Around the Industry
AROUND THE INDUSTRY
THE SWORD OF WILKINSON
Performance parts and accessory prices were dealt a mighty blow last month when J. Raymond Wilkinson’s J&R Engineering Co., 1857 Merced St., E1 Monte, Calif. 91733, decided to sell their products directly to the consumer. Formerly under contract to the major wholesale distributors, Wilkinson who, like Eli Whitney, believes in mass production, chafed at the conservative practices of his middlemen. “By giving the customer the same discounts we used to give distributors, we can sell enough parts to justify using die castings and stampings,” Wilkinson explains. “This gives us better parts and lower cost per unit in the long run.”
Wilkinson’s price cutting is exemplified in his “Loss Leader,” the $4 rotary valve, but J&R’s hottest selling item is their beautifully made tuned expansion chamber exhaust system, chrome plated, which bolts on for $30.
Long noted as an outstanding engine and firearm innovator, “Ray” Wilkinson fairly bristles with interesting inventions. He is developing a noiseless muffler “based on the gun silencer principle” which may permit as high performance as a tuned exhaust. In the next few months J&R will bring out a special line of performance parts for the popular Allstate 60cc scrambler, Suzuki, Honda, and other motorcycles.
NEW BSA PISTON FROM M.C. SUPPLY
Now, from M.C. Supply Co., comes this new BSA A-65 forged high dome piston. Featuring a multiplicity of oil-retaining grooves, it is available in 9Vi-1, lOVi-l and 12-1 compression ratios. List price is $18.00 from M.C. Supply, 1715 E. Florence Ave., Dept. CW, Los Angeles 1, California.
A NEW HOME FOR CEMOTO EAST
Cemoto East, eastern distributor for Bultaco motorcycles, recently found itself in trouble. The business was expanding rapidly, and the old facility on Lillian Road in Schenectady seemed to be shrinking. Like the old woman who lived in a shoe, the outfit had run out of elbow room. Cemoto East went house-hunting.
The story had a happy ending. Cemoto East is now installed in a new home on Maxon Road, on the other side of Schenectady. The facility is a two-story ferroconcrete building finished in tile. Equipped with a dock and an electric elevator, the building will store 3,000 motorcycles. The building also houses offices, 1,000 square feet of parts bins, and a shop for overhaul and research work.
The location of the facility — the middle of an industrial area — was selected to avoid noise complaints when engines are screamed on the dynamometer or motorcycles are tested on the grounds. Cemoto East invites industry people passing through Schenectady to drop by, say hello, look over the new building, and swap trade talk over coffee.
VESPA PLAYMATE
Lovers of lightweight locomotion had a day for themselves recently when Vespa dealer Al Ruiter staged the first Playmatefor-Vespa rally. Lest there be any mistake, Ruiter quickly pointed out that the whole idea was to show off Vespa equipment, rather than that of Sharon Rogers, who was Playboy magazine’s Playmate of the Month in January, 1964. Also, Ruiter wanted to call attention to his newly opened dealership at 607 Auzerais Avenue, San Jose, California.
Events of the day called for a mass welcome for Miss Rogers at the Airport, followed by a Vespa caravan from there to the Ruiter Agency. From that point on the Playmate posed for pictures with visitors at the Vespa showroom. Those who availed themselves of this opportunity received free prints of the photos. When not otherwise occupied, visitors to the dealership were free to give the new line of Vespa Scooters a thorough examination.
SOME LIKE 'EM HOTTER
Circle Industries, distributor of Weber cams for motorcycles, have announced the availability of Honda Super 90 and CB-160 street and racing cams. Weber has long been a leading grinder of competition automotive cams. The Honda cams are built up with a special hard face to minimize wear. Cams for all models of Honda, Triumph, BSA, etc. will be offered.
To round out your Honda performance, a stroker kit is available. The kits now in production include C-105, C-110, C-200 and S-90. All component parts necessary including crank pin, plate, push rod extensions or cam chains, head nuts, and complete instructions are included in each kit. Prices start at $24.95.
These products are available from Circle Industries, 991444 E. Rush Street, Dept. CW, So. El Monte, Calif.
MAICO SUPERSPORT OFFERS DISPLACEMENT CHOICE
Available with either the short stroke 175cc engine, or the longer stroke 250cc single cylinder two-cycle power plant, rated at 16 and 25 hp respectively, this new Supersport continues the Maico tradition of German dependability with uncommonly high performance. Many two-cycle tuners still consider the Maico engine design the best of its type.
BERLINER ADS TO EXCEED $600,000
U.S. importer and distributor of Ducati and Norton motorcycles, Berliner Motor Corp., has completed plans for an advertising and sales promotion campaign to exceed $600,000 during the remainder of 1965. President of the firm, Joseph Berliner said present advance orders for 1965 models were more than sales were at the same period last year.
