Shaw Classic
Bikes
Shaw later produced a complete
motorcycle for the market and continued to offer
the engine in kit form. In the last years, the
bike had a chain drive and magneto ignition
but remained an example of functional simplicity.
Shaw suspended production in 1914 and later
manufactured tractors.
| Bike |
Image |
Description |
1912 Shaw side valve, 400cc |
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Manufacturer of this rarity was
Stanley W. Shaw (1881-1982) from Galesburg,
USA. Shaw was a successful manufacturer
of light auxiliary engines in the
early days of the 20th century. In
1911 he took over the Kokomo motorcycle
factory from Kokomo, Indiana. This
company had produced a 300cc side
valve machine which was not very successful
because it was considered to be underpowered.
Shaw transferred the production to
Galesburg and enlarged the engine
capacity to ca. 400 cc to overcome
the said lack of power. Between 1912
and 1920 about 240 of these Kokomo/Shaw
motorcycles were sold. After 1920
Shaw concentrated on the production
of tractor appliances and in 1962
his business was sold to the John
Deere company. Shaw had kept the remaining
stock of Shaw parts and in the seventies
this stock was bought by a local collector
from where the parts moved on to finally
end up in Holland. |
| 1912 Shaw Motorcycle |
 |
lot of these motorcycles
began as a kit similar to the
well-known Whizzer motorbikes.
The bicycle is an early Columbia
model. It's history has been traced
back approximately 20 years at
which time it was purchased at
an Antique Motorcycle Club Of
America meet in California.
This motorcycle was built
by Shaw Manufacturing Company
in the village of Galesburg in
southeastern Kansas from 1903
until 1914. Stanley Shaw wasn't
the first to offer engine kits
for bicycles, but his company
lasted longer than most of the
other manufacturers. The Shaw
motorcycle attachment was widely
advertised and sold throughout
the country for 12 years. The
Shaw 240cc single cylinder engine
fastened to the bicycle down tube
with a belt drive to the rear
wheel.
Specifications:
Engine: IOE Single
Displacement:
240cc
Horsepower: 2.5
Wheelbase: 48
in.
Weight: 85 lbs.
Top Speed: 35
mph
Retail Price New:
$90.00
Image provided by www.tomgrayvintagecollectibles.com.
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