Cycleplane (United States)

The Cycleplane Company was established in 1914 in Westerly, Rhode Island, by Arthur W. Ball, a physician. The company emerged during a brief period of interest in cyclecars in the United States, which lasted only a year. The name "Cycleplane" was trademarked by Ball's wife on March 3, 1914, and the vehicle was announced in the publication Cyclecar Age later that August.

The Cycleplane was designed as a tandem two-seater car, powered by a Spacke V-twin air-cooled engine. It featured a planetary gearbox that transmitted power to the rear wheels through a belt drive, a common feature in cyclecars of that era. The vehicle's suspension system was notable for its innovative "truss bridge frame," which utilized semi-elliptic springs. Additionally, the car was equipped with high, flat mudguards that were claimed to function as shock absorbers. A single small door was located on the right side of the vehicle, and its marketing slogan, "It rides over the dust," reflected the poor road conditions of the time.

The Cycleplane lineup included a four-cylinder water-cooled model with a shaft drive and selective gearbox, priced at $450, while the V-twin Deluxe model was offered at $400. An entry-level roadster was also announced at a price of $350. However, it appears that only one Deluxe model was ever produced. By the end of August 1914, Arthur W. Ball exited the automotive industry, selling the rights to the Cycleplane to Mr. Chrystic McConnell, marking the end of the Cycleplane's brief existence in the automotive market.