Our neighbor lady when I grew up had a 1927 model T that her husband had bought brand new and she never sold. It still ran and she had it in the attached garage on her house. I can still smell the oil, grease, leather, gas, rubber, etc. Every time I get around a old machine like that it instantly floods me with GREAT memories of being a kid. This is what Dale knew, the power of memories and simpler(better?) times. I glad Matt and the whole crew are keeping this goingl.
Car and motorcycle museums all smell like grease and old gas. I refer to it as "That OLD car smell." Like most of those places, WTT has catch pans under machines to capture drips... which is probably what we're smelling.
I should add that some friends of mine went to the museum just after it had opened. They rode from Iowa and got there right after it opened for the day. Dale was sitting by the front door talking on the phone when they rode up and he motioned for them to come in and when he got off the phone he walked in and BS'd with them for a while. Everyone said he was the real deal and the museum was a whole day visit. On my list for sure, wanna ride from Iowa and see the East.
Matt , you are doing a magnificent job keeping your Pop’s legacy going. Thank you so much for treating me like royalty at this years opening day!! See you soon
What a magnificent piece of work. It is so nice to see these old bikes still surviving and being maintained for people to see. My first boyfriend in 1963 rode a 1930s Matchless, and I have loved the old machines ever since going to meets and shows with him.🖤🇨🇦
Thanks, Matt for showing us this beautiful Excelsior motorcycle. I see that there was no provision for the rider's protection from the drive belt, which could make it to be quite dangerous to ride, but she runs and sounds like an almost new bike.
Love that these old bits of kit are still around and importantly their history/ pedigree is being kept alive. Hats off it still runs with the acquired knowledge and skills of the bloke and his team doing the vid clip!. Nice one! Nuff said. Maddog, Melbourne Australia
I love it, the history is incredible. I am a truck driver and delivered some of the first bikes to Dale, years ago. He had just retired from the Harley dealerships he owned and started "wheels through time". I spent the weekend in Maggie Valley and Dale and I had a really good time talking "shop". I drove for "Motorcycle Freight". Anyhow its a great dedication for a couple decades now and thanks for sharing.
Damn starts easier than my puch mopeds. I really think I was born in the wrong time I hate the stuff we have today but I'm fascinated with these old bikes and cars. Made to last and also made to be able for the owner to be able to do his own repairs
Regarding "original condition", it could be seen in two ways that are both exciting: It is magical to see the wear that time has inflicted on the bike, but also when one sees a restored one according to what it looked like from the factory back then. That it is still the original tires ... I guess that shows the value of simplicity. Natural rubber material no fancy stuff like softener chemicals that eventually leave the material and make it brittle. I wouldn't run that soot cannon in a showroom, though.
What a glorious machine. I like that there is basically nothing hidden from you. It has the same will-last-forever aesthetic as the old sewing machines.
I'm not a motorcycle owner, nor even a rider. But I've known about Excelsiors since I was a kid. I read a story about them being the motorcycle of choice in the NYPD fleet. What surprises me more than anything is that so few present-day motorcycle owners have even heard of the brand. Here's hoping your business is successful for a long time!
I'm so glad you guys do videos like this. There are not many organizations that can share this information, and there's no obligation for your to do so. But you do, and it is so very, VERY appreciated. I was lucky enough to have visited the museum a couple years ago, and the entire staff is amazing. Every member is willing to talk your ear off about any exhibit they have, and every few seconds you hear something somewhere being started. I'm trying to drag my brother back, but I'll be back sooner than later.
What we think of it as primitive technology for today's standards. Was actually the highest of technical advancement of the time. Cool then and even cooler now 👍 thanks WTT
Thanks Matt so interesting and informative. Love to visit one day from here in Australia but for now I’ll show support through buying a raffle ticket for the bobber. Cheers Jon
Thank you for sharing this. My great-grandfather had a 1914 Excelsior Twin. I have some pictures and the original owner’s manual, and have often wondered what it must have sounded like!
Matt, is it possible to get a Throttle diagram? Like to see the entire system from handlebars to the carburetor. Even a few close up pictures then a couple of sketches. As everyone always says, you and your team are the best!
That mechanical throttle linkage is really cool! Now days just some boring colored wire runs out of a throttle to a servo lol; the visuals of all the mechanical action are half the draw to these old machines.
This video was "suggested" .... as I dig things with motors whether 4 or 2 wheels and also machines without motors like Schwinn's ... what a time piece. And with all the other machines in the background ... Subscribed.
I love your channel and will sooner or later be able to come take the tour. But there's ONE thing you could do that would REALLY make your video's even better. Bring the camera in close when you're explaining some of the unique features of these priceless antiques.
Thanks for sharing. Runs great. Quality used to be job one. I have a 1905 Kimball Player Piano that still works great. To be fair it has had required maintenance since pianos degrade just sitting but hey. it is still very impressive.
