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L F Harris (rushden) Ltd

14K views 29 replies 10 participants last post by  KADUTZ 
#1 · (Edited)
This company is located in my city, and I am told that they are an importer of Triumph vintage parts. Never heard of them before, and with the exception of Barbers in Birmingham, AL, we are about as far removed from the vintage bike world as you can be in the U.S. So I'm not too sure about the info.

Just wanted to see if anyone knows what this company is, wholesaler, retailer etc...

I suppose I could just pop in and see for myself, but they are located outside of town, and its not a warehouse building. I would feel just a little strange walking in and asking "whats up?"
 
#4 · (Edited)
L F Harris is the company set up by Les Harris in the UK to make and supply components for Britiah Motorcycles as the various factories closed down. Became a major subcontractor to the Triumph Co-operative and, when Bloor bought the Triumph manufacturing rights, came to and agreement with Bloor to continue manufacture 1984-88. I believe some 6000 "Devon" or "Harris" Bonnevilles were built although none were sold in the US (at least not officially)
L H Harris have continued to be the major source of "Triumph" parts, especially T140/TR7 parts, which are supplied throughout the world and sold by many other companies. L H Harris do not supply direct to the public.
No idea if L F Harris (Rushden) ltd are connected in any way.
See http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/triu/Triumph L.F Harris Bonneville.htm
 
#7 ·
Just a few bits and peices...LF Harris was not a subcontracter to Meriden but an alternative T140 spare parts supplier to their customers, much to Triumph's irritation. His Harris Bonnevilles numbered just over a thousand although it's correct thyere was no official importation to USA to Harris' disapointment. He had bid for Triumph but lost out to Bloor who licensed him to build T140s until Hinckley was producing bikes themselves. Harris also made a few TR7Tigers too during this time. Both Harris bikes had lots of Italian components but the licence was not renewed in 1988 and Harris instead marketed a Rotax engined, British -framed Matchless G80.
 
#5 ·
LF HARRIS Grenada was the US division (wholesale only) of the UK company. They were located in a rather unimposing bulding next to (just west of) a gas station at the Interstate off ramp.
The Grenada location has been there for approx 20years. We took the time in 2000 during our honeymoon to go visit them as we are/were one of the US dealers. The 2 ladies who ran the place showed us every kindness (southern hospitality) during our visit.
This company has recently ceased US operations due to the death of Mr Harris. It will be missed.:(
 
#6 ·
The location is what is so odd about the building. It is basicly a rural intersection with 2 convenience stores, a beer joint, and a local Fed Ex hub that built there about 10 years ago. I have lived here most my life, and it was the first I had heard of it. A local motorcycle mechanic told me about it, but he didn't realize that it was not in operation.

It is not a large building, did they keep inventory there?
 
#8 ·
SCouch
Grenada was chosen as the Harris location for a couple of reasons many years ago. One was cost of labor another was cost of warehouse space(somthing you can apreciate being in Real Estate). Remember this was a WHOLESALE operation NOT retail. Therfore rural and cheap is good.
Inventory was stored in the lower area of the bulding which is has/had 2 floors
 
#19 · (Edited)
Les choose Grenada, Mississippi location because his cousin, who ran the US company when it was first set-up, lived there.

Rushden was the location of his first premises. This was in the period when he was trading as Racing Spares.

When Bloor licensed him to make the Bonneville he talked the Devon Town Council into tax and other incentives, including lodging for the staff he brought down from the now closed Meriden. All this was based upon the many jobs he was going to bring to the area.

When his lease ran out a the Devon facility a few years back he bought a building and moved some twenty miles to Torquay area not far from his home. His wife Shirley was an active partner in the business and the way she, and the family is going, I can see them growing out of the new building in a few years.
 
#20 ·
Thanks, Johntioc

That's gospel and should answer everything !

I saw an ex- Royal Signals 'White Helmets' display team bike at the Ace on Sunday. Unsurprisingly, given he continued supporting the team after Meriden closed, it had a Harris frame with a Meriden TR7 engine. I imagine with their stunts, the frames wear out quicker than the eines. the frame had Harris components like the Brembo rear brake and TSX side panels but also Hagon rims, Japanese rear units, Continental tyres and minimalist switchgear. There was no battery, the bike running directly off the alternator. I'll make sure I get a photo next time.
 
#22 · (Edited)
I saw an ex- Royal Signals 'White Helmets' display team bike at the Ace on Sunday.
My understanding is that after Harris stopped making Bonnevilles, John Bloor personnally intervened to give permission to the Royal Signals themselves to build 13 new TR7R's from spares supplied by Harris. This would have been about 1997 (or possibly a bit earlier). Thus "new" Triumph were credited with the manufacture of 13 "old" Triumphs in the industry stats. The only time this has happened. I believe this was reported in the MCN and "Nacelle" (Tomcc journal) at the time.
 