Berliner has appointed Riedl & Freede Advertising, of Clifton, N.J. to create all Norton and Ducati advertising and promotion. Walter Von Schonfeld, who has handled advertising and public relations for Berliner has joined Riedle & Freede as the Berliner account executive.
The new campaign will feature a series of full-page ads in Life and other consumer and trade media. First ad of the current schedule appeared in the March 26 issue of Life.
BRITISH CLOTHING MANUFACTURER APPOINTS U.S. DISTRIBUTOR
Belstaff Manufacturing Company, Ltd., well-known manufacturers of motorcycle clothing, have appointed Butler & Smith, Inc., of New York, N.Y. as exclusive distributors for the U.S.
Butler & Smith, distributors of BMW motorcycles, will carry principally the Belstaff “Trialmaster” suits and “Supersenia” Coats. The “Trialmaster” suits, which are standard equipment for trials riders in many parts of the world, are available with special inner lining and overmittens. Many American motorcyclists will undoubtedly be pleased to know of the availability of Belstaff clothing.
STYLISH BOOT ZIPS ON
What appears to be just the thing for casual cycle riding, this “dramatically different motor cycle boot from England” has an 8V2” zipper on the inside for “easy on-off action.” The shoe part is fine leather, while the upper part, 12 inches high, is “a miracle man-made leather-like material.” The boot has a high leather heel and comes in black only, sizes 6-12 medium for $16.95, satisfaction guaranteed by Eleganza Imports, 985 Monument St., Dept. CW, Brockton, Mass.
HANK SLEGERS WEARS ONE
Shown wearing his waterproof Barbour Suit and shaking hands with Ken Craven is Hank Siegers, right, purveyor of the famous Barbour Suits and moulded plastic saddlebags made by Craven. The Barbour Suits, which sell for around fifty dollars (black only), in addition to being warm and water proof, are very well made and have numerous handy pockets. The Craven cases really dress up a road machine without overdoing it, and provide useful luggage space on the small confines of a cycle. Several attractive styles are offered, which Hank will no doubt tell you about if you write him or drop in at 19 Ridgedale Ave., Whippany, N.J.
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GOOD LOOKING WEBCO PRODUCTS
Webco, Inc., one of the major accessory distributors in the cycle world, have added three new products to their line which should help advance the “clean and shiny” image of the modern motorcycle rider. One is the “bantamweight Sportsuit” for the enthusiast who must arrive neat and clean. Made of water-repellent fabric, the Sportssuit has elastic cuffs and back for that trim, no-flapping look, a two-way front zipper and button-down collar. Designed to be worn over pedestrian clothes, it comes in either red, yellow, or blue-grey for $14.95.
Chrome Kleen and Aluma Kleen are the other two products, both of which are for rusted or tarnished surfaces, chrome and aluminum respectively. They are not to be confused with polishes, as they require no rubbing or abrasives. One need merely brush the product onto corroded surfaces and hose it off to remove rust and corrosion and make dull aluminum bright. Eight and a half ounce bottles are available for $1.49 each from Webco, Dept. CW, 218 Main St., Venice, Calif.
BOLT-ON REPLACEMENT BARS FOR HONDA 55
One of the new products offered by the Toyo Sport Company, Box 1687-CW, Lake City Station, Seattle, Washington, is this high bar conversion kit to adapt Honda 55 models to suit American riders. We installed the Toyo Sports kit, which sells for $14.95, on a staff member’s machine, and encountered no major difficulty in doing the job (but watch out for flying springs when you disassemble the light switch), thanks mainly to the complete instructions provided with each kit. The difference in handling and operating a Honda with the Toyo bars is well worth the price and effort, and some of us even think the machine looks better! Toyo Sport Company has a full catalog of accessories, American-made tires, and other products available to dealers and distributors.
BRASHEAR NEW TRIUMPH ROAD MAN
Everett Brashear, 37, well known for his talents in professional motorcycle racing (18 National Champion ships to his credit) has rejoined the sales staff of Johnson Mo tors, Inc. as district sales. representative, assisting Triumph dealers throughout Ari zona, New Mexico and Texas, and estab lishing new Triumph dealerships.
TRIUMPH DEALERS CONVENE FOR 14TH ANNUAL SALES-SERVICE SCHOOL
These Triumph dealers heard top-flight specialists in sales, finance and insurance address their recent four-day refresher school in motorcycle service and merchandising at eastern Triumph headquarters in Baltimore, Md.
