1912 Pope Model H 2 Single

Inventory Number: 5084

$65,000

  • ENGINE: 500 CC
  • ENGINE NO: 2540
  • CARBURETOR: Breeze
  • BELT: Direct belt drive
  • FORK: Leaf spring
  • PAINT: Original
Pope Manufacturing Company was one of the earliest motor­cycle makers in Amer­ica, founded in 1876 in Boston, Mass­achu­setts, by Albert Aug­ustus Pope. They made a variety of things, from bicycles and automobiles to guns, but it wasn't until 1902 that the production of motor­cycles began. It was his son, Albert Linder Pope, who elevated their motor­cycles to one of the most technologically advanced of the 1910s. Under his guidance, overhead valves and full front and rear suspension were developed well ahead of most manufacturers. They were manufactured in Westfield, Mass­achu­setts, not far from where Indian Motor­cycles got their start in Spring­field, until 1918 after manufacturing turned to the efforts of World War I. The Columbia brand of bicycles started by Pope has survived despite many changes to company and ownership, carrying the torch for the fire that once lit the development of the early motor­cycle. They are now considered one of the most collectible of Amer­ican motor­cycles as such an important part of history.

The Pope Twin was the fastest production motor­cycle in the world at the time and the most sought-after early Amer­ican motor­cycle of that era. The 1917 and 1918 T models were Pope's best and most powerful. This is the last of Pope's overhead twins and the model presented here is in its completely unrestored orig­inal condition.

From Mecum:

“The Pope Manufacturing Co. was founded by Albert Aug­ustus Pope in 1876 in Boston, to build bicycles - at that date, high-wheelers. Pope incorporated in Conn­ecticut in 1877, with his father Charles and cousin Edward as founders. The Pope factory is closely associated with the town of Hartford, where the large brick Pope manufactory still stands. Bicycle manufacturer began in 1878 but the Pope name wasn’t attached to the bicycles, which were sold primarily as the Columbia brand (which still exists). To build his ‘Columbia High-Wheeler’ bicycle, Pope purchased Pierre Lallemont’s Orig­inal patent for the bicycle. His canny business strategy of purchasing bicycle patents meant Pope collected royalties on the booming two-wheel market of the late 1800s, reaping huge profits. It also meant Pope bicycles owned cutting-edge technology, which made them the largest bicycle manufacturer until 1896, producing around 250,000 bicycles per year.

The Pope Manufacturing Co. began selling motor­cycles in 1902 under a sub-company, the Amer­ican Cycle Manufacturing Co. which were badged as Columbia, Cleveland, Imperial, Amer­ican, Crescent, Monarch, and Tribune - all of which were basically identical, and used 193 cu-in. (316cc) F-head motor with automatic inlet valve, and all-chain drive via a small primary chain. The machine weighed 130 pounds dry and would go 1,000 miles on full battery charge with a top speed of around 35 MPH.

Pope ceased manufacture of its various motor­cycles in 1906, and Albert Aug­ustus Pope died in 1909. Two years after his death, in 1911, the Pope factory made a completely new motor­cycle under the ‘Pope’ name. Its first design was an F-head single of 30.45 cu-in (499cc), using a Breeze carburetor, with direct belt drive and a leaf-spring fork, the Model H. This 1912 Model H2, serial #2540, is a very rare early example of the single-cylinder Pope and is in astoundingly complete and orig­inal condition, with period accessories like a Klaxon horn, a carrier, and even an orig­inal tool pouch!”

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