Go
to the Archive indexJon Sahl in the USA recently found a cyclemotor engine, which he is trying to identify, and asks if any NACC member can help. The only identification marks are "Cyclemotor" cast into the crankcase, "patented" at the cylinder base and "Motor no. 23543". It seems to be designed to fit inside or attach to a rear bicycle wheel and has an internal-tooth chain drive from crank to magneto to final drive. Any ideas, anybody?
Two views of the Cyclemotor engine
First published, April 2007
Within minutes of the April 2007 edition of Buzzing landing on their doormats, the Iceni CAM team had an answer winging its way to Jon:
We've just seen the picture of the Cyclemotor engine in Buzzing magazine. We can't tell you a great deal, but can tell you it was made during the 1920s by the Cyclemotor Corporation of Rochester, NY. (It is possible that the first two digits of the engine number indicate that it was made in 1923 - on the other hand, that might just be coincidence). The unit fits into the triangle of the cycle frame with the magneto to the front and the carburetter facing to the back. Clamps round the bicycle's seat tube fit onto the two lugs on the crankcase. Here is a picture, sorry but it's not very good quality. Nevertheless, it does show how it all fits together. The final drive is by twisted belt to the rear wheel.
The Cyclemotor was mentioned in From the New World in the East Anglian Cyclemotor Club's magazine, Buzzing, Volume 2, Number 2.