1902 Hercules #126

• MANU­FACTURER: The G.H. Curtiss Manu­fact­uring Com­pany
• MANUFACTURED: Hammondsport, NY, USA
• YEAR: 1902
• MODEL: Herc­ules
• ENGINE: Single-cylinder ball bearing
• ENGINE NO: 126
• BORE & STROKE: 3 in.
• WHEELBASE: 56“
• WEIGHT: 125 lbs.
• HP: 2.5
• SEAT: Mesinger Cavalry No. 2
• HEADBADGE: Nickel-plated brass with hand-painted logo in red
• FRAME: Reliance Motor Cycle Com­pany

Despite becoming known as the “fastest man on earth” in 1907 for setting a land speed record of 136 mph on an experimental V-8 motor­cycle he built himself, Glenn Hammond Curtiss was not known for his bikes but as an American aviation pioneer. Born in 1878 in Ham­monds­port, New York, he started his engineering career racing bicycles in his youth. By 1901, he built his first motor­cycle with an engine of his own design, and his genius only expanded from there.

According to Richard Leisenring, former curator of the Glenn H. Curtiss Mu­seum in Ham­monds­port, NY, and author of Curtiss Motor­cycles 1902-1912, “During his early experimentation, Glenn learned two crucial points that made his motor­cycles successful. First was the weight-to-speed ratio. Second was lowering the center of gravity on his machines, which substantially increased efficiency and speed.”

Curtiss’s first attempt at racing one of his own motor­cycles (and far from the last) was on a 1902 Herc­ules single-cylinder at an event sponsored by the fledgling New York Motor Cycle Club in which he took third place. Although, as a newcomer, this brought his motor­cycles a fair amount of attention, Glenn considered it a defeat, which spurred a renewed focus.

In 1904, he found that “Herc­ules” was already patented and began the “Curtiss” line as he was taking home the gold against even rival Indian motor­cycles. It is estimated that he sold five machines under the Herc­ules name. He developed the first American V-twin engine in 1903, setting a world speed record with it that year, and inspiring the industry. Competitors Indian Motor­cycles would go on to offer their first two-cylinder engine in 1906, followed by Harley-David­son in 1909. G.H. Curtiss even put his 9 HP V-twin engine into the first successful dirigible in the United States, the Cali­fornia Arrow. By 1907, Glenn had quite a few world records under his belt, including an unofficial land speed record of 136 mph on an experimental V-8 airplane engine-powered bike on Ormond Beach. In 1908, G.H. was the first in Amer­ica to make a preannounced, officially recognized, publicly observed flight.

Until 1912, he and his team would go on to build, sell, and race motor­cycles out of their Ham­monds­port garage, but this wasn’t his only successful endeavor. In the same period, Curtiss was the chief rival of the Wright brothers, designing airplane engines, creating the most widely used U.S. aircraft in WWI, the first amphibious aircraft, and joining the Aerial Experiment Association. Curtiss was one of the great engin­eers of the early 20th century, producing innovative and high-performance motor­cycles, including popularizing the handlebar throttle, and helping to create the U.S. aviation industry. There is no doubt that if G.H. Curtiss had pursued the development of the motor­cycle with the same enthusiasm he put into aviation, the industry would look far different today.

This 1902 Herc­ules is the earliest G.H. Curtiss-manufactured motor­cycle known to exist. According to Richard Leisenring in his book Curtiss Motor­cycles: 1902-1912, “by the end of 1902, it is estimated five machines were sold under the Herc­ules brand name.” Only seven were ever manufactured, making this motor­cycle a rare piece of history, the highlight of any collection.

Although Glenn had designed the machine himself, he was not yet producing almost every aspect himself, as he would eventually do with the Curtiss line. The engine was completed with the help of his mechanically talented bicycle-racing friend, Charles Kirkham, at the Kirkham machine shop and foundry in Taggerts Mills. The frame was made by the Empire Motor Cycle Com­pany, a.k.a. the Reliance Motor Cycle Com­pany, an early American motor­cycle manu­facturer operating in NY from 1903 to 1911. The machine was then assembled in Curtiss’s quickly growing shop.

