The first and only book on the motorcycles designed, engineered, and raced by aviation icon and renowned engineering genius Glenn H. Curtiss. 

Glenn H. Curtiss is one of the most important pioneers of aviation, and is considered one of the greatest engineering minds of the early 20th century. Curtiss was the chief rival of the Wright brothers in the very early days of flight. He was much more than a pilot and aircraft designer, however. The Hammondsport, New York native's first experience with speed and engineering was with bicycles and, very shortly afterward, with motorcycles.

From 1902 to 1912, Curtiss and his team built, sold, and raced engines and complete motorbikes out of their shop in Hammondsport. During that time, in 1907, Glenn himself set a world land speed record of 136 mph on board his extreme V-8-powered bike. He was labeled the fastest man on Earth until 1911, and the fastest man on a motorcycle until 1930. 

This is the complete history of the motorcycles produced by the Curtiss company from 1902 to 1912, authored by Richard Leisenring Jr., the curator emeritus of the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport.

In these pages, readers will learn:
   
• The history of all the motorcycles engineered and built by Glenn Curtiss—including the Hercules, Erie, Marvel, and Curtiss models—and why they are still collectible and sought after today
• How Glenn Curtiss went from building motorcycles in his home shop to an engineering and aviation icon
• How Curtiss’s work with motorcycles served as a gateway to his later engineering work on balloons, travel and commercial trailers, airplanes, and other projects. 

Included are more than 100 photos, most of which are rarely seen vintage photos from the archives of the Curtiss Museum.

Explore the early years, engineering beginnings, and motorcycles of Glenn H. Curtiss—a true engineering genius.

Size: 9.0in x 9.0in  |  Pages: 176  |  125 black-and-white and color images

The first-ever history of an innovative recreational and commercial trailer designed and built by engineering and aviation pioneer and icon Glenn H. Curtiss.

The complete history of the Curtiss Aerocar, a groundbreaking travel trailer that blended the genius of Glenn H. Curtiss with the principles of aircraft design. Curtiss was a passionate engineering and aviation pioneer who is considered one of the leading engineering minds of the 20th century. His work on motorcycles, balloons, airplanes, and, of course, the Aerocar set engineering standards for decades to come. Curtiss originally conceived the Aerocar purely for his own use and was at first reluctant to make it available to the public. But eventually, Curtiss used his engineering creativity to put the Aerocar into production, and it evolved from a personal passion project to a commercial sensation that endured long after Curtiss's time.  

In these pages, readers will
• discover how the Aerocar pioneered safe and comfortable long-distance road travel by integrating aircraft design principles;
• learn how Glenn Curtiss’s obsession with safety led to many innovative engineering and safety features like the Aero Coupler, the first fifth-wheel hitch to be used in a production recreational vehicle and one of the safest trailer hitches of any period; and
• uncover a treasure trove of previously unpublished images from the Curtiss family archives.

Written by noted RV historian Andrew Woodmansey in partnership with the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum of Hammondsport, New York, this comprehensive volume covers both the highly successful commercial versions of the Aerocar and the lavish coach-built luxury variants. It’s a must-have for enthusiasts of design, recreational vehicles, travel, and transportation history.

Size: 9.0in x 9.0in  |  Pages: 192  |  243 color and black-and-white photos and drawings