Excelsior, base in Coventry, was Britain’s first motorcycle manufacturer, starting production of their own ‘motor-bicycle’ in 1896. Starting out as a bicycle company making penny-farthings in 1874 under their original name: Bayliss, Thomas and Co, although they changed the company name to Excelsior Motor Co. in 1910. In the early years of motor-bicycle manufacture they used Minerva, De Dion, MMC and possibly a Condor 850 cc single but went on to produce a wide range of machines with engines from most major manufacturers. In 1914, they offered a JAP-powered twin. A deal to supply the Russian Imperial government with motorcycles ended with the Revolution and Excelsior wound up with an excess inventory as a result.