ROBERT D. DIEGAL COLLECTION With over eight dozen manufacturers producing motorcycles in America by the 1910s, smaller brands like Yale, makers of this exceptionally rare and highly original twin from 1912, had to find new ways to stand apart from the crowd. Built by the Consolidated Manufacturing Company of Toledo, Ohio, Yale motorcycles boasted a pedigree unmatched by most of its competition, with a history dating back to the late 1800s. Roy C. Marks of Toledo started the California Motor Company in San Francisco, producing an early motorized bicycle in 1896—the first of its kind in the United States. Under the badge of California, Marks’ machines established a number of milestones in the early industry, receiving engine patents in 1902, carrying the intrepid George Wyman on his epic transcontinental journey the following year, the first in history, and being among the first motorcycles imported into Japan. The success of the California drew the attention of larger industrialists at the time, and the brand was acquired by the Consolidated Manufacturing Company, relocating to Toledo in 1906. There, the Yale name emerged as a hyphenate with the lucrative California name until 1909, when the first official Yale machines were released. Still, with a marketplace of numerous innovative and increasingly capable marques, Yale remained a small but refined choice for consumers. In 1910, Yale introduced its first V-twin, keeping pace with brands like Indian, Reading Standard and Excelsior despite lacking its main competitors’ resources and production numbers. However, while companies like Indian and Excelsior could churn out thousands of machines a year, Yale leaned into a high level of finishing to compete, marketing its motorcycles as “The Gentleman’s machine.” For the 1912 models, like this unrestored example, Yale debuted a unique new casting technique on its cylinders, aligning its cooling fins horizontally perpendicular to the ground instead of the bottom of the cylinders themselves. The new look helped the 1912 Yale stand out in the industry, but its refinements extended into its sharp gray paint, vibrant tank logo and gleaming nickel plating throughout. A sprung leather Troxel saddle and sprung “Cushion” fork provided a bit of comfort for the rider, while an eclipse-style clutch, belt drive, Bosch magneto ignition and Schebler carburetor made the operation a breeze. Though its production was small in comparison to America’s increasingly dominant “Big Three” manufacturers, Yale’s commitment to producing high-quality, handsome motorcycles helped it sustain itself until its closure in 1915. Still, for its history and elegance, the Yale remains among the most coveted among collectors and a testament to the earliest champions of American motorcycling. S193 1912 Yale Model 27 Twin
