Joe Barter and Douglas motorcyles
Joe Barter, the Bristol engineer who designed the vibrationless twin - opposed motor cycle engine, first took up the sport in 1903.
“A reliability trial was held in 1904” he told an Evening World reporter in the 1930s, " and the start took place in Old Market street.”
“In those days there were no number plates to worry about, and no one paid a license, although legally we were expected to pay a carriage license of 15 shillings (75p)
“To the surprise of the entrants, Inland Revenue officials were there to take names and every year afterwards
we had to pay a licence fee.
“This first trial was to Marlborough and back, and as far as my memory goes only two competitors finished the journey.
“I designed an engine called The Barter which was manufactured by Messrs. Humpage, Jaques and Pederson, of Bristol.
“Many of these engines were built into frames by bicycle manufacturers.
“Frank Morris, who at that time lived on Redcliffe Hill, built a tandem machine which was ridden by a Mr. Tatchet and his wife.
“They and about ten other motor cyclists used to meet
for rides every Sunday morning.
“One would carry a hammer and chisel, and another a
soldering iron, some solder and spirit so that we could repair leaky tanks.
“Most of us carried a pocket full of sparking plugs in all conditions in case a rider wanted to borrow one.
“Gradually the quality of components improved - engines and carburetors became more reliable.
“We were still troubled by driving belts however and many attempts were made to overcome the difficulty.
“The very small pulley on the engine was a source of trouble and that was my reason for designing The Barter engine which had a geared drive, allowing a pulley twice the size to be used.
“Older riders will remember a motorcycle race held on the Gloucester County Ground in or about 1903 when a motor cycle left the track and killed a boy.
“The track was small and was intended for bicycles so from that day onwards no racing was allowed there.
“I later turned my attention to three wheeled motor cars and designed the Avon three wheeler.
“This had a single cylinder 5 bhp engine three speed gearbox with reverse, differential back axle and a body to carry two people.
“Steering was carried out by the front wheel as in the Raleigh
goods carrier.
“I obtained a gold medal in a reliability trial from St Albans to Hatfield in 1904.”
Joe Barter was born in Bedminster.
When he was five, in 1871, his parents John (41) and Isabella (38) plus his brother Robert, three, and sister Mary, just one, were living at Ham Green, near Pill.
Although a carpenter by trade, during the 1870s and 80s John was also the landlord of The Three Tuns pub in Great Anne Street, St. Philips.
By the time he was fifteen son Joe was working as an engine fitter’s apprentice, probably with Fox Walker - later bought out by Pecketts, a well known name in loco construction.
When he was twenty four he married Alice Golding and by 1895 they had five children to care for - William, Ernest Gladys, Gertrude and Beryl.
A few years later, by the turn of the century, the Barters had moved to Percy Street.
Although Joe was still involved with the production of internal combustion engines he became a foreman with the Parnall Scale company.
But in 1907, when his company, Light Motors, went into liquidation, he was invited to join the Douglas Brothers foundry.
Douglas was then moving into the development and construction of motor cycles.
During early Edwardian times the Barter family made their home in Luckwell Road, Bedminster but by1911 they had moved to Clouds Hill Road, St. George
The 1911 census reveals that 46 year old Joseph was employed as a motor works engineer with his 18 year old son, Ernest, doing the same job - presumably alongside his father at Douglas in Hanham Road
Joe Barter left Douglas at some point - we don’t know when - but remained a consultant with them until the company was sold in 1932.
Barter died in 1941 at the age of 75. The Douglas factory ceased production in 1957.
A replica of Joe Barter’s prototype, horizontally opposed 200 cc motorised bicycle will be on display at the Bristol Heritage Museum in May next year during the Douglas Cavalcade
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