The departments were as follows:

The wireless department also benefited from strong sales, and so the Lower Walsall Street factory was expanded to cover 150,000 square feet. At this time 1,300 people were employed at the factory, in the sidecar and wireless departments.

The latest A.J.S. machines were exhibited at the Scottish Show in Glasgow, held between January 25th and February 2nd.

A total of 11 A.J.S. machines were entered for the 1924 Isle of Man junior T.T. on 23^rd June, including 6 works entries. Unfortunately 8 of the machines failed to complete the course due to mechanical problems. The best run was made by H. R. Scott, who finished in 3rd place, at an average speed of 54.55m.p.h. F. R. Marston finished in 9^th place, and G. Kelly finished in 14^th place.

There were 4 A.J.S. entries for the senior event. Charlie Hough was the first A.J.S. rider across the finishing line, in 6^th place. Frank Longman finished in 8^th place. The other two entries ridden by Jimmy Simpson, and A. J. Moyle failed to finish.

There were successes however. A.J.S. won the French Grand Prix, and the Speed Championship of Europe, and also won 3 gold medals in the A.C.U. English Six Days 1,000 miles Stock Machine Trial. The company also received an award for the best sidecar performance in the Scottish Six Days Reliability Trial.

The 1925 production machines were prepared in readiness for the Olympia show. The models were given a new letter prefix, starting with the letter ‘E’, followed by a number.

From 'The Motor Cycle', 15th May, 1924.

Model ‘E1’ de-luxe 799c.c. V twin passenger combination selling for £115
Model ‘E2’ standard 799c.c. V twin passenger combination selling for £90
Model ‘E3’ 349c.c. de-luxe touring machine
selling for £57
Model ‘E4’ 349c.c. de-luxe sporting machine
selling for £57
Model ‘E5’ 349c.c. standard sporting machine
selling for £49.10s.
Model ‘E6’ 349c.c. overhead valve sports machine selling for £60
Model ‘E7’ 349c.c. overhead valve special sports machine. Price according to specification.

On 21st February, 1925 Frank and Adelaide Giles gained a special award in the Colmore Cup Trial for second best sidecar in the trial. Other awards went to George Rowley, Jimmy Simpson, and D. Brandish, all riding 349c.c. A.J.S. machines.

On 7th March, Frank and Adelaide Giles entered the Birmingham M.C.C. Victory Cup Trial and won the Victory Cup and gold medal for the best performance by a sidecar machine.

The Hackett Cup and gold medal was won at the same event, by Jimmy Simpson on his 349c.c. A.J.S. machine.

George Rowley on the Isle of Man in 1928. Courtesy of the late Jim Boulton.

There were also two A.J.S. entries for the sidecar race; Frank Longman, with Leo Davenport in his sidecar, and Jimmy Simpson, with George Rowley in his sidecar. They used 349c.c. overhead valve machines with streamlined aluminium bodied sidecars. At the end of the race, Frank Longman finished in 4th place, and Jimmy Simpson in 5th place.

Three A.J.S. team members competed in the 350c.c. race in the French Grand Prix at Montlhéry on Saturday 18th July, over a distance of 217 miles. They were Frank Longman, Hanford Stevens (son of George), and Billy Hollowell (engaged to Hanford’s sister Millie). The race was a great success for A.J.S. Hanford Stevens finished in first place, Billy Hollowell came in 2nd, and Frank Longman came 4th. Jimmy Simpson entered and won the 500c.c. race at the same event, over a distance of 248 miles.

From 'The Motor Cycle', 14th January, 1926.

One month later the team entered the Belgian Grand Prix at Francorchamps. Frank Longman and Billie Hollowell competed in the 350c.c. class, while Jimmy Simpson took part in the 500cc class.

Tragedy struck on the 5^th lap when Billy Hollowell crashed and died from his injuries. The other team members were instantly withdrawn from the competition. This was a terrible blow to the Stevens family, Millie in particular.

In the autumn 10 new production models were prepared in readiness for the Olympia Show, prefixed with the letter ‘G’. The range included the company’s first production 500c.c. overhead valve models, the ‘G8’ and the ‘G10’. The standard version, the ‘G8’ sold for £62.10s. The price of the racing version, the ‘G10’ was subject to specification.

As a result the A.J.S. Sports and Social Club Limited was formed after purchasing a piece of land alongside Woodfield Avenue, in Penn.

The new sports ground featured a large pavilion with a licensed bar, and room for dances. There were snooker and table tennis rooms, tennis courts, and a bowling green.

The company’s ladies and men’s hockey teams held matches in Pinfold Lane, on a sports ground that was also home to the Wolverhampton Motor Cycle Football Club, founded by Tommy Deadman.

