Ernie Has No Success Secret
It's merely a bond of trust between cyclists.
Sports special by Eric Nicholls, The Kentish Mercury
December 2, 1960
It's a long, long way from Deptford's Tanners Hill to the Olympic stadiums of Helsinky, Melbourne and Rome. But to those who pedal for medals there is a vital link between London, SE8, and the venue for the top cycling event of the moment.
To the uninitiated in hopping on a bike the name of Witcomb means little. To those who pass by the two shopfronts bearing that name. it is just another small-time Deptford business with some product of little importance finding its way. perhaps, on to the market.
Even a closer look suggests merely a very ordinary cycle shop. A few years ago that description might have fitted the professional efforts of Ernie Witcomb. Not today.
For Witcomb cycles are known wherever young men and women pedal for fun - or for financial gain. They are sold by 198 agents based in the British Isles, New Zealand and California. They are ridden by top amateurs and semi-professional alike.
More and more top men are riding Witcomb. Men like Stan Brittain of Tour of Britain faame and only the second British rider ever to finish the Tour de France. That he achieved on a Witcomb bike.
Men like Bernard Pussey and Ken Mitchell, ex-Tour de France stars and Ian Greenfield, second in the Tour of Britain. And our Olympic cyclists in Rome last summer carried Witcomb machines as spares.
Milan Fair
The rise in popularity of these cycles - they have reached 1,044 so far this year in their sales target of 1,200 cycles and frames for the year - led to the selection of a racing model - the only British cycles chosen- to represent Great Britain in the Milan Trade Fair in April 1958.
It led to the "adoption" of Witcomb by the Combined Services, RAF and Army cycling bosses. And Witcomb will service this year's Tour of Britain as well as the Combined Services Teams.
An £80 bike has been sold to a millionaire's son in Jersey and leading harmonica player Larry Adler bought one for his son.
Export Too
With such record, Ernie Witcomb, the 42-year-old human dynamo behind the Witcomb project, whose father not surprisingly also built bikes, speaks with modesty of a "small export" which included a batch of 100 cycles for New Zealand last year and 50 now awaiting despatch to the United States. A recent Nigerian inquiry could result in a £10,000 order.
Delve deeper into the Witcomb file and you discover that Ernie is secretary of the Lighweight Cycles Manufacturers' Association, who hope to stage their own cycle show next year; a racing cyclist in his younger days and now a cycle racing-official.
Ernie speaks more freely when you get around to the family concern that started a few years ago in partnership with a Midland firm.
The Family
The Witcombs have come a long way since the first bike carrying their name came on the market in 1956. From a staff of two they have built a concern that gives employment to eight full-time and five part-time, including travellers.
It is very much a family concern. Ernie's wife, Lily, who looks after the office work, is one of the few lady judges in the country. And son Barry already has a string of honours to his name although only 17. One of the youngest judges, Barry is also a machine examiner on the Tour of Britain, London Coureurs junior champion, third in the club's overall championship, second in the South-East London divisional championships, and has a 1hr. 3min. 22-mile time to his credit.
And everyone on his staff - all keen cyclists - automatically becomes a member of the Witcomb cycling family. "Nobody works for us; they work with us," is Ernie's motto for a happy working relationship and - efficiency.
No Fooling
The proof of the pudding is in the eating. And the proof of Witcomb's success formula is in his sales record. You cannot fool all the people all the time. Ernie Witcomb doesn't try. He knows he is dealing with specialists who know what they want. That is why Witcomb cycles are made by the cyclists for the cyclists.
------------
Damaged forks can land a cyclist in hospital. Dave Ritson, a 15-year-old from Brockley, who joined the Witcomb staff straight from Samuel Pepys School knows this as he brazes the forks together before filing.
That is why he concentrates solely on the job at hand, ignoring the Mercury cameraman who moved in to get a shot of Dave at work.
Another important job is the packing of the frames for despatch. This job is entrusted to another 15-year-old - Juno Brown, another former pupil at Samuel Pepys School. Juno, who lives with his parents and brother in Brockley, came to England four years ago from his native Jamaica. He has been on the Witcomb staff for two months.
In a few moments this Witcomb cycle will be complete. Eric Beadle (38) co-director of Witcomb's, who is in charge of the building, while Ernie Witcomb looks after the sales and management, assembles yet another Witcomb bike.
------------
There's desk work attached to any business. Ernie Witcomb seen above checking a customer's order, directs operations for the making of Witcomb cycles in a cosy back-room office at his Tanners Hill, Deptford, works.
And (right) here's the start of these operations. Don Sturt, a 16-year-old Catford lad, and former Metro club member, who has been with Witcomb's for a month measures the tubes before the job starts.
A big job for a youngster. But Ernie Witcomb's 17-year-old son Barry had already been through the production mill, and there's hardly a job he cannot do.
The job completed, the triangle has to be inspected before going to the enamelers - one of the very few jobs not done by Witcomb themselves.
Checking for possible faults is 21-year-old Tony Crisp. Tony knows what to look for, as an English international racing cyclist from Nottingham, and one of the country's leading grass-track riders.
