BUD EKINS FAMILY TRUST COLLECTION The Emblem Manufacturing Company of Angola, New York, builders of this gorgeous 7 HP V-twin from 1910, were among the first of America’s motorcycle brands. Its founder, Billy Schack, was one of the youngest entrepreneurs during the bicycle craze of the late 1800s, selling high-wheel bicycles from England at the age of 15. He soon began producing his own bicycles, branded as Emblem, in 1894 before expanding his operation to include the production of motorcycles in 1907. The first Emblem motorcycles were, in essence, cloned cousins of Indians, built on bicycle-like diamond frames, powered by engines designed by Indian’s cofounder Oscar Hedstrom and produced under license by the Aurora Automatic Machinery Company. By 1909, Schack hired engineers to design a proprietary F-head engine utilizing ball bearings, atmospheric intake and either battery or magneto ignition. The following year, this V-twin was introduced in several configurations, becoming the flagship for the brand. At that time, many pioneer motorcycle manufacturers were finding it difficult to compete with the success or production capabilities of brands like Indian, Harley-Davidson, Excelsior and Merkel. Emblem too may have folded were it not for the bulldog-like business acumen of Schack, who maintained his brand’s hold on the market through quality construction, expansive distribution and an emphasis on promotion. He also took a page from Indian and Merkel, making room in the company budget for a handful of factory racers to compete in the increasingly popular sport of motorcycle racing. The racing effort was led by the iconic Lee Taylor, who set numerous records on dirt tracks around the country for Emblem, as well as local enthusiast Maurice E. Gale, who also set several records and made a handful of transcontinental trips for the brand. This handsome 1910 Emblem twin is finished in Carmine red, the standard color for the company, and comes from the legendary Bud Ekins Family Trust Collection. It features a 7 HP, 74 CI (1200cc) F-head V-twin, magneto ignition, belt drive and an eclipse clutch, a $15 option from the factory. Its rigid loop frame features Emblem’s unique sprung fork and a sprung Troxel saddle, 28-inch wheels and a rear brake. Motorcycling royalty Bud Ekins rescued this rare American classic decades ago, making it one of the few remaining examples from the pioneering marque. S127 1910 EMBLEM SINGLE
