10:23 AM
From today's New York Times:
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| 1905 'Leo' motorcycle, made in Oakland, CA; the only survivor? |
LAS VEGAS — The recent discovery of the only known example of a Leo motorcycle, which is scheduled to be auctioned here Jan. 10 by Bonhams, raises more questions than answers.
The 107-year-old Leo, found in complete and original condition in a storage area at a Massachusetts museum, has motorcycle historians and Bonhams valuation specialists stumped. The motorcycle, made to a high standard of fit and finish, offers a freely turning two-stroke motor with strong compression, a purpose-built heavy gauge tube frame, spoked rims, Thor pedals and a Troxel leather saddle.
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| Thor pedal crank used on the Leo (more Thor history here) |
Why was the Leo apparently manufactured for only one year, in 1905? Whatever happened to the company that made it, the L.A. Mitchell Manufacturing Company of Oakland, Calif.? Is it possible the company, and the bike, were victims of the 1906 earthquake that devastated the San Francisco Bay Area? No one seems to know, Evan Ide, a Bonhams specialist said in an interview, although it is hoped – as often happens in cases like these – the publicity around its discovery may lead to a source of more information.
“There are references to the Leo in quite a few books,” Mr. Ide said. “People were aware that Leo was making bikes in 1905. None were thought to have survived, though. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Leo was the only California bike of the period,” he added. [No, there were others, including the Nelk motorcycle, built at the same date, in Palo Alto, which still exists, and a few 'Calfornia' (later Yale) machines - Ed].
The bike’s California provenance is especially interesting, he noted. Only a few examples of California-made motorcycles have survived, like the 1901-02 California brand motorcycle, which later became Yale, and the 1930s-era Crocker. [Also, obscurities like the Nelk motorcycle and scooter, made in Palo Alto CA in the same period, with a single survivor of each type, both in the History San Jose Museum, albeit tucked away in their storage warehouses. It should also be noted that Glenn Curtiss supplied his engines to a dirigible factory in San Francisco prior to 1906, when the 'Quake destroyed the warehouse of 'Captain' Tom Baldwin - Ed.]
Mr. Ide says he believes the Leo name represents the first name of its likely founder, Leo (or Leonard) A. Mitchell. Searches of Oakland business directories and census records reveal one Leo A. Mitchell, listed as a master mechanic, living in the area during the period the motorcycle would have been manufactured. Later in life, he listed himself as working on steam-powered railroad engines.
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| A robust two-stroke single-cylinder engine of ~3hp |
Mr. Ide said he was impressed with the Leo’s purpose-built motorcycle design, construction and functionality. “If you compare the Leo to things made by other motorcycle makers of the time – Mitchell, Thomas, for example – they were literally a bicycle frame with a motor clamped to the down tube of the bike, light gauge wheels, wooden rims,” he noted.
“The big thing with the Leo is really the engine – so different from anything of the time,” Mr. Ide said. “Despite its ruggedness, it’s not a heavy machine. The motor is quite light for the power it would have produced – on the order of three horsepower, which is reasonably high for the period.” He praised the engine’s design as “simple, clean and elegant.”
Mr. Ide said he was unsure how to value the motorcycle for the auction. Although a presale estimate of $25,000 to $35,000 has been established, Mr. Ide expects the Leo will sell for more than that.
“We sold three Crockers this summer – incredibly rare – and all in excess of $300,000,” he said. “Stuff that’s made in California is usually great stuff, but the products are so rare.”
He noted that early California-made automotive products are considered as having been designed and manufactured to an unusually high standard. He cited Miller racing cars, Crocker motorcycles and Murphy custom coach-built bodies for luxury cars as prime examples.
“Miller’s racing cars were some of the most exquisite mechanical machinery ever to be made. Crocker – phenomenal,” Mr. Ide said. “I don’t think any of them were financially successful, but all made great stuff that we remember. They probably weren’t great businessmen, but they were skilled people.”
Nick Czap contributed additional reporting."
The Vintagent's Note: I've uploaded my own pix of the Leo, for better detail resolution than the NYTimes website. As noted in my comments inserted above, the Leo was one of several pioneer California motorcycles built - they're all very rare now, and include the Leo, the Nelk, and the California (Yale). With more Billionaires per acre in the SF Bay Area than anywhere else in the world, I'm hoping a few Cali moneybags might keep treasures of our history within the area...
Full disclosure; Bonhams is the principal sponsor of The Vintagent.
The Vintagent's Note: I've uploaded my own pix of the Leo, for better detail resolution than the NYTimes website. As noted in my comments inserted above, the Leo was one of several pioneer California motorcycles built - they're all very rare now, and include the Leo, the Nelk, and the California (Yale). With more Billionaires per acre in the SF Bay Area than anywhere else in the world, I'm hoping a few Cali moneybags might keep treasures of our history within the area...
Full disclosure; Bonhams is the principal sponsor of The Vintagent.
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