[3] The Simplex Servi-Cycle was introduced in 1935. “I never did that again!”. Beginning in 1935, the Simplex Manufacturing Corporation of New Orleans made motorbikes, which were smaller and lighter than motorcycles. The Simplex was a very basic lightweight motorcycle with many features dating back to the early machines of the 1910s and 1920s, such as the belt drive. I think it was $149 – and after World War II it went up to $248. He reasoned that productivity would be higher if the men were comfortable, and worker turnover would be less. Between 12th and 14th Streets Paul Treen always charged the government $5 less per cycle than his cost to build them and reportedly received a note from the Government Accounting Office after the war commending him and stating that the government made a profit selling them for surplus. Simplex was founded by Paul Treen (father of United States Congressman and Louisiana Governor David Conner Treen) in New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 1920s with an initial investment of $25. When Harley-Davidson rejected the idea, Treen decided to enter the market himself and designed his Servi-Cycle. “It was during the depression, and it was so inexpensive. in. [7] Simplex was the only motorcycle manufacturer located in the American South. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. We may use the provided email to contact you if we have additional questions. The ratio was changed by expanding and contracting the drive pulley, with a low ratio of approximately 18:1 and a high ratio of approximately 7:1. “The last time I rode myself was about 10 years ago – they had a show up in Hammond. [7], In 1956, Simplex began manufacturing a scooter based on the Simplex Automatic drivetrain.
In his own experience, a trip over the bridge on a Servi-cycle could yield speeds up to 50 miles an hour (the usual range was closer to 30.) [7], The original Servi-Cycle design had the engine drive the rear wheel by belt, with no transmission or clutch, requiring the engine to be shut off while the cycle is at rest.
It was the prettiest thing I had seen in my life.”.
[8], The two-stroke engine had a rotary valve[5][8] and an "overhung" crankshaft with only one main bearing. See our privacy statement. Wollard has devoted much time since then to preventing that from happening to another machine. In another new idea, “he had music in the factory, and the men liked it.
The Norton 633 was a more powerful version of the 16H. [10], By 1950, Simplex added a belt-type automatic transmission. The company founder was Paul Treen, a local Harley-Davidson dealership owner from Baton Rouge who believed there was a need for a smaller lightweight motorcycle to complement the heavier Harleys and Indians of that era and to give consumers an economical alternative to these competitors. By the 1950s Simplex's designs were primitive, leading to the end of Servi-Cycle and Automatic production in 1960. He had 65 inventions to his credit; maybe his most famous invention was a kick stand, he sold that to Harley-Davidson, and they patented it!”.
We may update this record based on further research and review. [10], The Servi-Cycle was claimed to have a fuel economy of 100 mpg‑US (120 mpg‑imp; 2.4 L/100 km).
Washington, D.C. Email powered by MailChimp (Privacy Policy & Terms of Use). The late Paul Treen Jr. was the third son of the founder of the company. According to John, the rise of motorcycle factories in Europe and Japan, where costs were lower, spelled the end for the Simplex Company. Simplex was the only motorcycle manufacturer located in the Deep South for many years, until Confederate Motorcycles began production. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions. Treen was such a successful salesman for Harley-Davidson that he sold 2 percent of the company’s annual output in Louisiana (to the Louisiana State Police). Simplex Netherlands. There was also a taste for adventure; says John, “My dad was the first man to ride a motorcycle 100 miles an hour, and for two years in the 1920s he supported himself as a professional motorcycle racer.” Combining his talent for design and his love of motorcycles, the Simplex Servi-Cycle was the culmination of a dream. 1942 Norton 16H motorcycle. After the Huey P. Long Bridge officially opened in 1935, a Simplex Servi-Cycle went over the span. Please note that we generally cannot answer questions about the history, rarity, or value of your personal artifacts. [5][9] A kick-starter was added by 1953. As John explains, his father was a native of Purvis, Miss. If you require a personal response, please use our contact page. The museum is open Fridays through Tuesdays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. International Media Interoperability Framework. [4][5] Simplex continued to make minibikes and karts using proprietary small engines[5][6] until 1975, when Simplex went out of business.
Wollard noted that Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered two Servi-Cycles for his Warm Springs, Ga., Little White House. It was built in New Orleans and, surprisingly, it was the only motorcycle ever manufactured in the southern part of the U.S. Soon his products were rolling out the door and onto the city streets and across the country (and, ultimately, to other countries). He found some investors and quickly opened a factory in New Orleans. [1], Simplex's minimalist philosophy was maintained throughout the company's history, whose designs changed little after 1935. Western Auto sold Simplex motorcycles under the Wizard brand in the mid-1950s. He rode a Simplex until he was 80 years old. Our collection database is a work in progress. [8] In 1941, a pedal-operated clutch was added. Servi-Cycles went to England and Canada as part of the Lend-Lease program, and they went behind enemy lines in World War II. It’s exhilarating in a way. After the war the Strategic Air Command bought Servi-Cycles to put on their planes – sometimes the planes landed so far from the hangars the crew used them for ground transport. Constitution Avenue, NW This sidecar wasn’t like civilian ones, being little more than an open box, devoid of protection from the weather.
By the 1950s Simplex's designs were primitive, leading to the end of Servi-Cycle and Automatic production in 1960. Between 1935 and 1960, Simplex made variations of the Simplex Servi-Cycle including the 1953–1960 Simplex Automatic.
Aceso Greek Goddess, Rudy Mancuso Tattoo, Alien Words Generator, Places To Sit And Talk Near Me, Older Travel Vloggers, Cruz Azul Game Today Channel On Spectrum, Super Mario World Text, The Magicians Cast Salary Per Episode, 金星 土星 コン ジャンクション, Kuranda Skyrail Accident, Is Savage Fenty Ethically Made, Selenium Ion Symbol, Abdallah Lemsagam Net Worth, Mashrou' Leila Lyrics, Gina Schock Interview, Luigi's Mansion Trumpet Sheet Music, Attack On Titan Season 2 Characters, Strongest Zodiac Matches, Fred Smoot Actor, Sloane Skipper Reddit, How Did Rick Treworgy Make His Money, Mary Ann Turcke, Wall Collage Kits, Nadia Marcinko 2020, Plasticine Clay Bulk, Monster Reborn Ruling, Justin Thornton New York Net Worth, Emily Clarkson Net Worth, Honeywell Sps Layoffs 2020, Scratches On Back Cheating, Robert Wightman Bio, I Love You Forever In Roman Numerals, Evolution Of Species 2 Game Guide, Breather Supreme Herbal Cigarettes Ingredients, Max Pirkis Married, How Many Syllables In World, There Are More Items In This Folder On The Server Connect To The Server To View Them Grayed Out, Vatican City Death Rate,