Motocycle
Encyclopedia
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Motocycle was the word adopted by the United States in the later part of the nineteenth century to indicate the horseless carriage, because it was short and easier to understand than the other possibilities, such as "automobile carriage", "motor carriage", "motor vehicle", or "auto carriage". It is now archaic and rarely used. Today, a four-wheeled self-powered vehicle, especially one designed to carry a small number of people, is generally known as an automobile
or car. The term "motor vehicle" still survives in legal terminology.
reported on November 29, 1895, of America's first automobile race the day before
It turns out that Herman H. Kohlsaat, owner of the Times-Herald, and Frederick Upham Adams, a local writer with a mechanical engineering interest, ran a public contest for someone to come up with a unique name to replace "horseless carriage" that represented the new motorized transport. The $500 prize for the new name went to the general manager of the New York Telephone Company for the name "motocycle" in 1895. He suggested the name "motocycle" as being as close to a correct definition as sounding good to defining exactly what it was. He is credited as the first to coin this name that would replace "horseless carriage." It was used then for reports on The Times-Herald's first automobile race. The name received little public enthusiasm and by the end of the nineteenth century went into discontinuance.
Charles Brady King
intended to enter a "horseless carriage" in the 1895 Times-Herald race, however didn't have his motocycle ready yet and had to withdraw. He wrote Adams that although he intended to enter a motocycle with four wheels and a 4 horsepower 100 pound engine, it wasn't quite ready and he would have to withdraw. His motocycle could carry four persons, but for the race there would have been only two in the vehicle to reduce the weight and gain speed. His light weight motocycle came in at 675 pounds, could seat four people plus cargo, and would probably sell for about $600 in a large quantity production. His motocycle dream however did not flourish and was realized by Ford and Olds instead.
In 1898 "Modern machinery" magazine pointed out the merits of gasoline, electric and steam propelled 4 wheeled motocycles (automobiles).
s, motorcycle
s, truck
s, recreational vehicle
s) on public highway
s, no matter how many wheels it has or how many passengers it can carry or how much freight it can transport. In the United States these "motor vehicles" are registered with the local state Department of Motor Vehicles
or Secretary of State
.
Motocycle was the word adopted by the United States in the later part of the nineteenth century to indicate the horseless carriage, because it was short and easier to understand than the other possibilities, such as "automobile carriage", "motor carriage", "motor vehicle", or "auto carriage". It is now archaic and rarely used. Today, a four-wheeled self-powered vehicle, especially one designed to carry a small number of people, is generally known as an automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
or car. The term "motor vehicle" still survives in legal terminology.
First Uses
One of the first publications of the word "motocycle" in the United States was when The Chicago Times-HeraldChicago Times
The Chicago Times was a newspaper in Chicago from 1854 to 1895 when it merged with the Chicago Herald.The Times was founded in 1854, by James W. Sheahan, with the backing of Stephen Douglas, and was identified as a pro-slavery newspaper. In 1861, after the paper was purchased by Wilbur F...
reported on November 29, 1895, of America's first automobile race the day before
It turns out that Herman H. Kohlsaat, owner of the Times-Herald, and Frederick Upham Adams, a local writer with a mechanical engineering interest, ran a public contest for someone to come up with a unique name to replace "horseless carriage" that represented the new motorized transport. The $500 prize for the new name went to the general manager of the New York Telephone Company for the name "motocycle" in 1895. He suggested the name "motocycle" as being as close to a correct definition as sounding good to defining exactly what it was. He is credited as the first to coin this name that would replace "horseless carriage." It was used then for reports on The Times-Herald's first automobile race. The name received little public enthusiasm and by the end of the nineteenth century went into discontinuance.
Later uses
Starting in the twentieth century the name "automobile" became popular instead of motocycle in the United States and in Great Britain the motocycle became "motorcar" or "autocar".Charles Brady King
Charles Brady King
]]Charles Brady King was an American engineer & entrepreneur remembered as an automotive pioneer, artist, etcher, musician, poet, architect, mystic, industrialist and inventor....
intended to enter a "horseless carriage" in the 1895 Times-Herald race, however didn't have his motocycle ready yet and had to withdraw. He wrote Adams that although he intended to enter a motocycle with four wheels and a 4 horsepower 100 pound engine, it wasn't quite ready and he would have to withdraw. His motocycle could carry four persons, but for the race there would have been only two in the vehicle to reduce the weight and gain speed. His light weight motocycle came in at 675 pounds, could seat four people plus cargo, and would probably sell for about $600 in a large quantity production. His motocycle dream however did not flourish and was realized by Ford and Olds instead.
In 1898 "Modern machinery" magazine pointed out the merits of gasoline, electric and steam propelled 4 wheeled motocycles (automobiles).
Legal
The term "motor vehicle" is defined in legal terms as most self-powered vehicles (i.e. automobileAutomobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
s, motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
s, truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
s, recreational vehicle
Recreational vehicle
Recreational vehicle or RV is, in North America, the usual term for a Motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities found in a home.-Features:...
s) on public highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
s, no matter how many wheels it has or how many passengers it can carry or how much freight it can transport. In the United States these "motor vehicles" are registered with the local state Department of Motor Vehicles
Department of Motor Vehicles
In the United States of America, a Department of Motor Vehicles is a state-level government agency that administers vehicle registration and driver licensing. Similar departments exist in Canada...
or Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
.
Primary Sources
- King, Charles B., A Golden Anniversary 1895-1945 / Personal Side Lights of America's First Automobile Race, Privately Printed by King 1945, Press Work by Super-Power Printing Company, New York City
Secondary Sources
- May, George S., A most unique machine: the Michigan origins of the American automobile industry, Eerdmans, 1975
- May, George S., Encyclopedia of American Business History and Biography, Bruccoli Clark Layman, 1990, ISBN 0-8160-2084-1
- McComb, F. Wilson, Behind the wheel: the magic and manners of early motoring, Paddington Press, 1977
- Sturmey, Henry, The Autocar: a journal published in the interests of the mechanically propelled road carriage, Volume 1, Iliffe, sons & Sturmey ltd., 1896
- World Book Inc., The World Book Dictionary, Volume 2, World Book 2006, ISBN 0716602997