Great video. Would love to see your museum. If the headlight worked liked a miners light it used carbide and water to produce acetylene same as I used head lighting rabbits when I was a boy (71). Belt looks new too. Sounds great.
Liked and subbed, beautiful collection. Cheers from Canada.Looking forward to working my way through all your content and sharing with friends here in the snowy north of Calgary, Alberta.
Great bike! Can we have the story of Henderson, with all your current examples? I'm also wondering what you may know about cyclecar racing. Several drivers in the 1920's used Henderson bike engines, to power their cyclecars, in southeast Michigan, and they raced those, early motorcycles, and stripped down Model T's at the State Fairgrounds in Detroit, at the time. I know this happened elsewhere around the country, but southeast Michigan and northern Ohio, had more Henderson bikes around than other states.
In the 1870s I went to Deadwood SD to look at a 1912 Harley that was for sale by the original owner. The guy wanted more than my college student budget would allow. The drive belt was still flexible and usable. His secret: using bear fat as belt dressing!
Love your dedication and commitment Matt. How do you close the shop and sleep somewhere else? If I was left to take care of what you have, I'd sleep in the shop on my swag with my Pittbull X beside me.
Would love to see the Calcium Carbide/Acetylene headlamp in action. You can still get the pellets, if that did indeed did work on that principle. Should light right up,,with some research. Miners lamp was pretty fool proof. I have my stash of emergency light. The sad part,, no more pellets or water, no more light at night while riding. Yikes!. Very cool bike!. The Original Steam Punk look that's timeless. Get the headlamp working and take it for a night ride. When was the last time that bike was rode at night, with the gas headlamp lit??. An extra mission patch on your flight jacket for that one accomplished. A thorough step back thru time. Thanks WTT, a Salute to Maggie Valley!.
Beautiful motorcycle but I must say, I had to pause the video quite often for the choppers in the background... Hopefully they will get featured as well.
"They're only original once" That is a fantastic quote, and so true.
I'm glad that Matt is so dedicated to keeping the museum running. I pray that Maggie Valley promotes and supports this work.
Who ever designed that throttle linkage, that works around a moving handlebar was an engineering genius. Great bike, thanks for showing us
All those levers,springs and gears, so cool and I bet it smells amazing ! Hey, I’m not a weirdo (I just love old machines)
Our neighbor lady when I grew up had a 1927 model T that her husband had bought brand new and she never sold. It still ran and she had it in the attached garage on her house. I can still smell the oil, grease, leather, gas, rubber, etc.
Every time I get around a old machine like that it instantly floods me with GREAT memories of being a kid. This is what Dale knew, the power of memories and simpler(better?) times.
I glad Matt and the whole crew are keeping this goingl.
Ever heard the saying, "Everybody funny" George thorogood
It's not weird at all, there's just something about that smell. =)
Car and motorcycle museums all smell like grease and old gas. I refer to it as "That OLD car smell." Like most of those places, WTT has catch pans under machines to capture drips... which is probably what we're smelling.
My parents live over in Cullowhee...going to be visiting the museum with my Dad next month and we can't wait !!!
My bucket list is to spend a day or two at this place.
The museum is in a beautiful area, life is short.
I think I'd need a week. 👍
You will not be disappointed!! It is amazing and overwhelming!! Matt is a gracious host as well as the entire staff!!
Go bud, do it! Just be sure to call to make sure they’re open for the day, one trip I can say you won’t be disappointed!!
I should add that some friends of mine went to the museum just after it had opened. They rode from Iowa and got there right after it opened for the day. Dale was sitting by the front door talking on the phone when they rode up and he motioned for them to come in and when he got off the phone he walked in and BS'd with them for a while. Everyone said he was the real deal and the museum was a whole day visit. On my list for sure, wanna ride from Iowa and see the East.
Matt , you are doing a magnificent job keeping your Pop’s legacy going. Thank you so much for treating me like royalty at this years opening day!! See you soon
See you again soon Robert!
Magnificent motorcycle! Unbelievable to have something so original from 1912! Just beautiful thank you for the video!
So cool to see bikes from this era. With the twin cylinders it feels like the real jump from bicycle to motorcycle.
Woh the throttle linkage was amazing.
So much knowledge for one person is amazing. No idea Schiwnn made motorcycles. As always “WOW”😮
I agree WOW
I think Schwinn made everything for over a 100 year period or so they even made unicycles
Yes, he should be working at a motorcycle museum with that much knowledge
Just bought my raffle tickets. Can’t wait for November. First year I actually care about November after losing my son 16 years ago.