The sixth engine he ever produced, a single-cylinder 2.5 HP with a leather belt drive under the name “Herc­ules,” can be found here, according to premier Curtiss historian Dale Stoner. The G. H. Curtiss Manu­fact­uring Com­pany engraved “126;” the “1” is reported to represent the first and earliest run of the Herc­ules engines. The “2” is for the date of manufacture: 1902. Stoner shares that the “6” makes this the sixth motor­cycle engine Curtiss produced. The Audrain Auto Mu­seum notes that this is the earliest known example of this extremely rare, unrestored motor­cycle.

The first advert­ise­ment taken out by Curtiss for the Herc­ules engine and motor­cycle, 1902, as seen in Curtiss Motor­cycles 1902-1912:

“The Herc­ules 2 ½ H.P. ball bearing motor for bicycles, tandems, etc. Patents applied for. Just what you have been looking for. Height, 16 ½ inches; width over all 4 ¾ inches; crank case, 8 inches; weight, 35 lbs.; speed 300 to 2400 revolutions per minute; cylinder, 3 x 3 inches. There are 72 quarter-inch balls in crank shaft bearings; they can never heat or get to cutting, and have only 1-30 the friction of ordinary bearings. The Herc­ules is the lightest and most powerful motor of its kind on the market. We sell motors, castings, drawings, accessories and complete motor cycles fitted with these motors. Tandems a specialty. Get our prices; they are right.
G. H. Curtiss, SoleAgent
Hammondsport, N.Y.” (Pg. 31)

1903 G. H. Curtiss Mfg. Co. catalog, as seen in Curtiss Motor­cycles 1902-1912

“In presenting our line of Herc­ules Motor­cycle Cycles and Motors we wish to impress the fact that our product is of the highest possible grade throughout. We have spared no time or money to perfect the machines, which are manufactured to the best obtainable materials and in a most accurate and workmanlike manner. All parts are built to gauge and are interchangeable. Each motor develops the power at which it is rated, and is thoroughly tested before leaving the factory.

We have substituted Roller Bearings in place of the ball bearings, the feature of our last year’s motors and to which we attribute much of their success. Although ball bearings possess many good features and are very durable, roller bearings possess the same good features and are still more durable and will practically never wear out.

The complete machine is marked with the same care in con­struc­tion and finish, and each detail is worked out in a nicety. The design and con­struc­tion of the frame, the position of the motor, etc., is correct from every point of view, and is being copied by other manu­facturers. Our machines are thoroughly practical and reliable, easy riding, easy to control, and at the same time powerful and speedy. They are free from objectionable features such as vibration, noise, extreme width and bulkiness, and while the machine is what may be called heavily built there is no unnecessary weight. The machines are built with large gasoline and lubricating oil capacity, which we have found by experience, a very desirable feature.

The batteries and coil are contained in a strong case attached to the rear fork stays and are easily accessible. The batteries are of standard size and can be replaced at any time without delay of sending to the factory for a special size. A set of our Columbia batteries are good for about a thousand miles. Our new throttle control allows of a much greater range of speed than when the engine is controlled entirely by advancing or retarding the spark, and will run on a slow speed with no perceptible exhaust.

Our tandems will meet the requirements of persons who do not care for great speed, and those who appreciate the pleasure of tandem riding. This machine can be as readily ridden and controlled by one rider as our single machine - the only noticeable difference is riding being a long wheel base, and machines equipped with our 5 H.P. motors have a speed that will leave an express train in the background.

A good illustration of the speed and reliability of our machine was shown in the results of the New York Motor Cycle Club’s Labor Day Road Race, in which one Herc­ules was entered against several each of most American makes and one foreign machine. The machine made the fastest time of any regular stock or road machine in the race, earning second time and third prizes, and being awarded a silver loving cup and gold medal.” (Pg. 37)