Sports special by Eric Nicholls, The Kentish Mercury
December 2, 1960
It's a long, long way from Deptford's Tanners Hill to the Olympic stadiums of Helsinky, Melbourne and Rome. But to those who pedal for medals there is a vital link between London, SE8, and the venue for the top cycling event of the moment.
To the uninitiated in hopping on a bike the name of Witcomb means little. To those who pass by the two shopfronts bearing that name. it is just another small-time Deptford business with some product of little importance finding its way. perhaps, on to the market.
Even a closer look suggests merely a very ordinary cycle shop. A few years ago that description might have fitted the professional efforts of Ernie Witcomb. Not today.
For Witcomb cycles are known wherever young men and women pedal for fun - or for financial gain. They are sold by 198 agents based in the British Isles, New Zealand and California. They are ridden by top amateurs and semi-professional alike.
More and more top men are riding Witcomb. Men like Stan Brittain of Tour of Britain faame and only the second British rider ever to finish the Tour de France. That he achieved on a Witcomb bike.
Men like Bernard Pussey and Ken Mitchell, ex-Tour de France stars and Ian Greenfield, second in the Tour of Britain. And our Olympic cyclists in Rome last summer carried Witcomb machines as spares.
Milan Fair
The rise in popularity of these cycles - they have reached 1,044 so far this year in their sales target of 1,200 cycles and frames for the year - led to the selection of a racing model - the only British cycles chosen- to represent Great Britain in the Milan Trade Fair in April 1958.
It led to the "adoption" of Witcomb by the Combined Services, RAF and Army cycling bosses. And Witcomb will service this year's Tour of Britain as well as the Combined Services Teams.
An £80 bike has been sold to a millionaire's son in Jersey and leading harmonica player Larry Adler bought one for his son.
Export Too
With such record, Ernie Witcomb, the 42-year-old human dynamo behind the Witcomb project, whose father not surprisingly also built bikes, speaks with modesty of a "small export" which included a batch of 100 cycles for New Zealand last year and 50 now awaiting despatch to the United States. A recent Nigerian inquiry could result in a £10,000 order.
Delve deeper into the Witcomb file and you discover that Ernie is secretary of the Lighweight Cycles Manufacturers' Association, who hope to stage their own cycle show next year; a racing cyclist in his younger days and now a cycle racing-official.
Ernie speaks more freely when you get around to the family concern that started a few years ago in partnership with a Midland firm.
The Family
The Witcombs have come a long way since the first bike carrying their name came on the market in 1956. From a staff of two they have built a concern that gives employment to eight full-time and five part-time, including travellers.
It is very much a family concern. Ernie's wife, Lily, who looks after the office work, is one of the few lady judges in the country. And son Barry already has a string of honours to his name although only 17. One of the youngest judges, Barry is also a machine examiner on the Tour of Britain, London Coureurs junior champion, third in the club's overall championship, second in the South-East London divisional championships, and has a 1hr. 3min. 22-mile time to his credit.
And everyone on his staff - all keen cyclists - automatically becomes a member of the Witcomb cycling family. "Nobody works for us; they work with us," is Ernie's motto for a happy working relationship and - efficiency.
No Fooling
The proof of the pudding is in the eating. And the proof of Witcomb's success formula is in his sales record. You cannot fool all the people all the time. Ernie Witcomb doesn't try. He knows he is dealing with specialists who know what they want. That is why Witcomb cycles are made by the cyclists for the cyclists.
------------
Damaged forks can land a cyclist in hospital. Dave Ritson, a 15-year-old from Brockley, who joined the Witcomb staff straight from Samuel Pepys School knows this as he brazes the forks together before filing.
That is why he concentrates solely on the job at hand, ignoring the Mercury cameraman who moved in to get a shot of Dave at work.
Another important job is the packing of the frames for despatch. This job is entrusted to another 15-year-old - Juno Brown, another former pupil at Samuel Pepys School. Juno, who lives with his parents and brother in Brockley, came to England four years ago from his native Jamaica. He has been on the Witcomb staff for two months.
In a few moments this Witcomb cycle will be complete. Eric Beadle (38) co-director of Witcomb's, who is in charge of the building, while Ernie Witcomb looks after the sales and management, assembles yet another Witcomb bike.
------------
There's desk work attached to any business. Ernie Witcomb seen above checking a customer's order, directs operations for the making of Witcomb cycles in a cosy back-room office at his Tanners Hill, Deptford, works.
And (right) here's the start of these operations. Don Sturt, a 16-year-old Catford lad, and former Metro club member, who has been with Witcomb's for a month measures the tubes before the job starts.
A big job for a youngster. But Ernie Witcomb's 17-year-old son Barry had already been through the production mill, and there's hardly a job he cannot do.
The job completed, the triangle has to be inspected before going to the enamelers - one of the very few jobs not done by Witcomb themselves.
Checking for possible faults is 21-year-old Tony Crisp. Tony knows what to look for, as an English international racing cyclist from Nottingham, and one of the country's leading grass-track riders.
Labels: heritage
