founded by walter and william lloyd in 1883 as a company to make bicycles and tricycles, quadrant developed some of the first motorcycles in 1901. the first quadrant motorcycle was fitted with the then very popular minerva "clip-on" engine. they also made powered tricycles in 1902. walter took out a patent in 1902 for an 'all-in-one' control lever to raise the exhaust valve, control the ignition switch and operate the throttle and the ignition advance.