My New Blue Cushman Motor Scooter

Whenever I see one of the new and modern motorwhose results were not always certain but certainly
scooters traveling briskly along, a brief, sharp pang ofexciting.
emotion traces through my thoughts. A bit of memoryWell, such was my introduction to a new Cushman
causes me to stop for a moment. Although themotor scooter and a new world. I really have no idea
modern motor scooters are much classier than myhow many miles I managed to put on the scooter but it
first scooter, there is still a connection. The first scooterdid not matter, I guess. I seemed like hundreds or,
that I enjoyed for many years was a Cushman and amaybe, thousands of miles and we traversed with a
lot of enjoyable memories return when it come totank-full of gasoline as often as my studies allowed. I
mind.sped well beyond the limits that had cooped me in
Although it was just over six decades ago, thebefore. With a sense of discovery, my blue scooter
memory is clear as yesterday. Never will I forget theand I were suddenly a part of the world and enjoying
moment I laid eyes on my sparkling blue dream, theall about us.
first motorized vehicle that I had ever owned. JustStarting up early in offering various mechanicals for the
slightly past the end of the big world war, I recall thatmotorized world, the beginning of Cushman was near
the world had just begun to return to normal. A1903 in Lincoln, in the state of Nebraska. Founded by
beautiful fall day, my attention wandered to thoughts ofbrothers Everett and Clinton, it was officially legalized
my Cushman that my dad had managed to purchaseas Cushman Motor Works in 1913. Initially the company
something in a very difficult buyers market. Afterproduced an extensive large industrial quantities of
years of rationing and shortages of autos, motorcyclesengines for farm equipment, various fuel and water
... and scooters ... all were difficult to come by but hepumps, lawn mowers and equipment for boats.
managed to order my pleasant imagining dream.Beginning in 1936 and continuing until 1965, Cushman
I found it very difficult to keep my mind on whateverproduced a range of motor scooters. Included was a
my teacher was valiantly trying to propose to themodel that was used by the US military. In World War
class and my mind continued to wander. Only notingII, scooters were used as a mode of transportation
bits and pieces of her instruction amongst visions ofwhenever standard vehicles were impractical.
my forthcoming scooter, I really was trying to beProduction of scooters came to an end in 1965 and
attentive but it was very difficult. To make it morethe company picked up slack with golf carts, industrial
difficult, my dad was, beyond the obvious station ofvehicles and maintenance equipment for turf.
being my father, was also the principal of theThe Cushman Eagle motor scooter, as the most
elementary school which I attended earlier in life. Earlier,successful product, was continually produced for some
on passing by to the cafeteria that was in the gradesixteen years. Resembling more motorcycle than
school, I had noted that dad was not in his office asscooter, it sported an exposed engine and a teardrop
usual and I briefly wondered where he might haveshaped top tank. Most Cushman models sported the
been this day. Of course, in his position as principal ofstep-through most common for the style of scooters
the next door elementary school, it was alwaysand adopted as Vespa's standard. Models in the fifties,
necessary for him to always be going out on differentknown as Road King and Pacemaker, sported a more
chores.style of the age. Sears and Roebuck even got on the
My thoughts were brought to life with the appearancescooter craze with an Allstate. A singular and famous
of the student proctor appearing in the doorway of thevehicle from Cushman, called the Model 53, was a part
classroom. Barely hearing my name, a strict demandof US Army Airborne, which served valiantly
that I should go to the office brought me back to lifeworldwide. Intended to be dropped by parachute, it
quickly. Knowing that dad was not in his office, a coldcame to be called the Cushman Airborne. Other
feeling washed over me as I realized that I was beingmodels served base messengers.
instructed to go to the office, now. Not having any ideaProbably the Trucksters that was produced by
of what could be wrong, I quickly picked up my booksCushman beginning in 1958 and continuing through
and nervously made my way to the office of the2002. A small and light utility vehicle, their utilization
principal. To say that I was anxious might have beeninclude delicacy marketing, maintenance of malls and
an understatement.stadiums, parking control by police and others.
The principal of my high school was a very stern and, IEquipped with an automatic, centrifugal clutch, the rider
must say, an austere man, of whom I harbored no littlesimply had to turn the right grip to go and press a
fright. Not knowing what to expect, he grimly spoke tosingle pedal to stop. Strangely, the throttle grip was
me in his firm manner and told me that I must go homerequired to turn forward to go, completely opposite
immediately. I managed to offer a shaky, "Yes, sir," andthat which is normal on motorcycles. Step-through
hastily made my exit.design and simple operation was popular with both
It so happens that my home was just a few shortmen and women. Claiming almost 100 miles per gallon,
yards from the school complex and when I removedCushman advertised cent-a-mile operation. Weighing
myself from the building, my home was in full view.250 to 335 pounds, some had up to 9 horsepower (6.7
Suddenly, my heart skipped a beat as I could see mykW). Manufacture ceased in 1965 but some Eagles
dad standing next to a shipping crate in front of mywere sold from 1966 inventory.
house. Peeking out from between the crate frames,Strange as it may seem, a promotional flyers for
the sparking, shiny, wonderful blue of my newCushman scooters in 1937 claim over 100-mpg fuel
Cushman shone through. My fright turned to rapturousperformance, years before green vehicle was even
delight and, probably, I made the few yards to homementioned. The scooters found their place early on but
quicker than any time before. My father beamed astheir wartime heriocs gave Cushman scooters their
only a dad could under similar circumstances. My newspot in history.
scooter had been delivered by the local dray and wasA movement for creating replicas of the well-known
waiting for me to enjoy.Cushman motor scooters, such as the Eagle, has
Such was the beginning of ventures that was beyondfound a place in our world. An ever-growing group of
my wildest dreams. I found myself enjoying a sense ofpeople that share common interests in motor scooters
freedom that I had never know before. Just of a tadis growing, and will continue to expand. The company
of a boy, I suddenly discovered a new world filled withhas been owned by several different groups, currently
adventures far, far past what I had ever knownthe Textron group from Rhode Island. Other
before. Suddenly, I was able to venture past thecompanies owned by this consortium are Bell
closeness of home and family. Suddenly, I became aHelicopters and Cessna Aircraft. At one time,
part of the world that had never been available to me.Cushman became a division of the Outboard Marine
Like a normal kid, I had a bicycle, of course, but limitsCorporation in 1962. Ransomes (of Great Britain)
kept my close to my abode. Now with my newpurchased Cushman in 1989, and then Textron
Cushman scooter, I found that I could enjoy venturespurchased Ransomes.