I have often marveled at the photos of Reed Martin's bikes in the AMC National Magazine. So, when I first conceived of a virtual museum back in 1995 , I asked Reed to send me some photos and information. While making these arrangements Reed asked me what my favorite antique was. I told him if I could have any bike, it would be a 1930 Henderson 4 cylinder model KJ. Reed then informed me that he had no interest in "modern" motorcycles. I haven't seen or heard from Reed in a couple of year now, I hope he's doing well. Here is the Reed Martin Collection from the first & original 1995 AMCA web site, the "Yankee Clipper".
The 1899 DeDion - Bouton Tricycle was ordered in 1898 by the infamous Vanderbilt Family. It was specially constructed with narrowed rear end for use as a bicycle race pace vehicle at Madison Square Gardens board track. The normal width of 48" was reduced to 32" to facilitate operation on the track. The DeDion engine is #7615 and is rated a 1 1/4 horsepower.
The whereabouts of this particular bike are vague until 1948, when it was acquired by D. Cameron Peck of Evanston, Ill., who had it restored by Ralph Buckley of New Jersey. In 1952 it was sold to Kirkland Gibson, who kept it until Reed acquired it in 1988.
Between the turn of the century and 1988 it had been ridden only a few feet at a time. In 1989, after restoration by Reed, it not only was awarded AMC Junior, Senior and Winners Circle Trophies, but also completed the 57 mile London to Brighton Run. Since that time it has been received 5 AMC Preservation Awards and was chosen for the Chairman's Award in Paris, Ontario in 1994.
This bike is a superb example of a historic early motorcycle. Significant is the fact that Reed's bikes, as are nearly all AMCA member bikes, are not "set pieces" or "trailer queens" but running, working examples. Reed says that he often takes this motorcyle on 15 to 25 mile road runs and tours.
Next we have an 1899 DeDion - Bouton & Fugier Quadracycle. In 1958 a Dr. Fisher of Bergenfield NJ., brought the bike to the US. He made running restorations and cosmetic changes to the bike and showed it for the first time in 1963 at Hershey, PA. The bike was purported to run terribly and in a huff he sold to Tom Protsman, owner of the Auto Museum at Stone Mountain. GA. After learning of it's existence Reed purchased it in 1992. According to Reed, originally it was a 2 3/4 horsepower Tricycle with a rare "Bozier" rear end. Mr. Fugier modified it to the Quadracycle configuration and put a gorgeous bronze plaque on front with his name and address. It has engine #14,237 and water cooled heads. According to Reed it still runs terribly!
The next piece is a beautiful and unique bike, an one of my personal favorites. It is the sole surviving 1900 Orient Tricycle built in Waltham, MA. The earliest known owner was the opera singer, James Melton who displayed in at Hypoloxo, Fl beginning in 1950. He in turn sold it to Winthrop Rockefeller in the mid 1950s, who had it restored and kept in his museum in Arkansas. It was later sold to Bill Harrah and displayed at his museum in Reno, Nevada. In 1984 it was sold at auction. Reed bid on it then, but the winning bid was submitted by Tom Monohan of Domino's Fame.
Reed did not see the bike again until 1991. He was terribly displeased with the deterioration that had been visited upon the Orient in those intervening years. He was so upset that the bike was removed from display. In 1992 the Reed was called by the Dominos people and asked if he was interested in purchasing the Orient. Needless to say Reed was there the next day with his trailer to collect it.
Later that same year the bike was restored and judged well enough to be awarded a Junior 1st at Hershey. The differential had rusted up in the mean, and it took Reed another 3 years to get it operational. At the AMCA Hershey Meet in October 1995, the bike took a Senior First. Later at the White Rose Motorcycle show it captured another Junior 1st, scoring 99.25 points out of a possible 100.
The 1903 Humber has a very interesting story. Reed often travels to England in November for the London to Brighton Run. In 1989 he met and became friends with a "Grand Chap'' that everyone seemed to know. He had a "brown" tricycle, actually an 1899 Humber. In 1991 Reed was offered the gentleman's 1904 Humber. It was suggested that he could then come back next year and ride his Humber, rather than transport a vehicle from the US. Needless to say Reed didn't get back to ride "his" Humber until 1994.
He brought the Humber back to the US after the leather clutch face threw off halfway to Brighton. So far as anyone has been able to discover, there is only one other surviving tricycle with an original aft carriage wicker seat, and it's somewhere in France. The Humber features a 400cc 2 & 3/4 horse power air cooled engine, #833. Reed had the bike judged at Oley in 1995 and the judges "tore it to pieces!" It's sole redeeming feature is that it has successfully completed about 20 London to Brighton Road Runs and is road worthy enough to have been driven on a 1000 mile trip through Europe in 1992.
Finally, we have the 1904 Riley Tri-Car. In 1988 Reed had brought a 1900 three-wheeled Knox for the London to Brighton Run. During the race two men on this very Riley passed him doing about 50 MPH. It was the first time he ever saw the bike.
It features a water-cooled V twin 9 HP engine and tops out at about 60 MPH. The main drawback to this bike is that it has no inherent stability. With the primary brakes are on the front wheels behind the passenger's seat, it has a tendency for flip forward under braking! Yet in 1986, with 2 aboard, the bike started the Epsom to Brighton Road Run in 110th place out of 130 vehicles. 60 miles later the Riley came in first, beating the second place bike by about 25 minutes!
This was an experimental vehicle built solely for racing, that
Reed was offered a couple of years ago at Hershey. Apparently,
the owner had crashed the bike in 1988, and it had been garaged
ever since. Reed repaired and completed the vehicle by 1994. According
to Reed the engine is "MUCH TOO MUCH" and the 3 speed
non-synchromesh transmission is deafening, so it pretty much stays
around home. The bike has been routinely crashed every 15 years
or so, but is well known in British circles having competed in
and completed many, many Brighton Runs.
