of this remarkable machine, but it may be interesting to recall a few performances.

K.L. Osborne, first S.A. Championship, first scratch race, 28 December, 1934, Mt Gambier.

Jack Bullock, first and fastest time to Victor Harbor.

Archie White, winner of the Norwood-Noarlunga Road Race

Billie Griggs, winner of 100-mile Burra Road Race, twice.

 

Extracted from the 1935 Bullock Catalogue.

Bullock Cycle Works, c1903.

1948 Bullock Track Cycle