In the immediate post-war years British industry was encouraged to export as much as possible to earn foreign currency.

Factories like the James could only obtain supplies of raw materials if they agreed to export their products.  (long download 20 secs.- sorry)

In 1948 James exported more bikes than all the other manufacturers put together.   Many, like this sorry example, ended up in North America. 

Many Americans of a certain age remember seeing the ML in their local dealers window.

Photo courtesy of J Hudson