Posted 9 years ago
officialfuel
(659 items)
This is my 400th post and I wanted it to be something very special, so this is a one-of-a-kind motorbike made by Jim Mochino in 1946 that I picked from Marissa, Illinois. Here's how the story goes.
In 1946 a coal miner man named Jim Mochino, who worked for the "Old Ben Coal Company" Coello No. 11 mine at Coello, Illinois decided to build a motorbike to drive to and from work, due to the fact that Mr. Mochino could not obtain a car during the war years. He was a machinist/ welder at the mine.
The frame, fuel tank, exhaust system, braking system, center section on this bike are all hand made and crafted. The motor is a Briggs Model Y which was manufactured from the late 1930's to the early 1940's. The only parts of this bike that are original bicycle parts are the wheels, fenders, front forks, and handlebars. Everything else is hand made.
Mr.Mochino used this bike for transportation until 1948, after that it was put in a shed where some parts were removed at various times. Mr. Mochino died in 1963 and a few years after that it was sold by his son to a man named Ned Perkins from Christopher, Illinois. Then the bike was sold to Rich Youngman from Duquoin, Illinois. He put different wheels and tires on the frame due to the originals being rusted away from age.
In 2009, Rich Youngman sold the bike to Gene Bollmeier from Marissa, Illinois who installed anotherBriggs Model Y motor and the missing parts to bring it back to the condition it is today.
In 2015 Gene Bollmeir sold the bike to Michael Jones from Brownsburg, Indiana who put it in another new home for years to come.
This bike is a one of a kind due to the skills and craftsmanship of Jim Mochino.
Before I put the bike in the house, I rode it up and down the alley a few times. It runs just find. I would consider this a great piece of Folk Art.
Michael
Congratulations..it will be a while till I get there...my husband hopes anyway..:-))
Thank you inky for the love and the nice comment! Merry Christmas!
Michael
Thank you mikelv85, MyFavoriteTreasures and Lady_Picker for the love! Merry Christmas!
Michael
Looks incredible with the whole collection!
Thank you mtg75, chevy59 and MooreAntique for the love! Also thanks chevy59 for the nice comment! Merry Christmas all!
Michael
AMAZING bike and AMAZING story behind it!! Wow!! Congratulations on your 400th post Michael!!! That bike is definitely special!
You did make #400 a special one & I enjoyed it & the history.
stunning !!!! wow!!! very special!!!
Thank you AnnaB for the love! Merry Christmas!
Michael
Congrats O-FUEL on your 400th post!! Keep them coming as they are AMAZING!!
~ Merry Christmas and Happy Collecting in 2016 !! All the BEST....
Thank you AnnaB for the love! Merry Christmas!
Michael
Thank you jscott0363 for the love and the nice comment and compliment! Merry Christmas!
Michael
I love great craftsmanship, what an awesome job! I hope you take it out once and a while to enjoy it and keep it rideable....thanks for sharing the story!
Super cool bike Michael, it's found the perfect home!!!
Merry Christmas to you !
Bern
that is really cool!! great find and great history!
I appreciate the way it was perpetuated over the yrs. by people who showed a true interest in preserving history.
Thank you shughs, blunderbuss2 and SEAN68 for the loves and the great comments from blunderbuss2 and SEAN68! Blunderbuss2 that's why I fell in love with it because of all the history and the way it was taken care of for all those years! I think it's in a museum piece.I guess it's in my own little Museum in my house. But it's very primitive compared to riding my Harley you have to be very careful.
Michael
Thank you Nicefice, bobby725 and rniederman for the love! Nicefice thanks for the nice compliment! Merry Christmas!
Michael
blunderbuss2, again thanks for stopping in and commenting twice! I'm very lucky to find such a nice piece and very proud of it!
Michael
Thank you charmsomeone, usedcarlady and fortapache for the love! Merry Christmas!
Michael
Thank you Longings, antiquerose and walksoftly for the loves! Also thank you antiquerose for the nice compliment! Merry Christmas!
Michael
Thank you Daddy_Nobucks, kehphones and Chevelleman69 for the love! Merry Christmas!
Michael
Thank you Beachbum58, Eyewideopen and snowman3 for the love! Merry Christmas!
Michael
Thank you sanhardin, Radegunder and toolate2 for the love! Merry Christmas!
Michael
Thank you trukn20, slotman and Designer for the love! Merry Christmas!
Michael
Thank you sugargirl, Rustfarm and RonM for the love! Merry Christmas!
Michael
Thank you pickrknows for the love and the nice comment! Merry Christmas Bern!
Michael
Thank you EJW-54 for the love and the nice comment! Merry Christmas!
Michael
Thank you Otaco4me and egreeley1976 for the love! Merry Christmas!
Michael
So special! Absolutely great 400th post!
And above all, it is fantastic to have the whole history of her :-)
Felicitations, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Thank you trunkman, leighannrn and Rattletrap for the love! Merry Christmas!
Michael
Thank you Trey, AzTom and AntigueToys for the love! Merry Christmas!
Michael
Thank you crswerner, OKCJIM and farmlady for the love! Merry Christmas!
Michael
Thank you Peasejean55 for the love! Merry Christmas!
Michael
Thank you hotairfan for the love! Merry Christmas!
Michael
Thank you rikanddonna for the love! Merry Christmas!
Michael
Thank you Signaholic for the love! Merry Christmas Perry!
Michael
Thank you RAD21289 for the love! Merry Christmas!
Michael
Thank GeodeJem for stopping in and liking the motorbike! Merry Christmas!
