While doing research for a book on the early motorcycle community in the Kansas City area, I came across an article in the Kansas City Star, dated June of 1950. The article was titled “Kansas City’s First Motorcycle.” I anxiously pulled the article up to view the contents. It was an interview with Oscar J. Plummer about a motorcycle he stated that he had built around 1898. At that time Plummer was around 72 years of age. Plummer identified himself as an “avid bicycle rider” in the 1890s that had seen a picture of a French racing tandem used to lead bicycle races back in that time period. He claimed that he had never seen a motorcycle at that time, but with the desire to go faster, Plummer determined to build his own motorcycle. Plummer stated that “without drawing on any of the construction knowledge compiled from the eastern manufacturers,” he built his own motor-driven bicycle. Furthermore, this was claimed to have been done when Plummer was but 20 years old. Plummer stated that it took him two years to build the original machine; then additional time was taken to rebuild and perfect the bike to his liking.Plummer goes on to say that the bike would go 60 mph, could get 35 miles per gallon, and was very reliable. Of most interest to me, was the assertion that this motorcycle was “the oldest in Kansas City” and was the “first to be seen on Kansas City streets.”
In discussing my findings with another avid motorcycle historian and friend, Jay Wilson, he immediately responded that he had seen the bike several decades earlier in a museum located in an old mansion known as the Kansas City Museum. When he had made that statement, I remembered the museum and motorcycle as well! Back in the late 1970s or early 1980s, when my children were young, I had taken them to this museum and remembered the bike was displayed in a corner. At that time, I had an interest in motorcycles, but primarily newer ones. The bike had not been on display for at least several decades and this portion of the museum has also been closed for several years while remodeling is being done.
I set up a date for a few knowledgeable people to go to the warehouse and actually see the bike. On March 15th, 2011, about 10 interested motorcycle enthusiasts were given a viewing. First, the bike was certainly an early model but no one felt like it had been built beforethe 1900s. Most placed the machine between 1900 and 1905. The engine was clearly modeled after the French DeDionButon motor which became the model for most early motorcycle engines. Mr. Plummer had his name “O. J. Plummer” cast into the top of the crankcase and “K.C.Mo.” cast at the bottom of the crankcase. Jack Larson guessed that the bore would be around 3” and the stroke around 3.5” making the engine about 400cc in capacity. The cylinder head looked like it had been professionally cast, possibly for an old car, motorcycle, utility engine, or as a commercially marketed item. The barrel appeared to be cast with cooling holes drilled from the top to the bottom of the cylinders. The oil feed was manufactured by Lunklnheimerand had been copyrighted in 1902. Tim Toley identified the carburetor as possibly a Longuemare, though no markings were found.The frame was clearly derived from a bicycle design but was much heavier in construction than a typical bicycle frame. The front forks had two lower fork blades on each side of the wheel supporting the tire and the back had doubled up struts. The belt shiv was nearly as large as the back wheel and there was no pulley or belt tensioner to tighten the drive strap to limit slippage. The real proof of its old age was the wood wheel rims with the older type canvas tires. These were Aerial type wheels being wrapped canvas with vulcanized rubber over the outside edge. These predate clincher rims with pneumatic tires found on early motorcycles.
When I had first seen the picture of the motorcycle in the 1950 newspaper article, I thought it looked much like an Orient. The Orient motorcycles were built from 1899 to 1905 by the Watlham Bicycle Company in Watlham Massachusetts. Orient was one of the first companies to build velocipedes to lead bicycle races. Some experts have called the Orient the first manufactured and marketed motorcycle offered in the US. It was the squared off tank above the back wheel with battery container hanging below the frame backbone just in front of the rider’s seat which gave me that impression. I had commented to Jay and others of my observations. Several days later Jay called me with some additional confirming thoughts. The position of the gas tank, placement of the tank filler cap, placement of the battery, position of the engine, size of the engine, placement of the carburetor, and shape of the frame, all indicated that the machine was heavily influenced by the Orient. Did Plummer buy an Orient and alter it, rebuild an Orient to his liking, buy various Orient parts and build it, copy the design of the Orient and fabricate it himself, or was it some other derivative of these possibilities? The bottom line is this; Plummer’s motorcycle is far too close to an early Orient motorcycle to be an accident. The origin of the double blade front forks remains a mystery!
What can be determined is this, the O. J. Plummer machine is a very early example of a motorcycle. Everything about its construction points to a build date of 1903 to 1904. Jay Wilson places a probable build date of 1902 or 1903 because of the construction of the crankcase. He stated that later crankcases were split horizontally. There is evidence that there was an Indian dealer in Kansas City as early as 1904 to 1906. Why would Plummer build a motorcycle when an Indian would be much cheaper to buy and would be fully functional as well? Furthermore, why would he copy an Orient when Indian motorcycles were available in Kansas City? From another newspaper article dated February 1908, Plummer is also noted as a member of arguablythe earliest motorcycle club in Kansas City. He was also associated with many of the earliest motorcycle enthusiasts and dealers in Kansas City. What can be surmised is this, the O. J. Plummer is most likely the first motorcycle to run on the streets of Kansas City, just as he stated in the 1950 newspaper interview. Whether the bike is a copy of an Orient or possibly an altered Orient, Plummer’s bike is still a very significant find.
If you have more information about the early Kansas City motorcycle community or are interested in learning more about the OJ Plummer motorcycle contact Dr. Bayer at hondaenthusiast@rocketmail.com
See Dr. Mark Bayer talk about the motorcycle and Kansas City's motorcycle history > Part I> Part II
Kansas City Museum 3218 Gladstone Blvd. Kansas City, MO 64123
