Soon after the merged Allard Cycle Company and Birmingham Motor Manufacturing and Supply Company moved from the old nail factory to new premises on Osborne Road, William Pilkington returned to his prime business interest in Birmingham. Fred Allard joined him there, retaining some shares but otherwise severing connection. The Earlsdon company changed its name to what would become a household name in the motorcycling world: ‘The Rex’.
Pilkington left his two sons in charge in Earlsdon, where George at least took a great interest in the local community, serving on the founding committee of the Working Men’s Club and contributing to the building of St Barbara’s Church. The firm stopped producing bicycles, concentrating on motorcycles and prototype cars. The motorcycles — beginning with 1.5 or 2 hp engines on bicycle frames — grew steadily more powerful and recognisable. The cars too, though starting as peculiar three-wheelers, quickly became large and comfortable models able to compete with Coventry’s other manufacturers.
When war came in 1914 the expected War Office motorcycle order did not materialise, and the firm went into liquidation. The following year it was reborn as the Rex-Acme Motor Company Ltd. The Rex-Acme bikes were regularly raced in the Isle of Man TT races with great success. Even this was not enough to sustain the firm and in 1923 it again went into liquidation, though Rex-Acme bikes continued to be made at a Birmingham works.
The premises were sold to the Standard Motor Company, then in 1928 to Coventry Bicycles Ltd, then stored machinery rescued from bombed factories during the Blitz, then used by Alpha Engineering from 1948 to 1987. The old factory was finally demolished and the site cleared for housing for the elderly by Coventry Churches Housing. A few prized Rex motorcycles survive as reminders that they were ‘made in Earlsdon’.