NS Motorcycle: Difference between revisions
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In 1908 '''Narazo Shimazu''' created his first motorcycle. This is generally thought to be the first motorcycle made in Japan. |
In 1908 '''Narazo Shimazu''' created his first motorcycle. This is generally thought to be the first motorcycle made in Japan. Shimazu produced more than 700 motorcycles with the brand name of '''<big>NS</big>'''. <ref name="H&W">[http://www.st.rim.or.jp/~iwat/meiji-2/meiji-2.html Centennial History of the Japanese automobile.], Centennial History of the Japanese automobile.</ref> |
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==Influences== |
==Influences== |
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Revision as of 08:29, 27 May 2011
NS Motorcycle
NS Motorcycles
In 1908 Narazo Shimazu created his first motorcycle. This is generally thought to be the first motorcycle made in Japan. Shimazu produced more than 700 motorcycles with the brand name of NS. [1]
Influences
On January 19, 1896 the Hildebrand & Wolfmüller Motorrad (from Germany) was put on display with a trial run in Tokyo and was given the name of Petroleum Bicycle (very similar to the name of the Petroleum Reitwagen which was developed by Daimler and Maybach in Germany in 1885 which was well known in Japan at this time). [1] The H&W Motorrad had been imported by Jumonji Nobosuke co-owner of the Jumonji Trading Company.
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By 1901 the first American Made motorcycles began to appear. On September 17 a Thomas Auto-Bi is mentioned in a newspaper article and goes on sale 11 days later advertised in the same newspaper. [2] The Thomas had been made in Buffalo, NY. Thomas had been manufacturing a De Dion-Bouton Tricycle since 1898. The Auto-Bi was in all respect a standard bicycle with 24 inch wheels. It used a De Dion-Bouton 200cc capacity engine which produced 2.25 hp. This is an air cooled, four cycle, with automatic intake valve, engine weight of 11.3 kg and body weight of 41 kg. The price of the Thomas was very expensive at 500 Yen.
In April 1902 the California motorcycle from the USA is advertised but may not have arrived yet. Also possible is the arrival of the US made Orient-Aster motorcycle. [2]
Two Mitchells, which are very similar to the E.R. Thomas Auto-Bi were imported in 1903. [3] These motorcycle had De Dion-Bouton engines air cooled four cycle engines of 347cc. The frame was 23 inches and the machine weighed 55 kg. Top speed was listed as 55 kp/h. [4] The Mitchell-Lewis Motor Company had been founded in 1900. [5]
History
In 1903 his father bought Narazo Shimazu a bicycle. That same year he was fascinated by the news of the motorcycle. He went to Tokyo for races that had featured foreign owned Thomas (USA) and Gladiator (French) made motorcycles.
In 1908 at the age of 20 Shimazu established the Shimazu Motor Research Institute.
In December 1908 Shimazu creates a two cycle motorcycle engine of 400 cc capacity. He builds this engine into a frame of a Triumph motorcycle which he had purchased for that purpose. This is the first motorcycle manufactured in Japan. [6]
In 1909 he completes the construction of a four cycle engine. He builds a total of twenty of these which he puts his initials "NS" on. Customers were disappointed the the motorcycles he made often broke under their own weight while traveling on the primitive roads of that era.
In 1926 Shimazu completes a new motorcycle design called the Arrow First. Later in the year Shimazu went into bankruptcy. He helped found a new company Japan Motors Manufactures in Osaka and worked to improve the Arrow First.
The new company produced a new motorcycle with an air cooled four cycle side valve design engine of 250cc capacity and a two speed transmission. Production reached 50 to 60 machines a month and eventually reached over 700 machines in three years. [7]
References
- ^ a b Centennial History of the Japanese automobile., Centennial History of the Japanese automobile.
- ^ a b Thomas Auto-Bi In Japan 1901, Thomas Auto-Bi in Japan 1901 Text and Photographs.
- ^ Six things you didn't know about the early Japanese motorcycle industry, Mitchell Motorcycles Imported into Japan 1903.
- ^ The 1902 Michell Motorcycle, The Mitchell of 1902.
- ^ Mitchell-Lewis Motor Company, Mitchell Motor Company founded 1900.
- ^ Motorcycle: evolution, design, passion by Mick Walker
- ^ Japan's Motorcycle Wars: An Industry History, By Jeffrey W. Alexander
External links
- 240 Landmarks of the Japanese Automotive Industry NS Motorcycle
- Tokyo Cool Bike History Photograph of NS Motorcycle