THE ARIZONA MOTORCYCLE COLLECTION Motorcycles and bicycles share a deep connection, with motorcycles emerging from the cycling craze of the early 20th century. Among the many brands of the time, none were as intertwined with bicycling as the Pope brand, makers of this exquisitely restored 1911 Model H2. Founded by Colonel Albert Augustus Pope, the Pope Manufacturing Company began in 1876 in Westfield, Massachusetts, producing various modern novelties. Two years later, Pope began importing English high-wheel bicycles, the awkward yet no less revolutionary machines that captivated America’s recreational and sporting communities. His success in the budding industry allowed Pope to buy patents to the latest technologies, such as ball bearings, hollow frame tubes and new “safety” designs, licensing them to other companies and becoming the largest U.S. manufacturer by 1900 with a production volume of 250,000 bicycles annually. Pope expanded into emerging transportation technologies, producing his first automobile in 1897 and motorcycles by 1902 under various brand names. His initial motorcycles, however, were little more than Indian clones; simple, single-cylinder motorcycles branded under the names of the numerous bicycling companies he had under his control—names like Monarch, Imperial, Cleveland and American. By 1906, Pope’s interest in motorcycles had diminished, but in 1911, his son, Albert Linder Pope, revived the company’s motorcycle production with the Model H, the first under the Pope name. The new Pope was of its own general design, though still lightweight and utilitarian in nature, featuring a belt-driven 30.45 CI (499cc) F-head single engine, Hertz magneto ignition, sprung saddle and inverted leaf-spring fork. This beautiful, comprehensively restored H2 followed Pope’s first offering. Though basic, the Pope represented an affordable and approachable alternative to the increasingly hefty American V-twins on the market at the time. This exceedingly rare example, finished in a deep gray with red and gold accents, features the same 4 HP F-head single, V-belt drive, lightweight Hertz magneto and Solar brand acetylene lighting. Pope motorcycles were popular among first-time riders and rural communities seeking economical transportation. The following year, Pope rolled out a state-of-the-art overhead-valve V-twin, ascending to a new level of prominence in the industry and even creating its factory racing program. Still, Pope’s entry-level offerings, like this handsome 1911 Model H2, afforded the company its place as a top American motorcycle brand and remains a pioneer of the culture. F146 1911 Pope H2
