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Show Relic Of Original Salt Palace 4B - WEST VALLEY View Thursday, May 7, 1981 Emil Williams Seeks History Of Engo Bicycle by LaRee Pehrson of ordinary-kinbike we are talking about, for the Engo Bike has special qualities that far outshine the more conventional model. But it requires considerable skill and expertise on the part of the rider to operate. The hub on the back wheel is four inches and causes the rider to bob up and down like a cork on an ocean wave. And one revolution of the wheel propels the machine eight feet! There are no pedals or seat, the rider simply stands on two rails of d There are numerous stories of people who have died and been brought back to life by medical specialists battling against almost insurmountable odds. However this is a tale of a marvelous piece of machinery that died a lingering death from old age and neglect, and was resurrected from the junk heap by a Magna machinist who remembered the past and had faith in the future of off-cent- the ingenious device. loped up and down Magna streets generating amused smiles wherever they went. In fact they rode it so much that the tires wore out, so they pooled their resources and unsuccessful because the renters failed to take care of the equipment, and it wasn't long before the upkeep was costing more than what the rentals brought in. Apparently the Engo Bikes were then sold to Guthrie Bicycle on Second South and Second East, because it was there that a woman named Marsha Core purchased the bought more. But finally. ..as is the case with all things... the Engo Bike began to break down. More and more it found itself propped up under the eaves of the Buckner family garage waiting to be fixed, until the day finally came when nobody rode the galloping bike anymore and it began to rust away. For 20 years it languished there through winters snow and sum- Magna model in 1910. Her daughter had a heart condition, and the mother reasoned that since she would not have to pump it she could have exercise -- ' v 4 ' sw! mers heat. No one paid any attention to the sad shape it was in. ..no one, that is, except Emil Williams who wanted to own it with all his heart .. and no one could have restored the bike except a man who had machinist skills and patience to spend all the time it took to put Humpty Dump-t- y together again. bike was made before machine parts were made and it was impossible to find replacements for the worn out parts. There is good evidence that all of the parts of the bike were The hand-hammer- out on a No one knows for sure where the Engo Bike originated, but it is thought to be an English import that came into this country near the turn of the century. At any rate the unusual machine piqued the curiosity of Emil Williams, the miracle machinist, who did a little sleuthing on his own and found that it was bought as equipment for the original Salt Palace, along with several other Engo Bikes. For those who dont remember, the original Salt Palace was located in Salt Lake between Main and State on 9th South on the south side of the street. Among other things, the facility sported an indoor bicycle track for races and racing exhibitions in which the Engo Bike figured prominently. Now this is not just a general forge. In addition, four bolts had rotted off and the bearing had turned to dust. Emil had to draw a diagram in order to the spokes in the wheel, that he had also made himself, because there were no such spokes available. He also added a board with rubber tread on top of the spring steel rails to make it safer to ride... which he often does much to the delight of the folks in his neighborhood. Everything on the Engo Bike is authentic now, with the exception of the wheels which had originally sported tubeless tires when they were new. As a finishing touch Emil added a shiny coat of black and white paint making it hard to realize that it was ever just a pile of junk we iting to be hauled to the garbage dump not too long ago. Although the project is complete, Emil is still not satisfied. For like every other perfectionist he is looking for missing pieces of the puzzle as to the actual origin and vintage of the Engo Bike. I am hoping that someone out there who reads about the bike can provide me with the information I need, he says, because I have exhausted the resources available here looking for the answers. As for the Engo Bike? Well of course it remains mute. But you can tell by the way it shines and stands so proud that it is great to be the center of attention restored "Engo" bicycle while displaying some of the old parts to the unique bike. While wearing some attire from a bygone era, A. Williams of Magna stands alongside Emil spring steel using coorindated body movement with each revolution of the wheel. And there is no foot brake either because the bike is stopped through a hand mechanism similar d to that found on todays bikes. Very few people of this generation have even seen an Engo bike, e but movie buffs may recall that Joe E. Brown, silent film star, cavorted across the silver screen with an Engo bike and a great big smile creating hilarious comedy back in the 1920s. Anyway, back at the Salt Palace, the popularity of bicycle racing was beginning to fade, and by 1906 the handful of Engo Bikes that were left were rented out to individuals for their own pleasure. However the project proved to be ten-spee- old-tim- blacksmiths without a lot of exertion. The bike proved to be just what the doctor ordered, for the girl and the bike enjoyed each other for a number of years until the young woman grew up and moved away. From the Salt Lake experience the Engo Bike made its way to Magna where it became the property of Richard Wrathall, whose mother, Eloise, was a sister-in-lato Mrs. Core. Immediately it became the star of the neighborhood, being in great demand by youngsters who patiently waited for their turn to ride. But after a while Richard Warth-all- , too, grew up and lost interest in the bike and it became the prized possession of Mark Buckner who lived just one street away. For the next several years the Buckner kids and their friends gal The cycling enoyment experienced by Emil A. Williams doesn't necessitate pedaling, since the bike restored by the Magna resident is an rear "Engo model, equipped with an wheel and under-foo- t "springing" gear which are the forces behind the rider's momentum. of attention again. And sometimes on a long winter night, maybe it even remembers how sweet it was to race around that indoor track to the roar of the crowd when the bicycle was king. For quick, effective results at low cost, use the Want Ad columns of the Green Sheet! Try NOW AT TWO LOCATIONS Want cFigutmatic Ad' WELCOMES YOU TO A Cyprus Classes Of 1931, 32, 33, Slate Reunion For May 29th A Once In Lifetime Reunion SALE DATES: THURS. MAY 14, will be hosted by Cyprus high schools classes of 1931-3- 2 and 33 on May 29th at the SAT. 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