Glenn Curtiss Museum special exhibit

[moto]

Last week I visited a special motorcycle exhibition at the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, just south of Hammondsport, NY.

The special exhibition is going on through August 31. From their web page: "More than thirty motorcycles built between 1902-1912 are on display alongside other artifacts from the period. This exhibit brings the largest number of Hammondsport-built motorcycles, ever in history, under one roof."

I took over 100 photos. Here are a couple of teasers. First, a triple from 1909, on loan for the show, and new to me:









The last one is out of focus, but shows pointy gas tanks Curtiss carried over from his airplanes.

There are other, non-Curtiss motorcycles on display, and many airplanes he designed and produced, along with dirigible and helicopter components. The addition of the collector-owned motorcycles for a limited time makes this a great side trip if you're in the vicinity.

Moto

P.S. Curtiss reached 136.4 mph on the original of that V8 in the third photo, in 1907. The original is in the Smithsonian. I got the t-shirt.

[Bob Wegman]

Thanks for the heads up on the exhibit.  I usually visit the museum every couple years.  Hammondsport is my favorite little town in the Finger Lakes. 

[Chuck in Indiana]

It's an awesome museum any time of the year.  Good on you for seeing the special exhibit, and thanks for the pix..
I've never seen the triple, either. Curtiss, need I say, was a mechanical genius.

[Wayne Orwig]

Dang it. I am planning to head there, but in September. So I may miss some of that.
Well, the regular museum is still worth a visit.

[tazio]

Yes! Great museum, was through it May last year.
Wonderful countryside too!









And for the gun guys in our group! Lol

[guzzi ride]

It's a great place to visit. I was there in 1999 for the FSSNOC rally.

[xackley]

Once you visit the museum ride up to tyrone Lost and Found for a burger and beer. Thursday good restaurant spaghetti, friday good fish.
Free camping in Sugar Hill State forest, half way between H'port and Watkins. Main campground has flush toilets, but no showers, no hookups.
Lotsa good riding once you climb a hill and get off the state highways.

Don

[twowheeladdict]

Very Cool!  Honed my riding skills on Ormond Beach when I was a teenager.  Where I learned to powerslide!  LOL!

[Gliderjohn]

Cannot imagine doing 136mph with 1907 tire, frame and suspension technology. I have done that speed on the Norge but that in no way compares, plus that was behind a fairing.
GliderJohn

[moto]

Cannot imagine doing 136mph with 1907 tire, frame and suspension technology. I have done that speed on the Norge but that in no way compares, plus that was behind a fairing.
GliderJohn

A plaque at the museum quoted Curtiss as saying, "Riding an eight-cylinder motorcycle is not likely to become very popular" and at such a high speed, "All I could see was a streak of beach with wild surf on one side, sand hills on the other and a black spot where the crowd was." "The machine set up a terrific and inexplicable vibration; it was so great that it did not create wholly comforting thoughts."

You can read disturbing details of the self-destruction of the motorcycle later in the same day, as the U-joint broke, leaving the drive shaft "thrashing about," and then the frame "buckled." This is in the Scientific American of Febrary 9, 1907, here: https://archive.org/details/scientific-american-1907-02-09/page/n3/mode/2up?view=theater. Also check out Curtiss's account of the wreck of the Stanley Steam Racer on the same page, along with what could be the first printed report of motorcycle wheelies (I would guess). (Curtiss is called "George H. Curtiss" by mistake.)

[Stretch]

That triple is amazing!

Reminds me of the Anzani triple in the original Bleriot that was
the first plane to cross the English Channel.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/geoffsphotos/3417532210

                                -Stretch

[moto]

That triple is amazing!

Reminds me of the Anzani triple in the original Bleriot that was
the first plane to cross the English Channel.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/geoffsphotos/3417532210

                                -Stretch

I agree. It looks like the same cylinder angles. I think this layout might have perfect primary balance, with the middle piston going the opposite to the two others. I wonder how the piston rods attach to the crankshaft. Or whether two of them attach indirectly, as in a rotary engine. Can anyone (anyChuck) provide answers?

I would rather see disassembled motors on display sometimes.

[PeteS]

The original V8 was at the Museum before it went to Smithsonian. The replica is accurate copy though far too pristine.
They usually have a vintage bike swap meet in the summer, actually a few weeks away and an event in the Winter where locals can bring their classics for viewing inside the Museum.

Pete

[JohninVT]

Hammondsport, The Corning Glass Museum and Watkins Glen are all within a 30 mile semi-circle from  the bottom of Keuka Lake to Seneca Lake.  I’m planning a long weekend trip in mid August and can’t wait. 

[moto]

About 50 years ago I was able to take a lap of the Watkins Glen (Formula 1) track on my Honda 450. Nobody was there. Let us know if you can do the same this time! 

[Perazzimx14]

I agree. It looks like the same cylinder angles. I think this layout might have perfect primary balance, with the middle piston going the opposite to the two others. I wonder how the piston rods attach to the crankshaft. Or whether two of them attach indirectly, as in a rotary engine. Can anyone (anyChuck) provide answers?

I would rather see disassembled motors on display sometimes.

Same principal. Here is a 3 cylinder compressor that around the 22:00 mark shows the crank shaft being removed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P5wfI11eYk&pp=ygUfMyBjeWxpbmRlciBhaXIgY29tcHJlc3NvciBjcmFuaw%3D%3D

[John A]

Here’s some W engines https://youtu.be/bPr9sRDaS_4

[Roebling3]

I visited many times beginning when the museum was based at the lake - and virtually all the exhibits were the originals. The entry was free, during the week. I found some gauges for a rebuild project one time. I've been fanatic over motorcycles and aircraft aircraft since my first visit

For many, many years the Glenn Curtiss Museum never appeared in hand-outs available on the NY Thruway. I sent letters. None were acknowledged. I hope they figured that out.  R3~