American Moto-Scoot

American Moto-Scoot

Moto Scoot sold scooters thru Montgomery Ward, Spiegel, Mead Cycle Co, J&R Auto Parts, and probably others. While Norman Siegel, who founded Moto Scoot, was in the army during WWII, the company was taken over by a group of Chicago financiers. They changed the company name to American Moto Scoot after the war. J&R was a chain of auto parts stores which sold Moto Scoots before the war. After the war they were bought out be Spiegel, and became their auto parts division with catalog sales as well as 60 stores. They sold the scooters under the Moto Scoot name and as J&R Flying Star scooters. All the original American Moto Scoots I have seen have been blue. The original Flying Stars have been red. Mead sold Moto Scoots under the Mead Ranger name both before and after the war. Mead also sold the Scooter Cycle made by Comet.

Dick DeBuse

Same as above in 3 readable pages

1937

1938

J&R Catalog 1939 1947

Thanks to Dick DeBuse

1939 1947

MotoScoot Challenger

Un-restored 1937 left and 1936 right

Moto-Scoot's @ Portland 2008

1939 Moto-Scoot Delivery

Thanks to Dick DeBuse

1939 Moto Scoot Imperial Solo

VMBC 2009 by Dick DeBuse

1940s Model D Moto Scoot

at Dennis Carpenter's Museum Charlotte, NC

2009 by Dick DeBuse

1939

Bill Via & his trophy wining 1946 Moto Scoot

Bill Via's 2 speeds are 1946 or 1947

This is an American Moto-Scoot made by the Chicago MFG Co. From what I can find, Moto-Scoot was only in business from 1937-1947. This one is a model 345 which was a delivery model. The awkward looking back fender area is actually a trunk that could haul items. This one is a 1946 model we think. It has a vin and code tag but unfortunately there's not much information on them. This one had 2 options for motors, one a Briggs & Stratton model NP which used a large rear sprocket and a Lawson model 320TLC which used a very small rear sprocket. This one came out with a Lawson because it has the small rear sprocket. It's missing the engine and the body panel that would surround the engine. There is a home made engine plate that has been tack welded in place that allows a newer type engine to be mounted. Otherwise is in extremely good, unrestored condition.

Russell Seymour, Marlow, OK