Vintagebikers Rare Pre War Motorized Bike

OK, here is the internet debut of this rare Motorbike.
This bike is unrestored and is in as found condition after being stored for over 70 years.

Built in Illinois by the Anthony Manufacturing Co. in 1935 as a prototype using the British Cyc-Auto 98cc 2 cycle motor. Pedal to start.
They built 2 of these bikes, one mans and one womans but they never put them into production because the company (Cyc-Auto) that was to provide the motors was sold in 1936 to the British Scott Motorcycle Co.
It seems the Scott Motorcycle Co. was not interested in selling motors to the American based Anthony Mfg. Company.

A bit of history:
Cyc-Auto is credited with being the company which started the Auto Cycles (what motorized bicycles were called in England) craze in England.
Their first motorized bike, made in 1934 pre dates the Whizzer by 5 years.
The Whizzer Motor Co. sold their first motor kits for bicycles in late 1939.

 

[azbill]

very cool ride dude
it would be nice if they would do that level of engineering with the 2strokes of today

 

[luke]

here is a pic from ebay.followed by my bike with a later engine type and a couple of other pics from my hard drive.
they made a variety of frame tank and engine over the years.the engines built around 1950 on are the best but i prefer the gents bike frame pre 50s.

 

[JE]

WOW thats a beutiful piece of history.

 

[Barret]

I know others have said it, but I'm gonna say it again: WOW!

As I've grown older (I know, I know, I'm one of the youngest guys on here at 32), I have come to appreciate history so much more than when I was in my teen years and early 20s. This just shows proof how much history is an important part of our lives, and how much we can learn about ourselves from it...

Thanks for sharing!!

 

[sideshowsideswipe]

Hey I'm 31 and a metal head! this board is great for bringing all ages together.

 

[Saabsonettguy]

She's a beauty. Thats a wonderful bike, In true original it looks like and if I recall correctly you got quite the deal on it. Thanks for sharing.

 

[bamabikeguy]

HI VB !

Back in April. down in the "Let's Ride" category, I posted and article I found about "Underwoods" in the smallest city in Los Angeles County.

Are you acquainted with it?

Here in Alabama we have the Barber Museum, which everybody except me has visited.

http://www.barbermuseum.org

Just thought I'd post both links for you collectors to explore.

Here is an article about a Southern California (Los Angeles County) collector, including many historical motorized bicycles.

We have at least five forum members with similar interests, and I encourage them to contact Motorrcycle USA magazine (there is a contact link after the article, and Mr. Underwood, tell them about MB.com.

That is the best way to get new members with historical insights and maybe hard to find parts.

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4576&Page=1

Quote:
You won't find the Underwood Museum on any map. The front of the 1950s-era home looks like all the others on the street. There are no clues that a 50-year-old avacado tree provides the shaded entry into a private collector's museum. Were it not for the security cameras and an alarm system worthy of protecting the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, I wouldn't have had an inclination as to what was inside. Jim Underwood's assembly of vintage scooters, bicycles, and tin-lithograph motorcycles and car wind-up toys were opened up to me, and I was privy to an all-access pass and was treated to a V.I.P. tour by the curator/collector.

As I exited the 605 Freeway, neon lights shone through the skyward-reaching fronds of palm trees. In my head I could hear the strumming of ukuleles and the tempo of drums beckoning for me to stop at the inner-city oasis that is the Hawaiian Gardens Casino. But gambling away my per diem on the outside chance of turning my $20 into $200 isn't what brought me to Hawaiian Gardens, the smallest city in Los Angeles County. I circled past the casino and proceeded to an unassuming street that dead-ended into a quiet cul-de-sac.

Underwood is what I consider a living historian. He can recount the story of a thousand pieces of iconic Americana from memory and is able to recite their story repeatedly at the request of an inquisitive journalist. Underwood's love for the history of transportation makes him patient as he imparts his knowledge upon attentive ears. The collection is the result of 30 years spent poking around yard sales, attending estate sales, auctions and antique shows, always rummaging with blind ambition fueled by the excitement that maybe this time he will find the rare, the unusual, the rusted-out garage hog that somebody has stored for umpteen years without understanding why they didn't trash it long ago.

Before Hendee and Hedstrom started churning out production Indians, people were already experimenting with ways to motorize two-wheeled vehicles. The advances made in this era brought forth a wealth of ideas that we take for granted as standard equipment. Pneumatic tires, full-suspensions, leaf-spring forks, shaft drive, the use of aluminum for commercial purposes - all of these were implemented on bicycles long before being adapted on motorcycles. Companies that we associate with other business ventures were building scooters and motorized bikes, like Northrop Aircraft, Nash, Powell and Sears.

 

[vintagebiker]

Thank you bamabikeguy for the info on the museums.
No, I had never herd of the Underwood Museum, I enjoyed reading about it though. It is located only about 20 minutes from me. Would love to see it someday.

The Barber Museum is a must see for me if I ever get in that part of the country. Also, to see the big motorcycle museum in Iowa is a goal of mine(can't remember it's name at the moment).

This MotoredBikes site is cool, I see there are people from many different countries showing what they collect and ride.

 

[azbill]

This MotoredBikes site is cool, I see there are people from many different countries showing what they collect and ride.

it is all because of the people who are here 8) 8) 8)
( and a lot of effort by us volunteers )