Bianchi 1948ca “Stelvio” 248 cc OHV frame & engine # 85178 video: https://youtu.be/LLMrY9nWOeQ The history of Bianchi begins in 1885, when Edoardo Bianchi opens his first shop in the Via Nirone in Milan and starts to construct bicycles. In 1888 he’s the first in Italy to move from solid tyres to the Dunlop-patent air chamber type. From 1897 till 1902 tricycles and quadricycles are produced and in 1902 comes the first motorcycle, fitted with a De Dion-Bouton engine. Car manufacture starts in 1908 ...
Ariel 1920ca 6-7 HP 795 cc side valve V-twin frame # 1536 engine # A.10469 Components Ltd., the Ariel parent company, had been involved in producing motorized vehicles since 1898. For the 1910 season a radical change occurred in the motorcycle range. All previous models were discontinued and were replaced by 3 ½ HP machines that would remain in production for the next 15 years: the T-head White & Poppe engine, in which the inlet and exhaust valves were placed an extraordinarily 4 ½ inches apart. ...
Harley-Davidson 1914 “10E” single speed 989 cc IOE V-twin combination engine # 3675H In the 1914 catalogue five models are offered, three 5hp singles and two 8hp twins. The twins are available in single speed as model “E” and with a two-speed gear in the rear hub as model “F”. Not mentioned in the motorcycle catalogue by the way is model “G,” a delivery van also equipped with a 2 speed hub. As in every new model year, the factory has improved their machines in a number of ways. A very practical ...
Ariel 1929 (model year 1930) “Model A” 557 cc side valve single frame # 2207 engine # K1808 Video: https://youtu.be/delMNu9ahew The new line of Ariels, introduced at the end of 1925 and designed by engineering genius Val Page, had been an instant success. Not so much because of its technical innovations, but mostly for its very attractive styling: lower saddle position, shortened wheel base and high saddle tank. Victor Mole was the new man in charge of sales at the Ariel works and he designed th ...
Harley Davidson 1916 “16F” 989 cc IOE V-twin frame# F20064 engine # 4263M In 1915 the company fitted for the first time a three speed countershaft gearbox and the engine power output grew from 9 HP @ 2400 rpm to 11HP @ 3000 rpm. To accommodate the larger dimensions of the new adjustable valves the engineers had to cut notches in the lower edge of the fuel tank. For 1916 the company altered their model designations to follow the calendar instead of H-D years of production from 1905. Thus machines ...
Harley-Davidson 1910 Model 6A 4HP 494cc A.I.V. single engine # 5858 Harley-Davidson’s reputation as a manufacturer of high quality motorcycles is established by the sturdy and reliable singles that the company has marketed before the v-twins become dominant. These singles are developed from the prototypes that are built in the years prior to 1905, when series production really takes off. Improvements are made year by year and by 1910 thousands are being sold. In 1909 a few dozen v-twins are buil ...
Indian 1905 1 ¾ HP 213 cc IOE ‘CAMEL BACK’ engine # 1605 Oscar Hedstrom and George M. Hendee, both active in the cycle racing world, got together to found the Hendee Manufacturing Company as a partnership, with Hendee as President and General Manager, and Hedstrom as Chief Engineer and Designer. Their first prototype was presented in 1901 and during that year six machines were built, of which two were sold. The first machines were powered by a single-cylinder, ca 213 cc ‘F-head’ (inlet over exha ...
Benelli 1930ca “175 Turismo” 172 cc OHC single frame # C14662 engine # A14662 The firm of Benelli was founded in the Italian village of Pesaro as a repair workshop by widow Teresa Benelli to provide a future for her six sons. Initially, the brothers worked in a small garage where they created their first motorcycle in 1919. That first model was not a success so it was further developed and brought on the market in 1921. This “Velomotore” was a light 124 cc two stroke and within a few years this ...
Cotton 1964ca “Telstar” production racer 247cc Villiers “Starmaker” two stroke single In the years after WWII Cotton left the triangulated frame principle and scored successes in moto-cross and road racing. Cotton’s Telstar road-racer made its debut in 1963 fitted with the then-new Villiers Starmaker engine. Designed by Bernard Hooper, the Starmaker was a purpose-built 68 x 68 competition engine and quite unlike anything Villiers had been producing hitherto. The new engine was first seen in moto ...
Indian 1939 Model 639 “Sport Scout” 745cc side valve V-twin frame # 6391030 engine # FCI1030 video: https://youtu.be/ose-Y3Hs9JA In 1932 two new lightweight twin cylinder models are introduced, the 750cc “Motoplane” and the 500cc “Pony Scout” which will later be renamed “Junior Scout”. The Motoplane is marketed as a light and simple low-cost sports machine that can be entered in various types of competition events by an owner-rider. The engine is basically the time-tried 101 engine but with the ...
