Rudge-Whitworth
Rudge Whitworth Cycles was a British bicycle, bicycle saddle, motorcycle and sports car wheel manufacturer that resulted from the merger of two bicycle manufacturers in 1894, Whitworth Cycle Co. of Birmingham, founded by Charles Henry Pugh and his two sons Charles Vernon and John, and Rudge Cycle Co. of Coventry (which descended from a bicycle company founded by Daniel Rudge of Wolverhampton).
| Predecessor | Rudge Cycle Co, Whitworth Cycle Co |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1894 merger of predecessors |
| Founder | Daniel Rudge, Charles H Pugh |
| Defunct | 1946 |
| Headquarters | Coventry, Birmingham , United Kingdom |
Key people | C H, C V and John Pugh |
| Products | Bicycles, motorcycles, wheels |
Rudge motorcycles were produced from 1911 to 1946. The firm was known for its innovations in engine and transmission design, and its racing successes. Their sales motto was "Rudge it, do not trudge it."
The company also produced the first detachable wire wheel in 1907, and was known for its knockoff wheels on sports cars; that brand continued well into the 1960s.