BSA / UK

 

BSA / Birmingham / UK  ( 1907 - 1939 )

The initials BSA stand for Birmingham Small Arms Company. Car production started in 1907.Although BSA is famous for its motorcycles, they offered automobiles three years before its first motorcycle in 1910.

The first vehicles of this brand were built as large, conventional touring cars. The company acquired the British DAIMLER in1910 to use their engines. After a 5 year hiatus in production, a three-wheeled car with a two-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive was introduced in 1932. A four-wheeled car based on the same design followed in 1933. These versions were successfully manufactured until 1939. 

It is not easy to find and date enameled BSA radiator emblems. Here is one example:

I guess it is from the model 10 HP,  because before the model 11 was introduced in 1923, there was no need to include the number 10 on the emblem, but there is no evidence.

 

no idea why there are dots between the letters

Size	2.7 cm x 5.1 cm
Year	1921 - 1922
Estimate

The next emblem is easier to date, it is from the BSA model Ten ( 1923 - 1924 )

again with dots between the letters

Size	2.7 cm x 5.1 cm
Year	1923 - 1924
Estimate

The BSA model Eleven was built in 1923 only:

the third emblem with dots bewtween the letters

Size	2.7 cm x 5.1 cm
Year	1923
Estimate

backside without makers mark

There was also a beautifully designed hood ornament that adorned the hood from 1921 to 1924. It features crossed rifles, a reference to the brand’s origins as a firearms manufacturer.

Size	9.7 cm x 11.3 cm
Year	1921 - 1924
Estimate

made by DESMO with a copyright notification

With the new start in 1929, when they offered three-wheeler, emblems made of cast metal or sheet metal were now used:

the first three-wheeler emblem

Size	c. 4.5cm x 6.5 cm
Year	1929- 1932
Estimate

 

 

 Here the trapezoidal emblem for the four-cylinder vehicles. It's too bad that the design was simplified.

I suspect that the spot on the letter S is original, because all the emblems I've seen have that spot.

Size	5.0 cm x 2.5cm
Year	1933 - 1934
Estimate

 

 

backside without makers mark

 The next version of the emblem was given wings, which made it much more attractive:

Size	14.8 cm x 4.9cm
Year	1933 - 1936
Estimate

backside without makers mark

Illustration from 1934 The Autocar magazine, which clearly shows the emblem

Here the emblem of the bestseller, the BSA Scout:

Size	9.2 cm x 3.9 cm
Year	1937- 1939
Estimate

backside without makers mark

1937 BSA Scout seen in a Swedish museum

their bestseller was the SCOUT, made from 1937 - 1939, nearly 2,000 units built

 

 

And finally, one of the oldest illustration I could find, published in 1912. It doesn't show an emblem, but the three letters “BSA” are visible on the radiator grille, crossed by three rifles.

 

For more emblems see older posts or top right (list of car makers)

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