Whilst not a manufacturer of motorcycles, their history is important in the evolution of the automotive industry.
They developed a production line near the turn of the century, possibly influencing Henry Ford who visited the factory in Pottery Lane, Openshaw, Manchester.
They built the first production rotary valve engine in 1886 and this continued to be produced until 1902.
In 1920 Crossley Motors bought AV Roe and Company, (Avro), which they then sold to Armstrong Siddeley in 1928.
When AJS went bankrupt in 1931, Crossley purchased a good deal of the stock and built some 300 cars using AJS components.
After WWII the firm built buses. In 1969 Crossley was sold to AEC who owned British Leyland, and the Crossley buses were built under the Leyland name.
Sources:
gracesguide.co.uk/Crossley_Brothers
wikiwand.com/en/AJS
oldbikemag.com.au
Autopasion18.com
