On July 12, 1901 disgruntled Humber engineers Edwin Perks and Frank Birch sell their design of a 222cc four-stroke single-cylinder engine to George Singer.
The unique feature of the Perks-Birch design was that the engine, fuel tank, carburetor and low-tension magneto were all housed in a two-sided cast alloy spoke wheel. Singer would use the design in the rear wheel and then the front wheel of a trike. It is believed to be the first "motorcycle" with a magneto ignition.
In 1904 the company developed a range of more conventional motorcycles which included 346cc two strokes and, from 1911, side-valve models of 299cc and 535cc. In 1913 they offered an open-frame model "for the ladies".
Singer halted motorcycle production in early August, 1914 with the outbreak of the First World War and decided to cease production completely in February, 1915.
