Lewis Reed Photo: Lady & Toddler on a 1913 Excelsior
Unknown lady and toddler posing on an Excelsior motorcycle. Photo by Lewis Reed
Back in the early part of the last century when the motorcycle was still new and a novelty, it was often used for Kodak moments.
Lewis Reed has a number of photographs showing relatives and other unknown people on their motorcycles in the period of the early 1900s through the early 1920s. This photo taken by Lewis Reed is an unknown lady and a toddler (mother/daughter?) posing on an Excelsior motorcycle. The motorcycle was easy to identify because of the logo, but I could not pinpoint the exact year it was made. I tend to think it might be a circa 1913-1914 model Excelsior.
This is, without question, one of the best posed photos on a motorcycle that I have come across in my grandfather’s albums. The toddler’s sporty little cap and goggles make the image. Just imagine how excited she must have been to sit on that big machine.
The motorcycle seems to be well equipped with extras including: a headlamp, a handlebar-mounted Klaxon horn, and a well padded passenger seat on the back.
A Photo You Will Have To Look At Twice
Grafton Reed, Bernie Hanshew, and Lewis Reed (standing) by a circa 1914 Excelsior Motorcycle. There is something else unusual in this picture… can you spot it?
Have you ever come across a picture that you had to look at twice just to make sure you were not crazy? Well I have… and the photo above is one of them. When I came across this photograph in Lewis Reed’s album, I had to look at it several times to make sure I was not “seeing things”. There is something surprising in this photograph, and when I finally figured out what it was, it put a big smile on my face.
Can you spot the unusual object in this photo?
OK, give up?
It’s a Doll!
One of the many things I admired about my grandfather was his sense of humor.
Featured Photo: Market Street, Frederick, MD circa 1915
Lewis Reed taking photograph (from left: Lewis Reed’s motorcycle, Edgar Reed, unknown person, Bernard Hanshaw, unknown child, unknown man) in front of Greenawalt Drug Store on Market Street in Frederick, MD circa 1915
Things look pretty quiet in front of Greenawalt Drug Store on Market Street in Frederick, Maryland on this day some 100 years ago. Lewis Reed was not only passionate about automobiles, he also enjoyed riding motorcycles and photography.
In the early days, motorcycles were a staple of transportation, and both Lewis and Edgar Reed rode Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Motorcyclists in the 1900s were more likely to wear a tie and sporty little cap than the leather of today.
Not Just a Car Guy
The activities of Lewis Reed outside of his main occupation as a car dealer has always been of interest to me. Social activities, pastimes, and hobbies often help define a person and sometimes those activities can be found in later generations.
Lewis Reed was not only passionate about automobiles, he also enjoyed riding motorcycles and photography. With photography for a hobby, one that began even before automobiles were around, he amassed a large library of photographs of many scenic locations from touring on his motorcycle all over the country. All I know is, as I look at these photos and try to make out the details, my grandfather was ready for adventure. (click images to enlarge)
Lewis Reed sitting on his Harley Davidson motorcycle circa 1915 somewhere outside Frederick MD
Lewis Reed taking photograph (from left: Lewis Reed’s motorcycle, Edgar Reed, unknown person, Bernard Hanshew, unknown child, unknown man) in front of Greenawalt Drug Store on Market Street in Frederick, MD circa 1915
Lewis Reed repairing his motorcycle
Lewis Reed (far left)
Lewis Reed (far right)
Lewis Reed patching up Uncle Bernie Hanshew after he fell off motorcycle
1912 – Second from left are Edgar Reed (sitting on motorcycle) and Lewis Reed standing behind him.
Lewis Reed (back) & Edgar
Books
Related Resources
Copyright Notice
Reed Brothers Dodge History (1915-2012) by Jeanne Gartner is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License.
Reed Brothers Dodge History 1915 – 2012 
Recent Comments