BSA Logo

BSA Logo PNG

The winged BSA logo symbolized flight because the manufacturer’s motorcycles at one time rushed along the roads as if they had wings. Therefore, a stylish sign on the hood testified to the vehicle’s enormous speed and power.

Meaning and History

The BSA logo has evolved along with the vehicles that are produced under this brand. The Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited motorcycle division was opened in 1903 and, over the next seven years, was engaged in the creation of the latest bike. In 1910, work on a two-wheeled beast was finally completed. As expected, his shiny gas tank was adorned with the brand name emblem.

Over time, the BSA developed a sign with a winged letter “B” – the personification of the fact that motorcycles fly along the roads, picking up tremendous speed. He became the main symbol of the company until its closure in 1973. In the same year, the rights to the name were acquired by Manganese Bronze Holdings, and in 2016 the Indian conglomerate Mahindra Group bought the BSA brand and continued to develop motorcycles.

What is BSA?

Brand of motorcycles, bicycles, and scooters, the production of which began in England in 1880, founded by the Birmingham Small Arms Company.

1919 – 1946

The old logo contains the BSA name with square dots after the “B” and “S.” This abbreviation is derived from the phrase “Birmingham Small Arms,” representing a large industrial complex in Great Britain. All three letters were written in bold block type and painted in deep red. Thin black contours separated them from the beige oval, which was additionally surrounded by a red stripe.

1946 – 1972

The appearance of the logo can be associated with the end of the First World War, when a separate unit called the BSA cycles appeared.

The brand name is a winged abbreviation BSA with a clarifying caption, motorcycles in small print.

The letters BSA on the logo stood for Birmingham Small Arms. That is what the Birmingham Association of all arms manufacturers began to be called.

Therefore, adding the words cycles (bicycles) or motorcycles (motorcycles) to the abbreviation of the logo was important and mandatory. With this, customers could understand that this was not about weapons but about a division that produces vehicles.

A drop in demand for handguns caused the strange shift from rifles to bicycles. The owners were looking for other ways to make money. And the abbreviation from the name of the weapons joint-stock company has remained in the name of the motorcycle brand forever.

The wing on the letter B in the logo had a wide meaning.

1. It was said that the company’s units developed a high speed. In manufacturing weapons, the exact fit of all parts was crucial. The habit of filigree execution of all body elements made BSA motorcycles of very high quality, working without interruption, and streamlined. This allowed them to develop maximum speed. The idea of ​​perfect execution and assembly was confirmed by even equal-sized “feathers” on the wing of the logo.
2. Wings also showed the complex history of the company. It developed in a special period against the backdrop of three wars: the consequences of the Crimean and completely the First and Second World Wars. They significantly slowed down the development of the brand, but BSA still recovered from all the difficulties. Wings of fortune helped her use difficulties to her advantage. For example, during World War I, she again returned to the production of weapons, not forgetting about motorcycles, which she now supplied for the needs of the front. And during the Second World War, it bought up less successful firms. A resilient spirit and the ability to rise above the situation helped the company make the right decisions, soar above adversity and maintain production.
3. Wings allowed the brand to prevail over competitors and not play by the general rules. BSA was almost the only successful company that did not promote its models through racing. She hovered in the highest circles. Thanks to the release of weapons for the government, the company’s models were constantly ordered by the police, the army, taxi companies, and repair teams, which made them recognizable and popular.

All BSA letters had a slight slant to the right, which was associated with movement.

In 1973, as a result of the merger, BSA disappeared. The abbreviation was revived again in 1994 after the formation of the BSA Regal concern. Now the trademark belongs to the Indian concern Mahindra.

Font and Colors

The logo is made in mono-color. Red is the embodiment of speed and pressure. He talks about powerful engines, the most modern and perfectly working parts. Indicates leadership in its segment. The color is also associated with weapons and blood. Lettering font Britannic Bold.

BSA color codes