FORDYCE ADDS NEW SALES SPACE
Skip Fordyce of Riverside, California, who made motorcycling a million dollar a year business, has announced plans to enlarge his facilities. After a career of daredevil motorcycle shows in the thirties, Skip settled down in Riverside in 1941, and moved his plant to its present location at 3698 14th Street in 1943. He is the dealer for Triumph in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, Harley-Davidson for Riverside county, and Honda for all of Riverside county except Palm Springs and Lake Elsinore.
The 5,100 square foot addition will give Fordyce over 18,000 square feet in which to display 200 motorcycles and house 30 employees, who provide the latest in service facilities. With the expansion is a provision for parking space for 24 automobiles and a special covered area for 40 motorcycles. Fordyce has developed a business that last year grossed $1,100,000 in sales and service. He carries a $75,000 stock of cycles, which will be increased with the additional sales area.
DEEJAYS SET CYCLE RECORD
Two Riverside, California radio personalities, Ralph Lawler and Ken Collins of station KPRO, recently set what is perhaps a unique “world’s record” on 50cc Hondas. Riding their fun bikes on a closed and guarded 14-mile course in a Riverside shopping plaza, the men set out on a marathon round-the-clock ride as a publicity stunt. The public was invited to guess the winner of the contest and estimate his gas consumption. Prizes were the Hondas themselves.
After 25 hours and 37 minutes, officials of KPRO, the shopping center and Skip Fordyce, cycle dealer who promoted the contest, called a halt, seeing that neither rider would concede to the other although both were quite sleepy by that time. Collins had ridden 1447 laps and Lawler had gone 1346 laps. Collins’ C-110 turned in 180.88 mpg and Lawler’s C-102 recorded 174.87 mpg.
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Naturally the station broadcast a running account of the “Honduro.” as the contest was called, and much good publicity went out as a result.
ICE CYCLE
Looking for a product to sell during the long, cold months of winter? Consider the Fox Ice Cycle 130, powered by a 3 hp engine. It is said to cruise at 15 mph and has enough power to push its way through nearly 5" of heavy snow or slush. It can also pull skaters, skiers or a toboggan “with ease and sureness of control.” Made by Stanley Fox, Box 797-CW, Janesville, Wisconsin, along with a complete line of similar snowmobiles, the Ice Cycle is slated to sell at under $180.
YOU MEET THE NICEST PEOPLE . . .
Among the growing legion of youthful motorcyclists, the name of Edsel B. Ford II must now be added. Edsel, a student at Hotchkiss School in Connecticut, is shown astride his Honda 50 trail model at a friend's ranch in California last summer. Young Edsel II, despite his obvious future with the Ford Motor Company, shows great promise as a motorcyclist.
Birthday celebration honoring Rusty Hamer of the “Danny Thomas Show” finds cast gathered around Honda presented to the teenager by star-producer Danny Thomas. Pictured (from left) are Sheldon Leonard, Rusty, Marjorie Lord, Angela Cartright and Danny Thomas.
MIAMI POLICE CHOOSE BMW
Chief Konicek (center) of the N. Miami, Florida Police Dept., accepts the keys to this new BMW police bike from Dusty Lynn, Sales Manager for Vespa Miami, Inc. Officer Bob Mehrer then tried out the department’s new acquisition and was reportedly well pleased with the bike. He feels other police departments in the area will eventually switch to the comparatively low cost, dependable BMW.
WINNER PICKS UP TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE PRIZE
Raring to ride off on his prize, is lucky David L. Himes (center) of Coalinga, California. Holding him long enough for congratulations in front of the camera are the Nelson Brothers (left) John and Garve, Triumph dealers in Oakland. Himes, a student at Coalinga College, was already a Triumph enthusiast having owned a Tiger Cub, and was shopping at Nelson Bros, for another Triumph when he won the Bonneville. The annual regional drawing is sponsored by Western Triumph distributor Johnson Motors, Inc.
SUZUKI CITY OPENS
One of Southern California’s newest and most luxurious motorcycle shops, Suzuki City, 4039 Lincoln Blvd. (at Washington) in Venice, has recently opened. The three thousand square foot building utilizes 1000 square feet in a red carpeted display showroom, with 2,000 feet for service and parts. Additionally, 2,000 square feet of exterior display space is used in one of the biggest displays of Suzuki this side of Japan.
Owner-operator Jack Blanck has acquired the services of Rob Muzzy as General Sales Manager. Rob, a Bultaco competition rider of note, will welcome his friends at this new location.
VALIANT BUYS SIMPLEX, ANNOUNCES NEW MODEL
Valiant Manufacturing Corporation of New Orleans recently purchased the Simplex manufacturing facilities, patents, copyrights and inventory and have remodeled the plant for straight line production of their new model. Paul Treen, President of the new corporation, an-
nounces that all executives and employees of Simplex have been continued in their same capacity, thereby providing the new company with invaluable experience gained in 30 years of manufacturing lightweight motorcycles.
