CTS motorcycles

Produced from 1931 to 1953 by Chris Tattersall of St. Anne's in Lancashire.

Known by the nickname of "Spud" due to his penchant for potatoes (and quite possibly his considerable girth), Tattersall began as a speedway rider in 1928 and continued in that field until about 1932, riding with the Preston team. He rode a D.O.T. in the 1928 Junior TT, finishing 10th, and competed in the Lightweight TT every year until the outbreak of war in 1939. He also rode in the Senior for many of those years, consistently achieving a DNF.

Timeline

1931 Chris Tattersall began his production of 250cc racing machines. These were used in most TTs from that year onwards and for the next two decades. Two ran in the Lightweight that year, both fitted with JAP engines. One finished twelfth and the other retired.

1932 A JAP engine was used again for the TT and Tattersall achieved his best result when he finished fifth. He also began to use a Rudge Python engine as well as the JAP. The rest of the machine was made from proprietary parts.

1937 Two machines ran in the TT. Tattersall competed with Toyo Marama and Stanley Woods, riding a Rudge-powered machine. He apparently fell twice during the race, but survived and continued each time. An article on the event is on this page: Toyo Marama.

1939 Three machines were entered, but prospects of doing well were short-lived as a machine that had reached fourth position retired due to gearbox trouble. It is presumed that the outbreak of war brought production to a close.

1947-1950 Three machines were entered in the TT for each of those years. Italian motorcycles had become prominent but CTS machines always performed well.

1953 This was the final year of entry in the TT and of the CTS as Chris Tattersall retired.

Sources: Graces Guide; blackcountrybiker.blogspot.com; imuseum.im.

Wed, Dec 3, 2025
captahab.dt at gmail dot com
Hello
Read your review of Chris Tattersall. He was my Dads (William Tattersall) Uncle. Chris offered my father an apprenticeship with him, but unfortunately the 2nd world war started and my father joined the the Navy. I have a photo of him with all his trophies and used to have one of his trophies as a child, but it went missing when I was young unfortunately.
Thank you
David Tattersall

Thu Sep 16 2010
dmac01<at>hotmail.co.uk
cts motorbike
cts chris tattersall special
have you any more info on the cts bike
lancashire uk

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