General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

paper

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

45.6 cm

Width

30.5 cm

Height

N/A

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Non-motorized Ground Transportation

Category

Cycles & cycling

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Whizzer

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Michigan

City

Pontiac

Context

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

Period

Unknown

Canada

Advertising material for an American made bicycle motor of a type used in Canada as elsewhere.

Function

Material promoting the product of a manufacturer of bicycle motors.

Technical

An example of a motor for a bicycle produced by one of the best known manufacturers of this type of device. In 1939 Breene-Taylor Engineering, a Los Angeles-based manufacturer of airplane parts, announced the availability of the Whizzer Model "D" Bicycle Motor. This kit sold for $54.95 and included an air-cooled, four-cycle engine that was capable of producing 1.375 horsepower as well as a 2/3 gallon fuel tank. In the first few years only about 2500 of the first model and its successors were sold and in 1942 Breene-Taylor sold the company to Dietrich Kohlsatt, who supplied the capital, and Martin Goldman, an attorney for Breene-Taylor. Whizzer Motors continued production through WWII, marketing the redesigned "New Model" as a mode of transportation for defense workers. The same belt-driven design was released as the Model "F" after the war. In 1946 Whizzer moved its main production facilities from southern California to Pontiac, Michigan. This enabled them to use the nearby auto-production facilities to outsource the manufacture of most of the Whizzer components. The redesigned Model "H" was released in that year and was more reliable and popular than its predecessors. In 1949, Whizzer released the Model "300" Motor. This new engine had 7/8 in. valves, a more efficient combustion chamber, better cooling, and a higher compression ratio. These changes resulted in a 3 hp engine that could reach speeds of 40 mph. Whizzer sold about 15,000 Model "300" motors at $109.97 each. In 1952, the company introduced its last major motorbike engine, the "700." Three years later the company changed its name to Whizzer Industries, Inc. and began to expand into other areas of production. Whizzer Industries produced children's toys and wagons as well as windows and sliding doors. The company continued to sell parts for Whizzer engines and bikes until 1965.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

black lettering reads 'Take it Easy -/ RIDE A WHIZZER', 'FITS ANY MAN'S BALLOON TIRE BIKE/ America's Leading Bike Motor - Whizzer!', 'WHIZZER MOTOR COMPANY PONTIAC, MICHIGAN' and 'MOTOR FOR YOUR BIKE - COMPLETE/ WITH ALL NECESSARY ATTACHMENTS/ $109.97/ Federal Tax Included/ F.O.B. Pontiac, Mich.' with specifications

Missing

complete

Finish

orange, black and white on white sheet

Decoration

black and white images of motorized bicycles