Early Motorcycle publications

[c.o.]

I recently found a copy of the June 1, 1904, issue of the "Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal" publication.

The advertisements section included ads for the following motorcycles: Marsh; Indian; Yale-California; Merkel; Columbia, Cleveland, and Tribune, by the Pope Mfg. of Hartford, Conn.; Thoroughbred by Reading Standard; Tourist by Breeze Motors; Rambler, Crescent, Monarch, and Imperial by the Pope Mfg. of Chicago; Wagner; and an Armac. Plus an ad by Harry Geer of St. Louis.

In the "classified-for sale" the following motorcycles were for sale: Holley; 1904 Merkel; Cleveland; (2) Merkels; 1902 Indian; Orient; 1903 Indian; Columbia, model A; and a 1902 Thomas. Harry Geer advertised a 1904 Imperial, 1904 Reading Standard, 1904 America, 1904 Mitchell (4), 1904 Orient (2), Marsh (2), Thomas, Hercules, 1904 Indian, and a 1903 Indian for sale.

Interesting to note is "what is not there". No Harley-Davidson ads and no H-D's for sale in the classifieds. Too early.

The publication also contained many motorcycle related accessory ads as well.

Great stuff!!!! Sign me up for that '04 Merkel!!!

[talbot-2]

Great stuff!!!! Sign me up for that '04 Merkel!!!

The '04 Merkel was only $90 and was used only one month. It was in perfect condition and was located in Baltimore.

[Ross]

If the Cleveland motorcycle company of Ohio started in 1915...what were those early ads referring to?

[Tommo]

Somewhere I'm sure I read of Cleveland motorcycles out of Hartford, Connecticut in about 1903.
I'll see if I can find the reference.

[Tommo]

BRK,
I knew I had something on Keating but finding it was the problem.
See if the attachment is of interest, it comes from a 1902 issue of Motor Cycling.

[BPK!!]

Tommo,
That issue or article I haven't seen before! I've seen the Motor Age article, which is a similiar picture, but didn't have the notations like the Motor Cycling articule has!
You have an original magizine? If so, for sale? I'd be interested if so, and if not, we'll try to make a good copy of the articule/page! Greatly appreciate you finding that!! Someday, we hope to put our hands on an original sales brochure. Again, "Thanks" for taking the time in digging that out--BPK!!

Home of the only known 1902 Keating Motorcycle!!

[Tommo]

BPK,
Yes I do have the original publication and no it's not for sale but I can do you a high resolution copy of that whole article if you so desire.

[BPK!!]

Tommo,
Yes, feel free to make a copy of it, and send my way.. I'll cover all costs to you! I tried making copies from your previous thread, but it didn't work out. Thanks my far away friend--Brian Keating #2930

[HarleyCreation]

Too early is right!

I recently found a copy of the June 1, 1904, issue of the "Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal" publication.

The advertisements section included ads for the following motorcycles: Marsh; Indian; Yale-California; Merkel; Columbia, Cleveland, and Tribune, by the Pope Mfg. of Hartford, Conn.; Thoroughbred by Reading Standard; Tourist by Breeze Motors; Rambler, Crescent, Monarch, and Imperial by the Pope Mfg. of Chicago; Wagner; and an Armac. Plus an ad by Harry Geer of St. Louis.

In the "classified-for sale" the following motorcycles were for sale: Holley; 1904 Merkel; Cleveland; (2) Merkels; 1902 Indian; Orient; 1903 Indian; Columbia, model A; and a 1902 Thomas. Harry Geer advertised a 1904 Imperial, 1904 Reading Standard, 1904 America, 1904 Mitchell (4), 1904 Orient (2), Marsh (2), Thomas, Hercules, 1904 Indian, and a 1903 Indian for sale.

Interesting to note is "what is not there". No Harley-Davidson ads and no H-D's for sale in the classifieds. Too early.

The publication also contained many motorcycle related accessory ads as well.

Excellent find and analysis!

What you deduced on your own is part of the overwhelming evidence that Harley-Davidson did not market or sell motorcycles as early as often claimed and believed. Original research shows that in June of 1904 Bill Harley's first big motor prototype was still under construction. But it was running by September of 1904 when it participated in a race in Milwaukee. Motorcycle production began the following spring in 1905. That can be documented by original sources.

