A friend of mine sent this to me via Faceache as she thought I'd get a kick out of it. Don't know anything about it other than it had me scratching the old noggin.
Can't make out any good details other than two wheels, a horn, headlight and front end "suspension" springs.
I guess there's two things that really have to be worried about....fire and termites!!!!!!!!
It's not the only wooded framed bike: http://idostuff.co.uk/sections/DIY/Wooden%20motorcycle/Kierans%20woody.html
ReplyDeleteI also remember a monocoque plywood bike with a Triumph twin engine featured in a magazine years ago. I think the owner was a boatbuilder, so understood the technology. Anyone else remember that one? Or did I just dream it?
Hmmmm, maybe the owner is a 'post and beam' framing carpenter...? Just using what he knows. Some of he earliest motorcycles were wooden framed. Wood is good, but he should varnish it.
ReplyDeleteThat's right, I forgot that one of the earliest I think was wood framed, name escapes me but I think it was German possibly.
ReplyDeleteTend to forget that the modern models now weren't the first at innovation; everyone ouwed (sp) and awed at the Honda 750/4 when it came out, Indian had an in-line four decades before as did a few others.
Gottlieb Daimler in 1885, built the first gas engined bike. It had a wooden frame with a saddle that looked like something for a horse. Thank goodness for google, I couldn't remember it either... An American named Sylvester Howard Roper built the first motorcycle in 1867,I believe it was, however it was steam powered and had a frame of metal.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing that a lot of engine technology we think of as modern was around for quite awhile. A friend of mine had a book that showed aircraft and air ship motors from around the time of World War 1, that had four valve heads, dual overhead cams, and other features.
Just checked another site, and it says Roper's bike dates to 1869...1867-1869..it's really close to the time of the American Civil War.
ReplyDeleteTwo places for more info:
inventors.about.com/ad/mstartinventions/a/motorcycle.htm
www.motorcycleclassics.com/blacksidedown-Roper-First-Motorcycle.aspx
hope I got those right.
Bodger, you've probably seen this .At 'The Vintagent' a discussion about a possible steam-powered bike from 1818. Also about earlier steam-powered trikes, and possibilities of even earlier gas powered bikes. Pretty interesting subject.
ReplyDeleteI check in there every once in a while Larry, haven't this time, but will.
ReplyDeleteI seem to remember seeing in one of the mags something about a wood burning steam powered bike, possibly a Nimbus, but can't remember for certain.
It's interesting the stuff that happened years back that have been forgotten about due to new improved technology.