John Marston (industrialist): Difference between revisions

Born in [[Ludlow]] in 1836, of a minor landowning family. In 1851 at age 15, he was sent to [[Wolverhampton]] to be apprenticed to Edward Perry as a japanware manufacturer. At the age of 23 he left and set up his own japanning business [[John Marston Ltd]], making any and every sort of domestic article. He did so well that when Perry died in 1871, Marston took over his company and incorporated it in his own.

His company began making bicycles in [[1904]], and on the suggestion of his wife Ellen, Marston adopted the trademark brand '''Sunbeam'''. Resultantly, the Paul Street works were called '''Sunbeamland'''. John Marston was a perfectionist, and this was reflected in the high build quality of the Sunbeam bicycle, which had an enclosure around the chain in which an oil bath kept the chain lubricated and clean. They were made until 1936, and to the end, remained the best bicycle money could buy.

Marston disapproved of motorcycles, which he thought we dangerous. [[Sunbeam (motorcycle)|This did not stop him making thousands of them]]. But he never rode one, and nor did he ever drive a [[Sunbeam Car Company|car]]. Nearly all his life he was a dedicated cyclist, most often using a tricycle. He was a succesful businessman, and an apparent harsh employer. Workers who made a mistake at his factory were bluntly told "Get your jacket" and with that Marston threw workers out.

But he attended St. Jude's church with metronomic regularity, so it was probably all right. He lived most of his adult life in The Oaks, Merridale Road, [[Wolverhampton]].