Time for another quick look at the cool stuff in the Solvang Motorcycle Museum – this time with one of the oldest offerings they’ve got!
Per the museum, “this is one of the oldest motorcycles in the museum. The Mitchell motorcycle, made by the Wisconsin Wheel Works, was sold from 1902 to 1904. They started making motorcycles one year after Indian and one year before Harley-Davidson.
The Wisconsin Wheel Works quit making motorcycles in 1904 so that they could move into the automobile business.
We don’t know whether this is a 1903 or a 1904 model. The 1902 model had the engine mounted higher on the front of the frame. We cannot find any current pictures of survivors. The motorcycle is belt drive with a clutch that consists of tightening and loosening the belt with a lever on the left side of the motorcycle.
Apologies, it was hard to access the left side of the bike for photos as it’s up against a wall.
The engine is a battery ignition with a spark advance that also works as a decompression lever in the fully retarded position.
The lever makes it so that the exhaust valve is held open so that the engine can be turned over for starting.”
Want to learn more about Mitchell? Check out Lewis Miller’s page – he says it’s the home of “the most extensive Mitchell Motor Car Company collection.”