Michael
Thank you kyratango for the love! Merry Christmas!
Michael
Just to make it an even 60 loves great bike Michael. Thanks also for the great posts and items. Have a great holiday season. Keep your stick on the ice.
Roy
Thank you Caperkid for the love! Thanks for the great Christmas gift! Merry Christmas!
Michael
Thank you Roycroftsbooksfromme1 for the love! Merry Christmas!
Michael
Thank you ttomtucker for the love! Merry Christmas!
Michael
Thank you frisco for the love! Merry Christmas!
Michael
Love your stuff, and love your stories! I live in an old house too! It is an 1875 house that I have been restoring for four years and counting! Thanks for sharing!!!
GrammyD thanks for stopping by! You'll have to post some photos of your house! Would love to see it! Welcome to CollectorsWeekly. Merry Christmas!
Michael
Manikin thank you for making my day! You couldn't have got me a better Christmas present than hitting that love button! We have been showing our collection for five years now on here! I enjoy your post also! Have a wonderful Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Michael
Rick55 thanks for the love on my one of a kind motorbike! You made my day! I'm so proud to have this in my collection! I'm not much of a glass lover but I'm trying to be more open minded. Thank you again so much and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family!
Michael
Thank you all for the loves on this very special treasure that I found out picking! Such a great group of collectors on here. Merry Christmas to each and everyone of you and a Happy New Year!
Michael
Waaaaay cool!
Thank you Nova for the love on the motorbike! Hope you and Phil have a great Christmas!
Michael
Thank you petey for the Christmas present by hitting that love button! Merry Christmas!
Michael
I love your entire workshop!
Celeine, thank you for the Christmas gift by hitting that love button and the nice comment! Merry Christmas!
Michael
Thank you kerry10456 for the Christmas gift by hitting that love button! Merry Christmas!
Michael
this thing is insane. hope it brings you the mint..
Thank you whyatt for the love and the awesome comment!
Michael
Thank you otiamaria for the love!
Michael
Thank you akrodog for the love!!
Michael
Thank you Bikenstein for the love!
Michael
Thank you SpiritBear for the love!
Michael
Thank you Neighborguysfan for the love!
Michael
Thank you Manikin for hitting that love button again!
Michael
Thank you Tfish for stopping in and showing some love! Very appreciated!
Michael
Thank you toolate2 for the love!
Michael
Thank you rustyboltz and pops52 for the love!
Michael
Thank you mcheconi for the love!
Michael
Thank you subi450 for the love!
Michael
Thank you courtenayantiques for the love!
Michael
Thank you PedalP for the love!
Michael
Thank you toolate2 and ttomtucker for the loves!
Michael
Thank you wickencrafts for the love!
Michael
You are welcome Michael.
I really like that soda cooler in the back of the truck too
Cool Stuff Mister
Cheers
b
Thank you wickencrafts for the kind words!
Michael
Thank you ravage60 for the love!
Michael
Thank you olebodie for the love!
Michael
Thank you Radegunder for the love!
Michael
Thank you bhamredlines for the love!
Michael
Thank you Recordmantime and iggy for the loves!
Michael
Thank you FK46 and buckethead for the love!
Michael
I love the bike and love the story even better! The stories bring these old things back to life once more!
Thank you rattletrap for the love and the nice comment! Your so right! Again thanks for stopping in and commenting and showing some love!
Michael
Thank you SPEEDWAYPICKER for the love!
Michael
Thank you MountainGirl and ttomtucker for the love!
Michael
Thank you ho2cultcha for hitting the love button! Merry Christmas!
Michael
Thank you Dan121156 for the love! Merry Christmas
Michael
Thank you Tobiasold for the love! Merry Christmas
Michael
Great history hand crafted for simple transportation and now an awesome classic!
Mr. Mochino was truly talented!!
Thank you roddyq for the love and the great compliment! He truly was a talented man! Love the history that came with it. Again thank you!!
Michael
Thank you ho2cultcha for hitting the love button again!
Michael
Amazing old motorbike unbelievable
I gotta love because today I ride an electric bike. Can't pass the eye test anymore so the bike and a backpack work for now. I love not only the bike but the detailed documentation of it's history. If everyone kept such detailed records on items research would be seldom needed.
Thank you Bank2collect for the love!
Michael
Thank you fhrjr2 for the love and comments! Be safe on your electric bike!
Michael
Thank you mcheconi for the love!
Michael
Thank you McCoyNelson for the love!
Michael
Thank you Phonoboy for the love!
Michael
Thank you swampdogg for the love!
Michael
Thank you vetraio50 for the love!
Michael
Thank you GeodeJem for stopping and liking my item!
Michael
Thank you Oroyoroyisthatyourhorse for the love!
Michael
Thank you MacDaddyRico for the love!
Michael
Thank you Sunmoon2679 for the love!
Michael
Thank you flashsaure for the love!
Michael
Thank you Cocacola1386 for the love!
Michael
Thank you subi450 for the love!
Michael
Thank you steve85018 for the love!
Michael
Thank you dipetersen for the love!
Michael
Thank you Gulf99 for the love! Merry Christmas
Michael
Thanks MacDaddyRico for hitting the love button again! Merry Christmas
Michael
Thank you Coca-cola1386 for hitting the love button again! Merry Christmas
Michael
Thank you Johnsmith for the love! Merry Christmas
Michael
Thank you oldpeep for the love!
Michael
Thank you slotman for the love!
Michael
Thank you Hoot60 for stopping by and showing some love!! Always appreciated!! Enjoy the rest of your day!
Michael