Cushman
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cushman is a manufacturer of industrial vehicles, personal vehicles, and other custom vehicles, including parking patrol auto rickshaws.
Contents |
[edit] Models
- Haulster, small industrial multi-purpose truck.
- Bellhop Series, golf carts.
- Tug, large truck.
- Minute Miser, truck.
- Titan, larger industrial multi-purpose truck.
- Model C, patented in 1911, 4HP engine most commonly known for driving oat binders.
- Trackster, track-based ATV.
[edit] Company
Cushman is owned by Textron Inc. Textron also owns other vehicle companies such as Cessna, Bell Helicopter, and E-Z-Go Golf Carts.
[edit] History
The Cushman company operated from 1903 to 2003. Until 1936 it produced engines for farm equipment, pumps, lawn mowers and boats. From 1936 till 1965 it produced motor scooters, widely used by the US military in World War II and as alternative to automobiles in the years before and after the war. After motor scooter production stopped, Cushman manufactured golf carts, industrial vehicles and turf maintenance equipment.
The most successful model of Cushman scooter, the Eagle, was produced for around 16 years. It resembled motorcycles with its exposed engines and top tanks. Other Cushman models used a traditional step-through design common for most scooters and used by Vespa to develop their iconic range. Some late 50s Cushmans, designated Road King and Pacemaker, carried a jet-age styled body like cars of that era. Sears sold a version of these models under the Allstate brand.
One of the most famous Cushmans was the model 53, a military model from the World War II era. It was designed to be dropped by parachute with Army Airborne troops, so it became known as the Cushman Airborne. They were also used around military bases for messenger service.
Cushman Trucksters were produced from 1958 to 2002. Small and light duty, they have been used in a variety of applications from mobile ice cream sales, mall and stadium maintenance crews, to applications by police for meter maid and parking patrol applications, most famously in New York City.
Cushmans were easy to ride. They featured an automatic clutch which allowed the rider to twist the right grip to go and step on the pedal to stop. Oddly, the throttle twisted forward to accelerate, the reverse of the usual pattern. The step-through design and ease of operation made it popular with men and women alike. Cushman claimed 75 miles per gallon, and advertised penny-a-mile operating cost. Cushman scooters usually weighed about 250 to 335 pounds and some had as much as 9 horsepower. Production ended in 1965, but a few left-over Eagles were sold as 1966 models.
