Beschreibung:

The story of the Excelsior motorcycle began in 1905 when a young German immigrant, Walter Heckscher began building a stout motorcycle in Chicago. Heckscher designed several machines but settled on a DeDion type single cylinder engine in a diamond frame with twin spar spring forks. The machine proved very reliable and able to withstand the rigors of the period roads. He was able to build perhaps 60 of these machines through 1906, all the while attracting attention to his efforts. Through a group of investors, the Excelsior was born. The new Excelsior Auto-Cycle was manufactured by the Excelsior Supply Company on Randolph Street in Chicago for 1907, based upon Heckscher’s hand built motorcycles. His motorcycle was a belt drive single cylinder machine with a flat sided gas tank mounted in the upper frame rails. Unlike its contemporaries, the Excelsior had a belt tensioner. It was no motorized bicycle like other machines of the day, and was quite modern in its appearance. With the fledgling company doing well, production was stepped up for 1908 and 1909 with sales across the America and several foreign countries. A new V-twin of 50ci displacement was added to the line in 1910 and continued into the 1911 model year, along with the old single cylinder machine that now displaced 30.50ci. Sometime after mid-year 1911, bicycle magnate Ignaz Schwinn purchased the manufacturing rights to the Excelsior Auto-Cycle and moved the assembly to his Cortland Street factory in the same city. Under the new name, Excelsior Motor Manufacturing and Supply Company, the Excelsior was poised to become one of the ‘Big Three’ of the American motorcycle industry. The familiar X got a face lift and some more grunt from the engine for 1912. The twin’s displacement grew to 61ci and also received improvements to its breathing through a new valve design. The bike remained a beautiful French Gray but the sides of the tank were now adorned with a large gold X atop a striped red panel. Stronger truss forks with a leaf spring replaced the old forks and larger fenders protected the machine and rider from road debris. Excelsior used a unique system of hand grips and rod linkages to control the motorcycle. By turning the right hand grip against its lock, it would lift the exhaust valves, necessary to start a large engine using pedal cranks. Valve lifters were also used to stall it when the rider wished to shut off the engine. The throttle was also controlled by the right grip. The clutch was worked by a hand lever and the left grip controlled the spark advance. On this belt drive Excelsior, the belt tensioner is worked by depressing a release on the top of the inner hand lever. The belt can then be set and locked into a number of positions that vary the degree of belt tension. This motorcycle represents the first full year of production under the management of Ignaz Schwinn, and is in beautiful condition with plenty of original paint. The gas tank is completely original but the fenders were repainted at some point in the bike’s history. A reproduction exhaust and muffler have been added. An acetylene gas lamp and tank, plus a mechanical horn complete the motorcycle. The Excelsior received a sympathetic restoration for the engine and frame without disturbing the wonderful original patina, allowing the owner to enjoy the operation of this motorcycle on the road. Sold on a Bill of Sale.