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“Loaned” By Jerry Ottaway Mr. J.J. Wood of Denver Colorado built this machine about 1914. His engine, of his own design, is a vertical twin cylinder two stroke of 40 cu. in. (655cc.) displacement, using a British AMAC carburetor and a Mea magneto. It was mounted in an Excelsior frame, and uses a Harley two-speed hub, and Eclipse clutch. Mr. Wood used this machine to promote his engine design to the major factories, but alas, was unsuccessful, and this is the sole example. Perhaps the two-stroke, vertical design was a bit too radical for motorcyclists, as the American market had by that time, fallen in love with the big V-twin, a romance that continues to this day. Mr. Wood’s engine was practical though, and he proved that in 1915, when he and his wife took a two-up trip from Denver to St. Augustine Florida. The trip was Mrs. Wood’s idea. She must have been one spunky gal! According to the write-up in Motorcycle Illustrated of October 1916, they left Oct. 4th heading through Chicago, Cincinnati, over the Sante Fe Trail, through Kansas City, and St. Louis, Louisville, Nashville, Chattanooga, Savannah Ga., and on to Florida. Geography scholars will realize that the route they took was less direct than it would be today. They had to ford rivers, travel along some railroad right a ways, and do various repairs on the road. They arrived in St. Augustine on November 28, having covered 2800 miles. There were several flat tires, the countershaft broke a couple of times, but JJ Wood’s two-stroke twin never missed a beat! Jerry’s Wood is an un-restored original, and runs well enough to imagine taking another 2800 mile trip on it.
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