#23 ·
Although not a veteran himself, Les always supported the White helmets in any way he could. Les gave them a draw of about 10,000 pounds Sterling a year for spare parts to keep the bikes running. In thanks, they provided an honor guard for his funeral, something normally reserved for "big wigs" and high ranking officers. There is talk of producing another batch of bikes for the white helmets.

While I understand Meridenforever's comments about Les' spare parts business and the worker co-operative, the die was cast long before the co-operative was even thought of.

The parts shortage in the US dates back to the mid 1970's. The period that Peter Thornton was spending millions on winning the AMA national #1 plate and his rude introduction of the 6 months warranty. BSA, and thus Triumph, did not have the money to stock spare parts in the US and were 6 months to a year in some cases behind in warranty payments to dealers.

Warranties require spare parts and with six months to cover, dealers were left with stripping bikes on their sales floor. Then came the Umberslade Hall creations and the explosive 5 speed transmission. Peter Thornton was fired, we still had the six month warranty, no spare parts and it went from bad to worse.

Making spare parts and competing with the o.e.m. manufacturers was nothing new in the UK, with Wassell being the largest example. The American market also had several aftermarket manufacturers and distributors supplying BSA, Triumph and Norton spare parts. The biggest was probably Domiracer in Cincinatti. And it wasn't illegal or unethical. As long as the parts were not represented as o.e.m. it was a legitimate business. Thats just the way it is.

Harris was late to this game. But he got his real start when Dennis Poore was GIVEN, yes GIVEN Triumph and BSA by the government. Dennis Poore was Les' biggest supplier in 1973-74. The stores at BSA held millions of pounds worth of spare parts for both brands. Les bought them from Poore for dimes on the dollar. He wasn't going to make twins so he had no need for them.

All of Les' aftermarket parts were clearly labeled Racing Spares, and though he had other problems, they were never sold as genuine until he had the license from Bloor. He also bought a large cache of original Triumph spare parts from Norton Andover.

Les had a well established spares business long before the co-operative finally got distribution rights. It was established on the spare parts sold to him by Poore and Norton Andover. By the time the co-operative finally got the distribution rights the company was already in trouble. What followed for the directors was placing the business in virtual respite, followed by an extended wake and finally came the funeral. I think the final blow was the value of the English Pound making the bikes over $2,500 dollars in a $1900 market. While the workers and directors meant well it all came too late and there wasn't enough money to invest in development and production. To blame Les for all this is a bit over the top. He was just at the right place at the right time.

All through this period from 1969 to 1983 the US dealers struggled to keep their doors open lacking both sale able motorcycles and spare parts!
 
#24 ·
All through this period from 1969 to 1983 the US dealers struggled to keep their doors open lacking both sale able motorcycles and spare parts!
Very interesting and informative to see things from "the other side".
There are always two sides to a story and nature abhors a vacuum so there is always someone ready and willing to fill it. No vacuum, no need for it to be filled.
 
#25 ·
Yesterday, I stopped by the building just to take a peak thru the front window. All the office furniture has been removed. I had never payed much attention to the building, but the warehouse part of the building is larger than what I had remembered. It still has L. F. Harris on the front door.
 
#26 ·
That was then what about now? I was just briefly looking at wholesalers Wassell and LF Harris. Who else is there? Emgo?

How does one become a supplier of one of these manufactures?

I notice that when it comes to pre unit headers and silencers Emgo don't supply any pre 1963. So that would mean that any pre unit headers and silencers would have been manufactured in the UK and shipped worldwide by possibly one of two suppliers like Wassell and LF Harris. Is that correct?
 
#27 ·
There are a number of other companies remanufacturing Triumph parts plus several distributors who use engineering subcontractors.

To Wassell and L F Harris, I would add Tricor England. There is at least one company in India making part for Triumphs but I have not been impressed with the quality.. A couple of companies are making Lucas stuff. There are also a couple of US companies making, or having items made. Plus Emgo.
Fot silencers/pipes, try Armour.
I think it would be a case of starting small and building up a list of contacts.
 
#28 ·
You right there are a lot of different manufactures, as well as the "chance takers? trying to manufacture a number of different part and then selling them on ebay etc. I am only looking at pre unit parts and they seem to be by far the most difficult to get and most expensive.

I am at this stage looking for a number of parts, but at this moment looking at exhausts headers, silencers and clamps. The difference in price between a set for 1963 - 1970 unit and say 1957 - 1959 pre unit is almost double.

I have sent Armour a number of emails. They don’t respond. DaveM was going to look into just after Xmas but have not heard anything yet.

Must run off to work.
 
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