Wednesday, June 15, 2011

The Militaire Autocycle Company (later to be Militors in the example we see above), was founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1911. The bike, featured wooden artillery wheels, two girder-type frame rails (like an automobile), hub-center steering, and a 11 horse power inline four cylinder engine  connected to standard floor shift trans( complete with reverse) and was actually conceived as a two-wheeled automobile complete with retractable training wheels to make it stable at rest, since its operator was not required to put their feet down. The length of bike at 97" made it the longest bike of it era. Very few Militaires/Militors are known to exist today. A pity.
Pict via: Jack Snell's photostream

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