that can appreciate today's motorcycles. Sorry I'm not making new motorcycle memories any more.
Still somewhat better than the political scene
LUCAS THE PRINCE vs THE MOON
.
I remember back in the late '40s, I and my buddies used to ride to North Manchester, Indiana, to
visit Schultz Brothers Gun and Saddle Store.
One night Tom, Gene, Jack, and I left on our 500 Matchless singles for our ride to the store. Actually Gene had a 350 Matchless but he easily stayed with us.
It so happened that it was a night of a full moon. Heading west out of Ft Wayne, a light bulb lit up (in our minds). We were starting this trip with half discharged batteries and Lucas generators (The
Prince of Darkness). However, we had a full moon. WHY NOT" The Great Solution! Let's turn off
our headlights and charge our batteries. And we did!
The whole trip to North Manchester (about 50 miles)was made with only the light from the full
moon showing the way. What a dumb but exhilarating experience. The ever changing shadows
and reflections of moonlight as we rode, unspoiled by artificial illumination, was a real
experience. Ghostin' through Collamer Indiana with its sparkling dammed up stream was an especially
deep breath, sigh type of motorcycling rapture.
The day still had remnants of the heat but the chill as we rode through the dips in the road was welcome.
Arriving at Schultz Bros we took in the sights and smells of the combined leather and firearm
store. Back then, Schultz Bros still employed old time craftsmen who hand made saddles and all
sorts of horse tack. Imagine that out of this world leather aroma multiplied by hundreds of
bridles and other tack with the occasional saddle thrown in. That trip combined for us a lot of the
things that we enjoyed. The night ride with a full moon, the almost soporific sound of those
big singles, the smell of fine leather, watching skilled craftsmen (now long gone),working their
trade, and the browsing among the fine firearms of which Dick Schultz always had a full supply.
Leaving Schultz Brothers we went on to eat hamburgers and drink malted milks at a small restaurant in North Manchester and then returned to Ft. Wayne turning our headlights back on as we neared that busy city. We even had enough power stored in our batteries to make it home with bright headlights (well almost)
I’ll never forget those old thumpers. Even though the generators were made by Lucas , the well known “Prince of Darkness”, the Matchlesses were fitted with impulse magnetos that must’ve spoiled the Lucas reputation as they never failed to make it easy to kick start and run the 500cc single. We might’ve been without lighting but we always could count on being able to ride.
I’ve owned bikes with up to six cylinders but I still remember the raw power and torque of those British singles. The memories go on.
Post script: Jack has passed, Tom has dementia, Gene is still around and is a fellow Korean War Vet. Both Schultz Brothers have passed but the business carrys on and is still selling horse tack but not firearms.
Times change but the memories don't. Make those memories!
Wayne, Solo1
