Charles Metz was bullish on the potential of his DeDion-Bouton motor tricycle to transfer motor power from the track to the street. In 1899 he took his conviction a step further with the development of the unique Orient “Autogo;” one part runabout— one part tricycle.
It immediately became the Waltham Manufacturing Company’s flagship motor machine for recreation and touring on America’s roads. Charles Metz pulled out all the stops and launched the first large-scale commercial marketing campaign in the U.S. for a motor-powered vehicle other than an automobile. In fact, to contrast his Orient Autogo from the automobile, he referred to them as “motorcycles” in his 1900 sales catalog.
–Sam Burns
Official Historic Contributor
Bikernet.com™
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