BMW 1969 R69US 590 cc OHV transverse twin frame & engine # 665749 In 1955 BMW introduces a new line of twins with a completely redesigned frame with trailing fork rear suspension and Earles fork front suspension. The final drive shaft is no longer exposed but is enclosed in the right arm of the trailing forks. All three new models, the 500 cc R50, and the 600 cc R60 and R69 have 18 inch wheels in place of the earlier 19 inch ones, twin leading shoes in the front brake, smaller mudguards and larg ...
Indian 1929 “ Series 402” 1265 cc inline IOE four engine # EA 745 Early in 1927 Indian bought the entire assets of the famous ACE motorcycle corporation. Indian proceeded to manufacture the Indian –ACE until 1928 when the Indian Four took its place. The 1265 cc engine has overhead inlet valves and side exhaust valves and delivered in the late twenties form about 30 HP. About ten years later this had grown to about 40 HP and tuned examples were known to put out some 50 HP! But with output also th ...
Henderson 1924 “DeLuxe” 1305 cc side valve four cylinder frame & engine # D 8653A Although the brothers Tom and Will Henderson had made excellent motorcycles from 1911 on, they didn’t manage to get the company financially sound. In the course of 1917 Ignaz Schwinn, who had already taken over the Excelsior Supply Company in 1912, showed an interest to take over the production of the famous Henderson Four. Towards the end of the year the deal was struck and all Henderson assets were moved from Det ...
Harley –Davidson 1916 “Model 16B” 565 cc F-head single engine # 2118L In 1911 the first V-twins were brought out and very soon these models became the customers’ favourites; it seems singles were most popular for utility uses and in the export markets. For 1916 two types of singles were available, the model 16B single speed and the model 16C with 3 speed countershaft gearbox. Some 15,000 twins left the factory in 1916, but only 1155 singles were sold that year. Only 292 of these were Model Bs so ...
Indian 1937 Model 637 Sport Scout ca. 700cc side valve V-twin frame # 6372602 engine # FCG 2602 In 1932 two new lightweight twin cylinder models are introduced, the 750cc “Motoplane” and the500cc “Pony Scout” which will later be renamed “Junior Scout”. The Motoplane is marketed as a light and simple low-cost sports machine that can be entered in various types of competition events by an owner-rider. The engine is basically the time-tried 101 engine but with the marked improvements of better desi ...
Cotton 1935ca 498cc OHV JAP in racing trim frame # 17534 engine # JOS/S 89295/4 The Glouchester-based Cotton factory was one of many small manufacturers that used proprietary engines in the years between the first en second world wars. But there was something quite special about the Cotton, that made it much more successful than most other small makes: its frame. The frame that Frank Willoughby Cotton designed around 1914 was of triangulated construction, very light and exceptionally strong. Cot ...
Ordinary Bicycle ca 1884 44-inch This sturdily-constructed ordinary has a 44-inch ( 112 cm) driving wheel and an 18-inch rear wheel. It has double steps, thick spokes and straight handlebars. She was once part of the falmignoul Museum Bicycle Collection.
Velocipede ca 1869 possibly Michaux It is generally accepted that Pierre Michaux (1813-83), a serrurier or locksmith, and his son Ernest (1849-89) produced his first ‘boneshaker’ by converting a hobby-horse to provide cranks to the front wheel. Henri Michaux claimed in a letter that Pierre Michaux thought of the idea and Ernest executed it. There is some uncertainty when this happened but it appears likely that it was in 1864 (although 1855 and 1861 have been suggested). However there is a compe ...
Velocipede ca 1870 This velocipede has a wrought-iron frame with some original lining visible. The saddle has been repaired and is fastened on a leaf spring. The spoon brake on the rear wheel is operated by turning the flat sprung handlebars. The 34-inch (85 cm) front wheel has wooden spokes, the 28-inch (70 cm) rear wheel has metal spokes. The wheels have plain bearings. Length is 165 cm, handlebar height is 120 cm. This basic boneshaker spent many years in the Falmignoul Collection.
Ordinary Bicycle ca 1880 This ordinary has a steel tubular frame and solid rubber tyres on radially-spoked wheels. Front wheel is 54-inch (ca 137 cm), rear wheel 18 inch (ca 45 cm). The saddle is probably original but in rather soiled condition, the spoon brake is not present. The text on ball bearing housing reads “The Aeolus Patent No. 3531 W Bown Maker”. The bell-shaped saddle has turned wooden grips. Accessories with this ex-Famignoul Collection Ordinary comprise handlebar-mounted bell and w ...