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- De Dion-Bouton Motor Tricycle, circa 1898 - French builders Albert Comte De Dion and Georges Bouton produced their first gasoline tricycles in 1895. Their three-wheel design provided more room for mounting the engine, and it eliminated the risk of "highsider" accidents -- in which a motorcycle loses traction and skids, then suddenly regains traction, throwing the rider from the bike. De Dion-Bouton's successful design was widely copied.
- 1898
- Collections - Artifact
De Dion-Bouton Motor Tricycle, circa 1898
French builders Albert Comte De Dion and Georges Bouton produced their first gasoline tricycles in 1895. Their three-wheel design provided more room for mounting the engine, and it eliminated the risk of "highsider" accidents -- in which a motorcycle loses traction and skids, then suddenly regains traction, throwing the rider from the bike. De Dion-Bouton's successful design was widely copied.
- Splitdorf Dixie Magneto, 1915-1925 - Magnetos served as simple, reliable ignition systems for internal combustion engines in early automobiles, motorcycles, and airplanes. Modern ignition magnetos are still found in lawn mowers and chainsaws, and aircraft use magnetos as an independent electrical system. Auto manufacturers, however, found other methods to keep engines turning.
- 1915-1925
- Collections - Artifact
Splitdorf Dixie Magneto, 1915-1925
Magnetos served as simple, reliable ignition systems for internal combustion engines in early automobiles, motorcycles, and airplanes. Modern ignition magnetos are still found in lawn mowers and chainsaws, and aircraft use magnetos as an independent electrical system. Auto manufacturers, however, found other methods to keep engines turning.
- Bosch Type ZE1 Magneto, circa 1912 - Magnetos served as simple, reliable ignition systems for internal combustion engines in early automobiles, motorcycles, and airplanes. Modern ignition magnetos are still found in lawn mowers and chainsaws, and aircraft use magnetos as an independent electrical system. Auto manufacturers, however, found other methods to keep engines turning.
- circa 1912
- Collections - Artifact
Bosch Type ZE1 Magneto, circa 1912
Magnetos served as simple, reliable ignition systems for internal combustion engines in early automobiles, motorcycles, and airplanes. Modern ignition magnetos are still found in lawn mowers and chainsaws, and aircraft use magnetos as an independent electrical system. Auto manufacturers, however, found other methods to keep engines turning.
- 1920 Excelsior Motorcycle Owned by Charles Lindbergh, after Restoration in 1931 - Charles Lindbergh purchased this Excelsior motorcycle in his hometown of Little Falls, Minnesota, in 1920. He used it while attending the University of Wisconsin, and he rode it on trips to Kentucky, Florida, and Nebraska as well. Lindbergh's much-used motorcycle was sandblasted and varnished in 1931. Lindbergh gifted his Excelsior to The Henry Ford in 1943.
- 1931
- Collections - Artifact
1920 Excelsior Motorcycle Owned by Charles Lindbergh, after Restoration in 1931
Charles Lindbergh purchased this Excelsior motorcycle in his hometown of Little Falls, Minnesota, in 1920. He used it while attending the University of Wisconsin, and he rode it on trips to Kentucky, Florida, and Nebraska as well. Lindbergh's much-used motorcycle was sandblasted and varnished in 1931. Lindbergh gifted his Excelsior to The Henry Ford in 1943.
- 1920 Excelsior Motorcycle Owned by Charles Lindbergh, after Restoration in 1931 - Charles Lindbergh purchased this Excelsior motorcycle in his hometown of Little Falls, Minnesota, in 1920. He used it while attending the University of Wisconsin, and he rode it on trips to Kentucky, Florida, and Nebraska as well. Lindbergh's much-used motorcycle was sandblasted and varnished in 1931. Lindbergh gifted his Excelsior to The Henry Ford in 1943.
- 1931
- Collections - Artifact
1920 Excelsior Motorcycle Owned by Charles Lindbergh, after Restoration in 1931
Charles Lindbergh purchased this Excelsior motorcycle in his hometown of Little Falls, Minnesota, in 1920. He used it while attending the University of Wisconsin, and he rode it on trips to Kentucky, Florida, and Nebraska as well. Lindbergh's much-used motorcycle was sandblasted and varnished in 1931. Lindbergh gifted his Excelsior to The Henry Ford in 1943.