Concentrating on one model with two types of automatic transmission, costs have been reduced and quality improved, thereby enabling them to offer better value. The complete machine delivers for less than $200 anywhere in the U.S.A. which is a remarkable achievement.
Experienced riders and dealers often forget how many things a new rider must learn to handle — and at the same time. All these things are new to him: Twistgrip throttle, foot shift, hand clutch, foot brake, front hand brake — as well as balancing. A dealer might well have a Simplex Compact on hand just to teach new riders before putting them on heavier, more complex machines. Throttle to go, brakes to stop, everything else is automatic. After he has mastered these on the compact, the additional controls of the more complicated machine will be easy and safe.
The Simplex-Valiant’s engine is a 125cc 4-cycle and is easy to start, being provided with special cam to reduce compression only when starting. Full legal lighting — dual beam headlight, tail light and stop light receive current from coils in the magneto. The telescopic forks are lifetime lubricated and the large motorcycle bucket saddle is sponge rubber padded and fully sprung.
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The automatic clutch runs on sealed roller bearings while the optional torque converter counter shaft runs on ball bearings, requiring no lubrication. Timken bearings are fitted to both wheels and are lifetime lubricated. Knockout axles are utilized front and rear. Raybestos lined 5" brakes have 10 sq. in. braking surface.
Wide wheels are die cast aluminum in two pieces for easy tire removal and the chrome plated handlebars are adjustable to rider’s comfort.
The machine comes completely assembled, ready to ride. Dealer inquiries are invited and riders are invited to write to: Valiant, Box 19243 - CW, New Orleans, La. 70119 for literature and the name of their nearest dealer.
NEW SCRAMBLERS FROM MAICO
Now available are two interesting versions of this new Maico scrambler, a 175cc model and a 250cc. The single cylinder two-stroke produces 16 hp in 175cc configuration, 27 hp as a 250cc. Both machines feature telescopic forks, double loop steel frame, 2.6 gallon gas tank, 160mm brakes, 8.27" ground clearance, 52.8" wheelbase, 3.00x19" front and 4.00x18" rear knobby tires.
Bore and stroke of the 175cc are 6lx 59.5mm, with an 11:1 compression ratio and a 1.06" carburetor; the 250cc measures 67x70mm, has a 1.18" carburetor and a compression ratio of 10:1. Weight of the 250 is 224 pounds; the 175 is four pounds lighter. A variety of gearing is available, and both machines are finished in an attractive two-tone red and blue.
MAJOR MOUNTFORD DIES
Major Vic Mountford, joint managing director of Royal Enfield and vice-president of the British Cycle and Motor Cycle Industries’ Association, died on November 10. He suffered a cerebral hemmorhage in his office, and died in Bromsgrove hospital without regaining consciousness. Mountford, 52, leaves a wife and three children to whom all members of the industry extend their deepest sympathy.
He joined the Enfield Cycle Co. Ltd. 36 years ago, and became cycle sales manager in 1933. In 1937 he was commissioned in the Worcestershire Regiment and went to France with the BEF. He was evacuated from Dunkirk and awarded the Territorial Decoration and bar. Promoted to Major in 1942, he was transferred to the TA reserve in 1951, having rejoined the Redditch factory in 1946.
Sales manager until he joined the Enfield board in 1959, becoming joint managing director four years ago, Major Mountford had visited the U.S. every year since 1960 and was extremely well liked by all the people who met him.
BMW CLUB BEAUTY PARADE
The handsome line of sparkling BMWs represents the entries at the Southern California BMW owners’ club 3rd Annual Vista del Mar Concourse d’Elegance in West Los Angeles. Sixteen BMWs were on display among sports cars, classics, and an-
tiques. The charity event, as in years past, was held for the benefit of the Vista del Mar Child Care Center in West Los Angeles. Other clubs participating were the Jaguar Club of San Diego, Restorers Club, Thunderbird Club, Mercedes Club, Rolls Royce Club, Classic Automobile Society, and the Morgan Plus Four Club.
NEW SPANISH CYCLES DEBUT
Associated Enterprises in San Bernardino, California, announced the introduction of the Spanish built line of Lube motorcycles to the United States market. W.F. “Wes” Kirwan, General Manager, will race one of the 125cc or 150cc Lube models at the forthcoming U.S.M.C. races at Daytona in March. Located at 4295 North Sierra Way in San Bernardino, a feature rarely seen at the headquarters of distributors will be a one-fifth mile flat track and a scrambles track at the rear of their buildings.
Part of the facilities will be devoted to the German made line of DKW 50cc motorcycles for which the firm will be the agents. Lube makes sporting machines primarily, among which is an interesting group of production racing machinery that is seen extensively in Spanish road racing events. •
