California Motor Company
Encyclopedia
The California Motor Company was founded in San Francisco to produce the motorcycle created by Roy C. Marks formerly of Toledo, Ohio. The 1896 Marks Motorcycle was the first motorcycle made in the United States.
Two patents were issued to Marks. On 30 September 1902, patent 710,329 Explosive Engine for Motor-Vehicles (which had been filed on September 7, 1901) was granted. And also patent 710,330 Carbureter for Explosive-Engines (January 2, 1902).
left San Francisco on a California Moto Bicycle bound for New York City. After 50 days, hands in bandages after having pedaled the last 150 miles Wyman arrived in New York City.
, E.R. Thomas Auto-Bi
and Mitchell it was influential in establishing the Japanese Motor Industry.
History
Roy C. Marks,formerly of Toledo, Ohio, created the first moto bicycle in the United States in 1896 in San Francisco. In 1901 the California Motor Company was created for the purpose of manufacturing the Marks design of motorcycle. Founder were Lewis Bill - President, J. W. Leavitt - Vice President, and J.F. Bill - Secretary and Treasurer.Two patents were issued to Marks. On 30 September 1902, patent 710,329 Explosive Engine for Motor-Vehicles (which had been filed on September 7, 1901) was granted. And also patent 710,330 Carbureter for Explosive-Engines (January 2, 1902).
First US-made motorcycle
The 1896 Marks which had an engine copied from the De Dion-Bouton design, was the first motorcycle manufactured in the USA.First transcontinental road trip
In 1902 George WymanGeorge A. Wyman
George Adams Wyman was the first person to make a transcontinental crossing of the United States on a motor vehicle. In 1903, Wyman rode his 1902 California motor bicycle from San Francisco to New York City in fifty-one days, finishing twenty days before Dr...
left San Francisco on a California Moto Bicycle bound for New York City. After 50 days, hands in bandages after having pedaled the last 150 miles Wyman arrived in New York City.
Sale to Consolidated Mfg.
The fame associated with this event resulted in the California Motor Company being purchased by Consolidated Manufacturing. It's machinery was disassembled and moved to Toledo, Ohio. It was there that Consolidated manufactured the Yale Motorcycle.Japan influence
The California was one of the first motorcycles to be imported into Japan Along with the Hildebrand & WolfmüllerHildebrand & Wolfmüller
The Hildebrand & Wolfmüller was the world's first production motorcycle. Heinrich and Wilhelm Hidebrand were steam-engine engineers before Alois Wolfmüller agreed to finance them to produce their internal combustion Motorrad in Munich in 1894....
, E.R. Thomas Auto-Bi
Thomas Motor Company
E. R. Thomas Motor Company was a manufacturer of motorized bicycles, motorized tricycles, motorcycles, and automobiles in Buffalo, New York between 1900 and 1919.-Motorized Bicycles, Tricycles, and Motorcycles:...
and Mitchell it was influential in establishing the Japanese Motor Industry.