Capriolo 1955ca “75” 74.6 cc OHC face cam frame # 02587 engine # 02350 Named after the roe deer, the Capriolo marque emerges in 1948 from the ashes of the giant Caproni group, formerly one of Italy’s largest manufacturing concerns. Capriolo starts two-wheeled production with a 50 cc ultra-lightweight before moving on in 1951 to the 75 cc Capriolo 75, which is notable for its use of a pressed-steel frame and an unusual four-stroke engine of the overhead ‘face cam’ type. By 1955 the Capriolo 75 ha ...
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 video: https://youtu.be/1WigLzGjK8w 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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Rover ca 1888 cross frame safety bicycle This Rover cross frame safety bicycle was part of the Falmignoul bicycle collection, owned at the time by Mr. Ernest Wouters. She has 30-inch wheels, spoon brake on front wheel, solid rubber tyres on radially-spoked wheels. The steering head is still open, this would be developed into socket steering some time later. The saddle is original and accessories comprise leather tool pouch and handlebar-mounted pocket watch.
Velocipede tricycle ca 1870 This tricycle has a wrought iron frame and wooden spoked wheels with iron rims. The saddle is fixed on a leaf spring. There are acorn weights on the pedals and braking is effected by a spoon brake on the 35-inch (90 cm) front wheel. The rear wheel has a diameter of 23 inch (59 cm), length is 170 cm, width 105 cm, hight of steering wheel is 120 cm. This rare velocipede tricycle was part of the Falmignoul Cycle Museum Collection for years.
BMW 1982 R100RT 980 cc OHV opposed twin frame & engine # 6234522 In the autumn of 1976, after three years, the /6 series is replaced by the /7 series for the 1977 range. The 898 cc capacity of the top /6 models is now upped to 980 cc by enlarging the bore from 90 to 94 mm. There are three models in the 980cc class, the “basic” R100/7, is a pleasant tourer, the more sporty and powerful R100S and the top model, the R100RS. In 1978 a R100 with full touring fairing , taller windshield and higher han ...
Starley ca 1882 Royal Salvo Tricycle From around 1880 tricycles were developed as alternative mounts for people that found it difficult or dangerous to ride an ordinary. At the Stanley Show of 1883, 289 tricycles were exhibited while the number of bicycles was only 233. James Starley’s Royal Salvo, first presented in 1877, was one of the most popular tricycles of its time, thanks largely to Starley’s invention of the “balance gear,” which acted as a sort of differential. As you pedalled the sing ...
Rudge ca 1885 Tricycle Daniel Rudge was born in January 1841 in Wolverhampton. Rudge, a skilled engineer, became interested in bicycles through his friend Walter Phillips. In 1869 Walter Phillips and George Price became interested in the new cycle industry. Price was primarily interested in the business end of cycle manufacture, whereas Phillips was interested in the actual making of cycles. The two realised that to successfully manufacture cycles they would need a skilled engineer to design par ...