Sales of wireless receivers continued to improve and so the wireless department expanded by moving the cabinet department into Stewart Street Works.

From the 1925 A.J.S. catalogue.

On 28th October, 1925 A.J.S. purchased a piece of land on the corner of Commercial Road and Lower Walsall Street, on which stood an old Victorian factory. It is not known if the building still stood when the site was purchased, or what the company did with the site.

The year ended with two wonderful pieces of news. H. Dawson won the both the 350c.c solo class, and the 350c.c. sidecar class in the Marseilles Speed Championship held on 6th December. 6 days later Frank and Adelaide Giles won the sidecar award in the London to Gloucester And Back reliability trial. Awards also went to W. S. Braidwood, P. L. Taylor, C. G. Slade, and G. B. Reed, all on 349c.c. A.J.S. solo machines.

The A.J.S. Directors in 1926. Back row left to right: Frank Hill, Edgar L. Morcom, Edgar E. Lamb (Chairman), Charles W. Hayward and Jabez Wood.
Front row left to right: Harry Stevens (Engineer), George Stevens (Salesman), Joe Stevens junior (Production Engineer) and Jack Stevens (in charge of the design office). Photo courtesy of the late Geoff Stevens.

A strong team had been entered for the Isle of Man T.T. consisting of George Rowley, Clarrie Wise, Jimmy Simpson, Charlie Hough, Frank Longman, C. Bell, and J. H. Stevens. In the junior race Jimmy Simpson finished in 2nd place, Charlie Hough came in 7th, Frank Longman 8th, C. Bell 18th, and J. H. Stevens 19th. In the senior race Frank Longman finished in 3rd place, George Rowley in 6th place, and Clarrie Wise came in 17th.

The General Strike took place in May at a time of great industrial unrest. Luckily A.J.S. was hardly affected by the strike thanks to the loyal workforce and extremely good relations between management and staff.

In the autumn the new range of production machines was prepared as usual for the Olympia show. The new ‘H’ series included 8 solo machines, and two combinations. Prices were slightly reduced on last year. The top of the range de-luxe sidecar model now sold for £95, £3 less than in 1925.

He also won the Swiss Grand Prix, and the Belgian Grand Prix, 27 minutes ahead of the rest of the field. In August Frank and Adelaide Giles won the sidecar class in the

Scottish Six Days Reliability Trial, as the only sidecar team to finish without losing any points.

As usual the company competed in the Isle of Man T.T. The T.T. machines used dry sump lubrication, which worked well in practice, but caused serious problems when racing.

Five out of the nine entries for the junior race failed to finish, and five out of the eight entries for the senior race also failed to finish because of engine problems. In the junior race Jimmy Simpson finished in 3rd place, Len Cohen in 8th place, S. P. Jackson came in 13th, and J. E. Wade came in 15th.

From 'The Motor Cycle', 14th July, 1927.

Jimmy Simpson at work on his 1927 T.T. machine. From 'The Motor Cycle', 5th May, 1927.

The lubrication problem was soon sorted out and the machines had many successes at Brooklands, in Europe, and at the Ulster Grand Prix.

Frank and Adelaide also represented Great Britain for the 6th year in succession with their A.J.S. combination.

The 1927 Scottish Six Days Reliability Trial. Riders; A. L. Downie, Frank Giles, and A. F. Downie. Adelaide Giles is in the middle side car. From 'The Motor Cycle', 18th August, 1927.

One piece of good news came in the form of a lucrative contract to build car bodies for the largest local car manufacturer, Clyno. In the summer of 1927 Clyno developed the model 'Nine' light car. Charles Haywood secured the contract for A.J.S. to build the bodies at Lower Walsall Street works. The A.J.S. Board thought that diversification might be a way of securing the company’s long term future, after being faced with falling sales. It would also secure the future of the 1,300 or so staff at Lower Walsall Street. The Board members decided to develop a range of commercial vehicle chassis at Lower Walsall Street, under Charles Hayward’s supervision.

As a result the ailing wireless department moved from Lower Walsall Street to Stewart Street Works to free-up space required for building the car bodies, and for developing commercial vehicles.

From 'The Motor Cycle', 28th July, 1927.

The range was similar to last year’s except for the introduction of two overhead camshaft racing models, the ‘K7’ and the ‘K10’.

The range of sidecars for 1928 were to have fabric covered bodies, like the fabric covered car bodies that were produced for Clyno at Lower Walsall Street.

It had been the worst financial year for A.J.S. so far. The company failed to declare a dividend to its shareholders, for the first time in its existence.