Can't believe how quiet it way , just beautiful
What a magnificent piece of work. It is so nice to see these old bikes still surviving and being maintained for people to see. My first boyfriend in 1963 rode a 1930s Matchless, and I have loved the old machines ever since going to meets and shows with him.🖤🇨🇦
Thanks, Matt for showing us this beautiful Excelsior motorcycle. I see that there was no provision for the rider's protection from the drive belt, which could make it to be quite dangerous to ride, but she runs and sounds like an almost new bike.
Totally awesome, 1912 and still running, wow
Love that these old bits of kit are still around and importantly their history/ pedigree is being kept alive. Hats off it still runs with the acquired knowledge and skills of the bloke and his team doing the vid clip!. Nice one! Nuff said. Maddog, Melbourne Australia
I love it, the history is incredible. I am a truck driver and delivered some of the first bikes to Dale, years ago. He had just retired from the Harley dealerships he owned and started "wheels through time". I spent the weekend in Maggie Valley and Dale and I had a really good time talking "shop". I drove for "Motorcycle Freight". Anyhow its a great dedication for a couple decades now and thanks for sharing.
Love your museum. I'm not a motorcycle guy, but I love the history and the way you tell it, and the bikes themselves tell their own story
Pretty sweet that its on display without being restored.
Historic piece. Gorgeous.
I just visited this place this past week end. It is fantastic and well worth a visit.👍 👍
I visited that museum 15 minutes from Asheville North Carolina! It was awesome! And the Town of Maggie Valley is a beautiful town!
Damn starts easier than my puch mopeds. I really think I was born in the wrong time I hate the stuff we have today but I'm fascinated with these old bikes and cars. Made to last and also made to be able for the owner to be able to do his own repairs
Reminds me of my old Puch, the pedaling to start, the magneto, the compression release, the single speed... was an awesome vehicle in it's own way....
allways loved veterans, so many ingenius solutions to engineering problems.
the throttle linkages on the excelsior are a marvel.
I hope to get another closeup look again. Thank you for your time. Beautiful when they are used.
Starts and runs amazingly well.
You can support the Wheels Through Time Museum and win a 1937 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead here>> wheelsthroughtime.com/win-this-bike/
That Excesior is so amazing!!! Over 100 yrs.old and still runs great!!!😊
Regarding "original condition", it could be seen in two ways that are both exciting: It is magical to see the wear that time has inflicted on the bike, but also when one sees a restored one according to what it looked like from the factory back then.
That it is still the original tires ... I guess that shows the value of simplicity. Natural rubber material no fancy stuff like softener chemicals that eventually leave the material and make it brittle.
I wouldn't run that soot cannon in a showroom, though.
Thanks for showing us this bike it's amazing how it stills runs
Thanks for putting a smile on my face first thing Monday morning 😃
Really cool ...i'd love to see the light work too!
Buddy what your doing is so important i thank you and hope you receive the support you deserve.
What a glorious machine. I like that there is basically nothing hidden from you. It has the same will-last-forever aesthetic as the old sewing machines.
That throttle linkage is fascinating. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.
I'm not a motorcycle owner, nor even a rider. But I've known about Excelsiors since I was a kid. I read a story about them being the motorcycle of choice in the NYPD fleet.
What surprises me more than anything is that so few present-day motorcycle owners have even heard of the brand. Here's hoping your business is successful for a long time!
Spectacular! What great condition!
Too cool for school. I appreciate that you keep those bikes in original condition when possible. Keep up the good work Matt.
Thanks for another fantastic video, Matt. I really love your videos!
Thanks for watching. Stay tuned for more!
Probably the most beautiful throttle and timing linkage I've ever seen was on a 1910 Yale single. Absolute mechanical art.
Great machine. Paul Brodie's excelsior is a killer modern rebuild of this beast
I'm so glad you guys do videos like this. There are not many organizations that can share this information, and there's no obligation for your to do so. But you do, and it is so very, VERY appreciated.
I was lucky enough to have visited the museum a couple years ago, and the entire staff is amazing. Every member is willing to talk your ear off about any exhibit they have, and every few seconds you hear something somewhere being started. I'm trying to drag my brother back, but I'll be back sooner than later.
Have you guys seen Paul Brodies Excelsior Board Track Replica? A wonderful homage and a true labor of love.
I love his knowledge and passion.
Man, I Love this channel! This was so AMAZING! Thanks to Matt and crew for all they do!
Music to my ears. What an amazing machine, thank you for sharing!
Love your videos. Your kind of knowledge is very rare. Bravo!
When we gonna get a video on some of them Choppers on the background there? That'd be Rad!
Love what You guys do. 🤙🏼
Coming up soon!
Great episode, very informative.
What we think of it as primitive technology for today's standards. Was actually the highest of technical advancement of the time. Cool then and even cooler now 👍 thanks WTT
Matt, I love your enthusiasm for this fantastic old bike. Great video, too. , man.