If the Harley-Davidson motorcycle was being sold in 1903 and 1904 as claimed you would expect it to be there among the other brands but it is not. However, look at the 1904 Merkel that was also made in Milwaukee. It is a very similar design to the Harley-Davidson and probably where they found their inspiration as the Merkel loop-frame did appear in 1903.

[HarleyCreation]

Great stuff!!!! Sign me up for that '04 Merkel!!!

Sign me up too.

The real prototype of the 1904/05 Harley-Davidson appears to be the 1903 Merkel loop-frame model and no mistake. Bill Harley used the basic design but then added a bigger motor, possibly helped in that endeavor by Ole Evinrude. The rest is history! The real story is much better and more complicated than the sanitized myth.

There was a c1904 Merkel loop in the club mag years ago painted a robins egg blue. I don't know who owned it or where it is now, but it would great to see one in person. I never have.

[HarleyCreation]

If the Cleveland motorcycle company of Ohio started in 1915...what were those early ads referring to?

Perhaps Tommo or someone else already replied to this, but I believe the early Cleveland was a brand name used by Pope for one of its early motorcycle lines. Not connected at all with the later Cleveland.

PS: How's that Harley "A" motor project coming?

[HarleyCreation]

Keating's motorcycle and E.J. Pennington

Brian,

I read your Keating history at the website and enjoyed it very much. Most of it was new to me. Among other things I noted that Keating worked for Overman and then the Warwick cycle company.

Cory, did you see that? I know you were interested in the Warwick at one time.

I also noted this:

"The Keating Motor bicycle that was running around the Middletown factory in November of 1900 is the first original, commercially designed motorcycle in the United States."

There I have to disagree. "The Motor Cycle" as designed, built, ridden, exhibited and produced in limited numbers by Edward Joel "Airship" Pennington c1893-96 (see my avatar) beats out the Keating and all other early 20th century gasoline-powered makes by several years. The Motor Cycle was definately original and was designed for commercial purposes. At Cortland, New York, a few were actually produced by the Hitchcock Co. and ridden on the streets of that city.

Of course that endeavor to build The Motor Cycle destroyed the Hitchcock firm. But by that time in 1895 Pennington had moved on to Racine, Wis., at which time he exhibited "The Motor Cycle" in downtown Milwaukee a few blocks away from the boyhood homes of Bill Harley and Arty Davidson, who where then 14 years old and may have seen this new concept of a motorized bicycle in action on Grand/Wisconsin Avenue.

Without a doubt Keating would have been familiar with Pennington's amazing invention since Keating's peak bicycle years coincided with The Motor Cycle's appearance at the Chicago and New York national bicycle shows in 1895. At that time everyone in the bicycle industry saw The Motor Cycle--including Hendee, Pope, Spalding, Overman, Lewis (Mitchell), and countless others.

Some of these men were undoubtably inspired to act upon Pennington's innovative concept of incorporating a lightweight gasoline engine into a regular bicycle and to propel it at unheard of speeds. Once a suitable engine appeared they did act, but the idea was already in their minds thanks to the Big Man (as opposed to Harry Lawson, the "little" man, who Pennington had close dealings with in England where he also dazzled a future king).

While Pennington may have been a swindler to some degree, his amazing ideas spread widely on two continents and he shows up just about everywhere--almost like he was beamed in from another planet or the 4th dimension. In my opinion Pennington adds a colorful, outlandish, and slightly uncanny aspect to the origin of the gasoline-powered motorcycle as we know it today. His story and The Motor Cycle complete the bigger picture of what came later.

Pennington was also the first outlaw biker and wild one. And while he's not in the Motorcycle Hall of Fame they do use his original name for his device in their masthead. It's all rather strange and amazing when the bits and pieces are shaken out as told in past issues of The Antique Motorcycle.

[talbot-2]

Herb, I would like to send you a PM, however, your mailbox is full.

[c.o.]

Herb!!! Yes, I did take note of the Warwick connection. I'm still waiting to see a photo of the one hiding down in Alabama. The bike is/was apparently in storage and I'm still waiting albeit even if the machine is but a mere replica. Great thread folks!!!

Hey Brian!!! What are your plans for that amazing Keating? Will it ever come to life???

[HarleyCreation]

Herb, I would like to send you a PM, however, your mailbox is full.

Try again if you want. I did some needed house cleaning...

Thanks