two 1903 Centaur 'Safety' cycles for male and female riders
Centaur were a cycle and motor company once located in Coventry.
The Centaur Company began as cycle manufacturers at West Orchard, Coventry in 1876 but also made motorcycles from the turn of the Century until 1915.
Established by Messrs. Mushing and Gilbert, the company first sold 'Centaur' Penny-Farthing type cycles before changing with the times in the mid-1880s by offering safety models.
By the early 1900s, as well as continuing to sell bicycles, they also began making motor-bicycles powered by Coventry-built Humber engines.
In 1910, Mr. Mushing died and the Centaur name was taken on by the
Humber Company where production resumed at Stoke, Coventry.
This arrangement lasted until 1915 when the
Humber Company dropped the Centaur name and instead concentrated on the future development of their own Humber motorcycles and cars.