Thanks Matt so interesting and informative. Love to visit one day from here in Australia but for now I’ll show support through buying a raffle ticket for the bobber. Cheers Jon
Thank you for sharing this. My great-grandfather had a 1914 Excelsior Twin. I have some pictures and the original owner’s manual, and have often wondered what it must have sounded like!
Matt, is it possible to get a Throttle diagram? Like to see the entire system from handlebars to the carburetor.
Even a few close up pictures then a couple of sketches.
As everyone always says, you and your team are the best!
A truly beautiful machine!!
God i love that old stuff! What great machines these are!
Come for the bikes, stay for the history lesson!
...and loved the lecture on its specification and features!
That mechanical throttle linkage is really cool! Now days just some boring colored wire runs out of a throttle to a servo lol; the visuals of all the mechanical action are half the draw to these old machines.
This video was "suggested" .... as I dig things with motors whether 4 or 2 wheels and also machines without motors like Schwinn's ... what a time piece. And with all the other machines in the background ... Subscribed.
Always a pleasure to watch your content. Learning and enjoying the most innovative motorcycle technology...
One of my favorite Bikes
I love your channel and will sooner or later be able to come take the tour.
But there's ONE thing you could do that would REALLY make your video's even better.
Bring the camera in close when you're explaining some of the unique features of these priceless antiques.
Several years ago, a good friend of mine bought a 1911 like this model. He let me ride it and man did it go!
Matt that bike really is AMAZING.....Thanks for showing us it 👍
Old Navy Flying Shoe🇺🇸
Thanks for sharing. Runs great. Quality used to be job one. I have a 1905 Kimball Player Piano that still works great. To be fair it has had required maintenance since pianos degrade just sitting but hey. it is still very impressive.
Great video. Would love to see your museum. If the headlight worked liked a miners light it used carbide and water to produce acetylene same as I used head lighting rabbits when I was a boy (71). Belt looks new too. Sounds great.
Excelsior along with Flying Merkel were my two favorite names of companies.
Liked and subbed, beautiful collection. Cheers from Canada.Looking forward to working my way through all your content and sharing with friends here in the snowy north of Calgary, Alberta.
Beautiful motorcycle Matt . Killer video. Cheers mate
CZcams knew what they were doing when they directed me to this channel. Subd!
What a neat old bike! Thanks for doing this!
Thanks, Matt
Wow! Amazing old machine.
Great bike! Can we have the story of Henderson, with all your current examples? I'm also wondering what you may know about cyclecar racing. Several drivers in the 1920's used Henderson bike engines, to power their cyclecars, in southeast Michigan, and they raced those, early motorcycles, and stripped down Model T's at the State Fairgrounds in Detroit, at the time. I know this happened elsewhere around the country, but southeast Michigan and northern Ohio, had more Henderson bikes around than other states.
Awesome so cool you get to start a bike that old
Thats one beautiful bike
Very, very interesting and informative nice work your doing 👍 cheers 🥂
Wow!!! Matt, that bike is fantastic!!! Gene from Tennessee.
Wow, that was fantastic.
It's beautiful!
I worked on Charles Linbergh's 1920 Excelsior at The Henry Ford Museum.
Reminds of a movie I watched as a kid in early 60s, early Cannon ball run . So Cool chug chug chug.
Beautiful bike!
In the 1870s I went to Deadwood SD to look at a 1912 Harley that was for sale by the original owner. The guy wanted more than my college student budget would allow. The drive belt was still flexible and usable. His secret: using bear fat as belt dressing!
Wow. Just Wow!
Totally awesome
Once again you have made a great video. Keep it up Matt!
Thank you for watching!
Love your dedication and commitment Matt. How do you close the shop and sleep somewhere else? If I was left to take care of what you have, I'd sleep in the shop on my swag with my Pittbull X beside me.
'literally hundreds of times'... People are amazing!
This engine sounds very healthy, wow
amazing effects of vitamin D!
Can you image 100mph on a bike like this, incredible!
riders wrote their wills and emailed them to relatives before operating these machines back then!
Would love to see the Calcium Carbide/Acetylene headlamp in action. You can still get the pellets, if that did indeed did work on that principle. Should light right up,,with some research. Miners lamp was pretty fool proof. I have my stash of emergency light. The sad part,, no more pellets or water, no more light at night while riding. Yikes!. Very cool bike!. The Original Steam Punk look that's timeless. Get the headlamp working and take it for a night ride. When was the last time that bike was rode at night, with the gas headlamp lit??. An extra mission patch on your flight jacket for that one accomplished. A thorough step back thru time. Thanks WTT, a Salute to Maggie Valley!.
Wonderful
This is a perfect example of the cross-bred example of motorcycles and bicycles.
All I can say is .WOW!
Marvellous!
Awesome idle!
Beautiful motorcycle but I must say, I had to pause the video quite often for the choppers in the background... Hopefully they will get featured as well.
Awesomely awesome 😍😍