- 1928 Cleveland Motorcycle, on Exhibit in Henry Ford Museum, February 1996 - The Cleveland Motorcycle Company, founded in 1915 in Cleveland, Ohio, built lightweight one-cylinder bikes for its first decade. As competing motorcycles grew larger, Cleveland introduced a four-cylinder engine in 1925. This 1928 Model 4-61 also featured a front-wheel brake -- an industry first for Cleveland. The company produced one more model year before closing after the stock market crash of 1929.
- February 28, 1996
- Collections - Artifact
1928 Cleveland Motorcycle, on Exhibit in Henry Ford Museum, February 1996
The Cleveland Motorcycle Company, founded in 1915 in Cleveland, Ohio, built lightweight one-cylinder bikes for its first decade. As competing motorcycles grew larger, Cleveland introduced a four-cylinder engine in 1925. This 1928 Model 4-61 also featured a front-wheel brake -- an industry first for Cleveland. The company produced one more model year before closing after the stock market crash of 1929.
- 1920 Excelsior Motorcycle Formerly Owned by Charles Lindbergh, after Restoration, 1961-1962 - Charles Lindbergh purchased this Excelsior motorcycle in his hometown of Little Falls, Minnesota, in 1920. He used it while attending the University of Wisconsin, and he rode it on trips to Kentucky, Florida, and Nebraska as well. Lindbergh gifted his Excelsior to The Henry Ford in 1943. The motorcycle was restored in 1961 with missing parts replaced and correct paint reapplied.
- 1961-1962
- Collections - Artifact
1920 Excelsior Motorcycle Formerly Owned by Charles Lindbergh, after Restoration, 1961-1962
Charles Lindbergh purchased this Excelsior motorcycle in his hometown of Little Falls, Minnesota, in 1920. He used it while attending the University of Wisconsin, and he rode it on trips to Kentucky, Florida, and Nebraska as well. Lindbergh gifted his Excelsior to The Henry Ford in 1943. The motorcycle was restored in 1961 with missing parts replaced and correct paint reapplied.
- "Second Turn Scramble," Steel City MX, Delmont, Pennsylvania, September 6, 1998 - Motocross competitions -- off-road motorcycle races on specially built tracks -- have been held since the early 1900s. The Steel City motocross circuit in Delmont, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, hosted its first major event in 1988. This photo was taken there ten years later, when Doug Henry won the 250cc class victory and Robbie Reynard took the 125cc class.
- September 06, 1998
- Collections - Artifact
"Second Turn Scramble," Steel City MX, Delmont, Pennsylvania, September 6, 1998
Motocross competitions -- off-road motorcycle races on specially built tracks -- have been held since the early 1900s. The Steel City motocross circuit in Delmont, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, hosted its first major event in 1988. This photo was taken there ten years later, when Doug Henry won the 250cc class victory and Robbie Reynard took the 125cc class.
- Hallmark "Miniature Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Series: 1962 Duo-Glide" Miniature Christmas Ornament, 2000 - Already known for greeting cards, Hallmark introduced a line of Christmas ornaments in 1973. The company's annual release of an increasing array of ornaments revolutionized Christmas decorating, appealing to customers' interest in marking memories and milestones as well as expressing one's personality and unique tastes.
- 1962
- Collections - Artifact
Hallmark "Miniature Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Series: 1962 Duo-Glide" Miniature Christmas Ornament, 2000
Already known for greeting cards, Hallmark introduced a line of Christmas ornaments in 1973. The company's annual release of an increasing array of ornaments revolutionized Christmas decorating, appealing to customers' interest in marking memories and milestones as well as expressing one's personality and unique tastes.
- Hallmark "Miniature Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Series: 1986 Heritage Softail" Miniature Christmas Ornament, 2006 - Already known for greeting cards, Hallmark introduced a line of Christmas ornaments in 1973. The company's annual release of an increasing array of ornaments revolutionized Christmas decorating, appealing to customers' interest in marking memories and milestones as well as expressing one's personality and unique tastes.
- 1986
- Collections - Artifact
Hallmark "Miniature Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Series: 1986 Heritage Softail" Miniature Christmas Ornament, 2006
Already known for greeting cards, Hallmark introduced a line of Christmas ornaments in 1973. The company's annual release of an increasing array of ornaments revolutionized Christmas decorating, appealing to customers' interest in marking memories and milestones as well as expressing one's personality and unique tastes.