Jumping-in only perhaps tangentially due to my relative ignorance; it strikes me as odd or beyond simple coincidence that two of the premier houses, Singer and Herse, would practically share the same location? Was there friendly competition to build the "best" bikes or to woo-away customers, esp during the slow early days? I would imagine that each house strived to be unique and perhaps even copy each other with the intent to improve upon. Perhaps this relationship or proximity spurred both to attain heights that would not have happened to the same degree.
I'd love to know what their personal relationships were with each other. Did they lunch or more together?
Jack Romans
Sacramento, California