Mr. Pennington's Motor Cycle

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, November 10, 1894.

THE MOTOR CYCLE-

TO BE BUILT BY THE HITCHCOOK MANUFACTURING CO.

The Coming Conveyance — Contract For 60,000 Machines Within Three
Years.—Description of the Wheel.

   The Hitchcock Manufacturing Co. have just closed a contract of large size which promises to give Cortland quite a boom. They have made an arrangement with the Motor Cycle Co. of Cleveland, O., to manufacture, sell and have absolute control in the United States of the motor cycle. The Hitchcock Co. are now in possession of the patterns for the cycle and work has been commenced on what will undoubtedly prove to be the wheel of the future.

 

    The above is a very good representation of the new machine. It will seen that it is very much like a regular bicycle, having the same frame, same alignment and is driven by a chain when the pedals are used. The motor is located behind the rear wheel and the velocity is controlled by a light rod running to the handlebars. The speed is regulated by a small button in the handlebars. The motor is operated by naphtha on the principle of a drop falling into the cylinder and exploding, driving back and forth in the cylinder the piston, which is attached to a crank that turns the rear wheel.

   The saddle is placed low enough so that the rider can touch the ground with his feet, if necessary, thus avoiding the necessity of mounting from the rear. There is also an attachment to hold the wheel up when it is not in use so that it is not necessary to lean the machine up against something as with an ordinary bicycle. The bicycle is also furnished with pedals which can be used if desired as on an ordinary safety. Coasters upon the front forks furnish a comfortable foot rest and the steering is done with the handlebars. The pneumatic tires upon the wheels are five inches in diameter and, as they do not have to be so fully inflated, the machine rides much easier than one fitted with the smaller tires. There will be no jar whatever in the motion of this wheel.

   The machine is guaranteed to run at least twenty miles an hour through sand or mud four inches deep. This is as fast as people dare to ride on tricycles and quadracycles. The speed can be controlled at will.  One gallon of naphtha or gasoline, which retails for fifteen cents, will run the machine one hundred miles, making a very nominal cost for the pleasure and convenience.

   The machine has been thoroughly tested by the Hitchcock Manufacturing company's mechanic, Mr. L. B. Fairbanks, who pronounces it practical in every detail. The machinery of the wheel is very simple. There is nothing to get out of repair and it does not require an expert to manage it. It will not cost as much to keep in repair as an ordinary bicycle as it weighs sixty-five pounds and is not subject to the severe strain of lighter wheels. All that is necessary is to start the wheel, turn on the power and without any further effort ride at any speed that may be desired up to twenty miles an hour.

   The contract which the company have made with the western firm also includes the manufacture of a machine named the Victoria, which runs on the same principle. A cut is published herewith. It consists of four wheels, with tires five inches in diameter with a chain on either side. It is fitted with a very comfortable seat for two or four persons The seat is upholstered with plush or leather and it is convenient to get into and out of as the body hangs within ten or twelve inches of the ground.

  

 

   The contract requires the Hitchcock company to build 50,000 of the motor cycles within the next three years. The motors used on the bicycles can be utilized for very many purposes as an economical means of driving machinery and the outlook for a successful demand is unlimited and they are destined to revolutionise the motor system. The invention of the motor was the only means to render it possible on account of its lightness to propel a wheel. On the Victoria four or five horsepower does not add twenty-five pounds of weight to the machine. A one horsepower engine does not weigh over twelve pounds and to increase the size of the engine it is only necessary to increase the absolutely light metal of which it is made thereby increasing the power.

   The heat created from the engines is to be utilized for keeping the passengers warm in winter and running an electric light to be used at night.

   The Motor Cycle Co. of Cleveland is composed of some of the leading citizens of that city. They have become satisfied upon investigation that their machine is the only practical and successful motor bicycle ever made.

   Mr. E J. Pennington, the inventor, will make his headquarters here in Cortland. He is a man of great inventive genius, a thorough mechanic and electrician. Besides this he is a business man in every sense of the word and with his fine presence will undoubtedly make many friends in this section. He is expected to return to Cortland in a few days.

   The Hitchcock company's large and well appointed plant, fitted with all the most modern machinery is just the company to manufacture this coming conveyance. They are large manufacturers of carriages, sleighs and bicycle machinery and with their past reputation and extensive acquaintance with the trade will be able to introduce the machines and put them on the market much quicker than a new company. They have already received contracts from some of the largest houses in the country for bicycles for the coming season and expect to manufacture ten thousand high grade bicycles within the next twelve months. The extensive business of manufacturing carriages and sleighs will be carried on the same as in the past in addition to the new business.

Hitchcock Manufacturing Co., Elm Street and S.B.& N.Y.R.R., Cortland, N.Y.

 

Following excerpt courtesy of Cortland Standard, Tuesday Evening, March 7, 1911.

   The death at Springfield, Mass., on Sunday, March 5, from cerebral meningitis of Edward J. Pennington recalls the fact that Mr. Pennington was the inventor of the motorcycle and that some of the first motorcycles were made in Cortland in the brick foundry building on Port Watson-st. now owned by Samuel Keator, then owned and conducted by the Hitchcock Manufacturing Co. It was in the summer of I894 that Mr. Pennington first came to Cortland from Cleveland, O., and made an arrangement with the Hitchcock Manufacturing Co. to make a sample motorcycle. There was considerable excitement in the place then over the prospect of a wonderful new industry for Cortland.

   Mr. Pennington kept experimenting with his machine and finally produced a motorcycle that was used upon the streets. Every feature of the modern motorcycle seemed to be then in quite a degree of perfection except that the inventor had difficulty with his cooling apparatus and that the engine would get hot after being run for two or three miles, and then the machine would have to be shut down and stop till it cooled off. It was said then that this difficulty would be overcome after a little, and it was, but not while the machine was manufactured in Cortland.

   Mr. Pennington announced that he had formed a company with a capital stock of a million dollars to manufacture these machines in Cortland. It was announced that a contract had been closed with the Hitchcock Manufacturing Co. to make 50,000 of these machines inside of three years, and that the great carriage and sleigh factory of that company which included all the buildings on Elm-st. now owned and used by the Wallace Wallpaper company, the Keator & Wells company and the brick foundry of Samuel Keator on Port Watson-st. were to be utilized for that purpose. The contract, if it was ever concluded, was never completed, and no machines except the sample ones were ever made here.

   Mr. Pennington also invented a four-wheel motor vehicle known as the Victoria that would carry three persons sitting side by side upon a single seat. That was the forerunner of the automobile.

   All through the fall of 1894 these machines were being tested out and tried at the foundry building and upon the Cortland streets, and then Mr. Pennington went away not to return to Cortland.

References:

1) Cortland Standard, March 7, 1911. Opens in PDF. (contains complete article, and separate advertisement and image of the 1911 Thor IV chain-drive motorcycle.)
2) Edward Pennington's motor-vehicle patent.
3) Pennington the con artist.
4) Solargen and Steven Romer.
5) Subscribe to Cortland Standard.