American V-twins

Other American V-Twins

https://news.yahoo.com/z-guide-american-motorcycles-120025803.html

FEILBACH founded, 1904; produced v-twins 1913-1914

http://www.feilbach.org/the-feilbach-motorcycle/

The company was founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, (the same town as Harley Davidson) and started making motorcycles in 1904, a year after the first Harley Davidson production bikes. In 1913, an 1130cc (69 cubic-inch) v-twin Feilbach was produced. It was hailed as "The Greatest Mororcycle ever Built". This was 5 years after the first prototype Harley Davidson twin and 2 years after the first trouble-free Harley twins. The bike was bigger than the Harleys, since the first Harley twins displaced 811 cc (49.5 cubic inches). In late 1914 Feilbach ceased production, and went bankrupt in 1916. It was used by Milwaukee police from 1914 through 1916. In the article linked above, we find this intereting statement: "It was widely speculated that Harley-Davidson used its then massive resources to put Feilbach out of business by constraining access to capital resources." Harley Davidson started producing a larger capacity v-twin (61 cubic inch or 1000cc) in 1915, the year after Feilbach ceased production (but this was a year before Feibach was finally declared bankrupt). " The "FL" letters painted on the Feilbach chaincase were used by Harley Davidson as a prefix for one of their models from 1941.

"The story goes something like this. When William Davidson was being interviewed in his office in 1915 the reporter asked him why Harley didn't produce a shaft drive bike with rear suspension, 4 cylinders etc. William told the reporter to look out the window and read the name on the chimney of a nearby factory. It read FEILBACH. William said " they and others tried most of that and they are all out of business" - See more at: http://cyrilhuzeblog.com/2013/01/26/1911-pierce-motorcycle-to-be-auctioned-in-april-in-new-york/#sthash.Ezrq4tbU.dpuf

SEARS ROEBUCK Co. produced v-twins 1912-1916

http://www.ancientalley.com/ancient/alley/wheels/bikes/sears12/sears12.htm

The "Dreadnaught" used a Spacke 70 cubic-inch v-twin. "In 1916 Sears discontinued marketing motorcycles bearing their name. Right now the reason is unknown."

more pics: http://www.theworldofmotorcycles.com/_sears_motorcycles.html

Here is a site about Spacke engines: http://spacke.com/index.html

other bikes that used Spacke engines:

MINNEAPOLIS

1913:

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