On This Date, October, 3, 1894

On this date, October 3, 1894, Edward J Pennington of Moores Hill, Indiana, applied for a patent for his "Motor Vehicle", notable for its balloon tires. Pennington built and demonstrated his original motorcycle design in Milwaukee in 1895.

 

Pennington submitted two documents detailing his versions of early motorcycles and he was awarded a patent for the "Motor Vehicle (motorcycle) with patent number; 574262 issued December 29, 1896. The most interesting note is the fact that the term “motor cycle” is traced to these documents and exact year.

Learn more about Edward J Pennington HERE

Central Union Telephone Company

In this photo, dated 1910, a Central Union Telephone company employee is on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle in Marion County, Indiana. 

The Central Union Telephone Company provided telephone service to New Castle, Indiana and Indianapolis, Indiana in the late 1800's to the 1920's. Photo attribution: Indiana Historical Society

Iwo Jima Flag Raisers

The six Indianapolis policemen who escorted the Iwo Jima flag raisers through downtown pose on their motorcycles. The war veterans' appearance was part of a nationwide bond drive tour. 

A United States Mail truck, which bears an image of the Iwo Jima flag raising on a postage stamp, can be seen in the background. Photo attribution: Indiana Historical Society @1945

On This Date, August, 14, 1909

On this date, August, 14, 1909, the first motorsport event at the newly built Indianapolis Motor Speedway was held, it consisted of seven motorcycle races.

The motorcycle races predated automobile races at the track, under the sanction of the Federation of American Motorcyclists (F.A.M.). Indiana born Erwin G. Baker competed in the ten-mile amateur championship.

 

This was originally planned as a two-day, 15-race program, but ended before the first day was completed due to concerns over suitability of the track surface for motorcycle use.

According to the Indianapolis Star, the event lacked a large number of entries due to racer Jake DeRosier’s recent accident on the unpaved gravel track and fear on the part of some of the drivers about being badly injured themselves.

Baker, already regarded as a daredevil racer and “rider of great skill and nerve,” took home first place in the event in a time of 11:31 1-5.

Pictured: Starting line of a motorcycle race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, August 14, 1909. Photo credit: IUPUI Indianapolis Motor Speedway Collection.

On This Date, June, 3, 1917

On this date, June, 3, 1917, Alan Bedell left Los Angeles, California on his Henderson motorcycle arriving in New York City (3,296 miles) in seven days, sixteen hours and fifteen minutes later, breaking the record set by "Cannonball" Baker on an Indian Twin.

The Henderson suffered just one flat tire, went through three sets of Champion spark plugs and used three Duckworth chains. Bedell suffered just one crash, which somewhat damaged his knee, on a wet road in Indianapolis and averaged 17.89 mph.

 

Using the stock 3.5gal gas tank, Bedell's only changes to the machine were the addition of a Mesinger air cushion saddle and a Carlton generator to power the original Coffman spotlight.

Unfortunately, the young Californian was not to make or break many more records, as tragically his young life ended a short time later when he fell victim to the influenza epidemic of the First World War.

Photo: Alan Bedell when he set a transcontinental record in 1917.

Edward J Pennington

Edward Joel Pennington was born in Moore’s Hill, Indiana in 1858. Although he didn’t stay in Indiana for very long, his early years in the state shaped him to automobile and motorcycle fame as well as equal infamy. Prior to moving to other parts of the Midwest and eventually Great Britain, E.J. Pennington first developed his ambitious and amazing skill at social engineering in various small Hoosier towns, where he conned people into investing in dud companies.

Despite his incredibly checkered past, Edward Joel Pennington had a passion for machines, going as far as having more than two dozen patents. He tinkered in engines and devices, even applying for some of the earliest motorcycle and automotive patents in the nation.

 

On October 3, 1894 Pennington submitted two documents detailing his versions of early motorcycles and he was awarded a patent for the "Motor Vehicle (motorcycle) with patent number; 574262 issued December 29, 1896. The most interesting note is the fact that the term “motor cycle” is traced to these documents and exact year. 

Both documents declared Pennington as the assignor for the “Motor Cycle Company of Chicago.” Although the word originally appeared as a company designation, Pennington also promoted the term to encompass cycles with motors.

He showcased his motorcycle prototypes at various exhibitions in places such as Chicago and New York around 1895 to garner interest for investment opportunities in more dud companies.

 

Drawing accompanying Edward J. Pennington's patent for a "Motor-Vehicle" (Motorcycle) Patent number: 574262, filing date: October 3, 1894, Issue date: December 29, 1896. SOURCE: Wikipedia

It was Pennington’s testing and showcasing of the prototypes around that time in Milwaukee that had caught the eye of William Harley and Arthur Davidson, who would later on found the Harley-Davidson motorcycle company. 

They weren’t the only ones who were captivated by Pennington’s show of future potential. Henry Ford himself was also taken in by Pennington’s automotive ambitions, going so far as to later create an engine that looked similar to Pennington’s own, but mechanically more sound.

E.J. Pennington’s name was well known in early automotive and motorcycle circles due to his amazing promotional capabilities and often publicized his latest ventures in numerous papers. That fact is incredibly well documented in mechanics, patent, industrial, automobile and bicycle periodicals of its day. Even though his engineering skills were pretty questionable at best- doing what needed to be done in order to make pitches to investors, many marveled and admired his tenacity to be a visionary.

 

Drawing accompanying Edward J. Pennington's patent for a "Motor-Vehicle" (Motorcycle) Patent number: 574262, filing date: October 3, 1894, Issue date: December 29, 1896. SOURCE: Wikipedia 

His enthusiasm for motorized vehicles no matter how shoddy his personal skills gave birth to automobiles and motorcycles that we know today. His death in 1911 was reported by dozens of periodicals and even though he was known as a charlatan and a swindler, his contributions to sparking the imagination and ambitions of many in the industry were well received. Source: Hannah at Imchs.org