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Johnson Motor Wheel was a kit to convert a bicycle into a motorized bicycle. It was manufactured by an American firm, Johnson Brothers Motor Company in
/ref> The initial design had problems at high speeds, so a fellow inventor from Indiana, Dick Oglesby, offered his ignition magnetos to the Johnsons in order to address the problem.Johnson Brothers Company Motor Wheel Oct. 1997
/ref> The Johnson brothers moved to
Johnson Motor Wheel
Gas Engine Magazine
U.S. Scooter Museum
Motorized bicycles Defunct motorcycle manufacturers of the United States Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1914
Johnson Motor Wheel was a kit to convert a bicycle into a motorized bicycle. It was manufactured by an American firm, Johnson Brothers Motor Company in Terre Haute
Terre Haute ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, about 5 miles east of the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a ...
, Indiana.
History
The Johnson Motor Wheel was designed in 1914 by Louis Johnson. It was patented in the US in 1919 and in the UK in 1920.Johnson/Economic/ref> The initial design had problems at high speeds, so a fellow inventor from Indiana, Dick Oglesby, offered his ignition magnetos to the Johnsons in order to address the problem.Johnson Brothers Company Motor Wheel Oct. 1997
/ref> The Johnson brothers moved to
South Bend
South Bend is a city in and the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total of 103,453 residents and is the fourt ...
, Indiana, and formed the Johnson Brothers Motor Wheel Company to manufacture the kits.
The Motor Wheel had a 2 cycle engine which produced 1 HP and had two flywheel magnetos, bronze bearings and a float feed carburetor. The complete kit came with a wheel, hub tire, shock-absorbing spring sprocket holder, wheel sprocket and chain, handlebar controls for choke, throttle and engine shutoff, three quart gas tank and gas line, and all necessary fittings to adapt the engine and rear wheel unit to any 26" bicycle.
See also
*Timeline of motorized bicycle history
This timeline of motorized bicycle history is a summary of the major events in the development and use of motorized bicycles and tricycles, which are defined as pedal cycles with motor assistance but which can be powered by pedals alone.
19th cen ...
*List of motorcycles of the 1910s
List of motorcycles of the 1910s is a listing of motorcycles of the 1910s, including those on sale, introduced, or otherwise relevant in this period.
The 1910s has their share of expensive historic motorcycles sold at auction, especially the bra ...
*List of motorcycle manufacturers
The following is a list of motorcycle manufacturers worldwide, sorted by extant/extinct status and by country. These are producers whose motorcycles are available to the public, including both street legal as well as racetrack-only or off-road-o ...
* Motorized bicycle
References
{{ReflistExternal links
Johnson Motor Wheel
Gas Engine Magazine
U.S. Scooter Museum
Motorized bicycles Defunct motorcycle manufacturers of the United States Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1914