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Andrew Ritchie (Brompton)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Ritchie MBE
(born circa 1947) is the inventor of the Brompton
folding bicycle
, and has guided the Brompton Bicycle company to become the largest bicycle manufacturer in the UK. In 1995 he received the Queen's Award for Export and in 2009 the Prince Philip Designers Prize
. In the Queen's Birthday Honours of 21 April 2010, the company was awarded two Queen's Awards for Enterprise - in the Innovation and International Trade categories. http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=413080&SubjectId=2
Brompton has now produced well over 100,000 bicycles and in 2008 achieved 25,000 units for export to markets such as the Netherlands, America, Germany, Japan and Scandinavia. A Cambridge
engineering graduate, Ritchie was working as a landscape gardener in London when, in 1976, he conceived the idea for a folding bike, which he subsequently named after the 'Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary', otherwise known as the Brompton Oratory. His design won the 'Best Product' award against an international field at the Cyclex exhibition in April 1987. After devoting his life to the development and manufacture of the bike, he began to step back from the day to day running of the company in 2005, reduced his shareholding, and now acts as Technical Director.
from the University of Cambridge
in 1968, Ritchie worked as a computer programmer for Elliott Automation which subsequently became part of Marconi
. He then spent 5 years as a self-employed landscape gardener. In the mid 1970s his father, a stockbroker, introduced him to Bill Ingram and the Bickerton bike
, which in turn triggered his own ideas for a folding bicycle. Ritchie persuaded 10 friends to invest £100 each so that he could build a prototype which was completed one year later.
Two more prototypes were built in the bedroom of his flat overlooking Brompton Oratory in South Kensington
, London — hence the bike's name.
After failing to license the design to Raleigh Bicycle Company
he persuaded 30 people to order bikes and pay in advance — £250 each. He made 50 rather than just the 30, thinking that maybe there were another 20 people out there who would be interested in buying one. After 18 months, the bikes were delivered — and all 50 were sold.
In the early 1980s, Ritchie raised £8,000 from shareholders, and made 500 bikes over 2 years.
, founder of Naim Audio
and a yacht manufacturer, who had originally bought two Bromptons after a chance discussion about 'folding bicycles' whilst on one of his yachts in Cherbourg in 1982. An additional £10,000 equity raised from friends, relatives and Brompton owners launched the company properly in 1986, and he eventually secured £100,000 to set up a better-equipped factory under a Brentford
railway arch in 1987. It had taken five years to secure the capital.
Volume production was difficult and demand outstripped the factory’s capacity, so It expanded into a second railway arch in 1994 and again in 1998 into the Chiswick Park premises it occupies today.
Ritchie acknowledges that Brompton has been his life
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born circa 1947) is the inventor of the Brompton
Brompton Bicycle
Brompton Bicycle is a manufacturer of folding bicycles based in Brentford, London.The Brompton folding bicycle and accessories are the company's core product, noted for its self-supporting compact size when stored. All available models of the folding bicycle are based on the same hinged bicycle...
folding bicycle
Folding bicycle
A folding bicycle is a bicycle designed to fold into a compact form, facilitating transport and storage. When folded, the bikes can be more easily carried into buildings and workplaces or onto public transportation or more easily stored in compact living quarters or aboard a car, boat or plane...
, and has guided the Brompton Bicycle company to become the largest bicycle manufacturer in the UK. In 1995 he received the Queen's Award for Export and in 2009 the Prince Philip Designers Prize
Prince Philip Designers Prize
The Prince Philip Designers Prize is an annual design recognition given by the Design Council and awarded by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh who also chairs the judging panel. It is the longest running design award in the United Kingdom, having been started in 1959 as the Prize for Elegant Design...
. In the Queen's Birthday Honours of 21 April 2010, the company was awarded two Queen's Awards for Enterprise - in the Innovation and International Trade categories. http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=413080&SubjectId=2
Brompton has now produced well over 100,000 bicycles and in 2008 achieved 25,000 units for export to markets such as the Netherlands, America, Germany, Japan and Scandinavia. A Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
engineering graduate, Ritchie was working as a landscape gardener in London when, in 1976, he conceived the idea for a folding bike, which he subsequently named after the 'Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary', otherwise known as the Brompton Oratory. His design won the 'Best Product' award against an international field at the Cyclex exhibition in April 1987. After devoting his life to the development and manufacture of the bike, he began to step back from the day to day running of the company in 2005, reduced his shareholding, and now acts as Technical Director.
Early career
After graduating in EngineeringEngineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
from the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in 1968, Ritchie worked as a computer programmer for Elliott Automation which subsequently became part of Marconi
Marconi Company
The Marconi Company Ltd. was founded by Guglielmo Marconi in 1897 as The Wireless Telegraph & Signal Company...
. He then spent 5 years as a self-employed landscape gardener. In the mid 1970s his father, a stockbroker, introduced him to Bill Ingram and the Bickerton bike
Bickerton (bicycle)
The Bickerton, also called the Bickerton Portable, was a portable aluminium folding bicycle designed by Harry Bickerton and manufactured in the UK between 1971 and 1991. It was the first genuinely portable bicycle - at that time folding bicycles tended to be 20" step-through frames with a simple...
, which in turn triggered his own ideas for a folding bicycle. Ritchie persuaded 10 friends to invest £100 each so that he could build a prototype which was completed one year later.
Two more prototypes were built in the bedroom of his flat overlooking Brompton Oratory in South Kensington
South Kensington
South Kensington is a district in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London. It is a built-up area located 2.4 miles west south-west of Charing Cross....
, London — hence the bike's name.
After failing to license the design to Raleigh Bicycle Company
Raleigh Bicycle Company
The Raleigh Bicycle Company is a bicycle manufacturer originally based in Nottingham, UK. It is one of the oldest bicycle companies in the world. From 1921 to 1935 Raleigh also produced motorcycles and three-wheel cars, leading to the formation of the Reliant Company.-Early years:Raleigh's history...
he persuaded 30 people to order bikes and pay in advance — £250 each. He made 50 rather than just the 30, thinking that maybe there were another 20 people out there who would be interested in buying one. After 18 months, the bikes were delivered — and all 50 were sold.
In the early 1980s, Ritchie raised £8,000 from shareholders, and made 500 bikes over 2 years.
Bicycle manufacturer
Ritchie received private funding of £40,000 from Julian VerekerJulian Vereker
Julian Charles Prendergast Vereker, MBE was an English self taught designer of hi-fi audio equipment, and founder of Naim Audio Ltd...
, founder of Naim Audio
Naim Audio
Naim Audio is a British manufacturer of high fidelity audio products for domestic use, based in Salisbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom.-History:...
and a yacht manufacturer, who had originally bought two Bromptons after a chance discussion about 'folding bicycles' whilst on one of his yachts in Cherbourg in 1982. An additional £10,000 equity raised from friends, relatives and Brompton owners launched the company properly in 1986, and he eventually secured £100,000 to set up a better-equipped factory under a Brentford
Brentford
Brentford is a suburban town in west London, England, and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located at the confluence of the River Thames and the River Brent, west-southwest of Charing Cross. Its former ceremonial county was Middlesex.-Toponymy:...
railway arch in 1987. It had taken five years to secure the capital.
Volume production was difficult and demand outstripped the factory’s capacity, so It expanded into a second railway arch in 1994 and again in 1998 into the Chiswick Park premises it occupies today.
Later life
Ritchie has recruited new management since the early 2000s, including Will Butler-Adams who became managing director and, with new investors, purchased half of Ritchie's 50% shareholding.Ritchie acknowledges that Brompton has been his life