1967 Rollin Armer Electric Motorcycle Tom Swift Rides - 2-Page Vintage Article

Description

1967 Rollin Armer Electric Motorcycle Tom Swift Rides - 2-Page Vintage Article
Original, vintage magazine article.
Page Size: Approx. 8" x 11" (21 cm x 28 cm) each page
Condition: Good
THE SAGA OF THE ARMER ELECTRIC.
TOM SWIFT RIDES AG1II
BY GEORGE INGRAHAM
The amused expression on the clerk’s
face deepened to a perplexed scowl as
he searched yet another page of the licens-
ing regulations in an effort to come up
with a ruling to cover electric motorcycles.
Finally, he was forced to sell Rollin Arm-
er. of Berkeley, California, a “Homemade
Vehicle" registration tag. but had to arbi-
trarily tack on a ten-dollar Road Use Tax,
usually contained in the price of gasoline
in California.
Armer had grown tired of the outlay re-
quired to keep an automobile going simply
to drive to work, and had some ideas for
a practical electrical vehicle power system.
He had previously owned an Ariel Square
Four, and decided to combine his new
power source with an equally efficient ba-
sic vehicle design; hence, the beginning of
a truly unique motorcycle! The project
first took to the road in 1964, and since
that time, the young Californian (a de-
signer at the Lawrence Radiation Labora-
tory at the University of California) has
driven his creation to work daily at a
“fuel" cost of yearly. On a cost-for-dis-
tance basis, this is better than 150 mpg!
The heart of this unique two-wheeler
began life at American-Bosch as an ac-
cessory heavy-duty generator replacement
for police cars, which need more power
for communication gear, twirlagigs, and
so on. With re-winding and the addition of
oversize low current density brushes, the
generator emerged as a compound wound
motor with some admirable features for
motorcycling. It develops 38 foot-pounds
of torque al the shaft at a dead standstill,
which accounts for the firm acceleration
and effortless wheelies. In addition, the
speed-torque profile is set up so that no
transmission or clutch is needed; optimal
power is developed throughout the entire
rpm range, starting right from rpm zero.
Lastly, this amazing motor remembers its
beginnings as a Caballero among genera-
tors, and will crank a steady 60 amperes
(almost one and one-half kilowatts) back
into the batteries on a moderate down-
grade. Armer never uses the brakes going
downhill, since the bike may be electrical-
ly slowed by using the batteries as a load
for the motor-generator. By varying the
charging rate, he can regulate his down-
hill speed without having to touch the con-
ventional brakes provided.
The batteries currently in use are Sears-
Roebuck 12-volt automotive units, weigh-
ing in at 115 pounds for a set of two. The
low position of the batteries was dictated
by their weight, and the obvious effect on
the center of gravity of the machine.
The bike presents an efficient and...
16299