1940s LAPD POLICE MOTORCYLE PATROLMAN RECRUITMENT FILM HARLEY DAVIDSON PANHEAD MOTORCYCLE 54074
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The Los Angeles Police Department presents “Your Traffic Officer,” a late 1940s black-and-white training film that shows what it takes to be a motorcycle patrolman on the new freeways in post-World War II California. Six people lost their lives on a “modern highway” in the past year (probably the 110 Freeway) the narrator explains at the film commences. The efficient execution of traffic regulations is key to keeping the roads safe. A motorcycle officer zooms across the screen (mark 00:53) as the narrator explains how a well-trained officer can make the difficult job look easy, and are offered the position only after passing physical and educational requirements. Mark 01:45 takes the viewer to a training class as instructors are shown teaching “the safe way to ride.” The training film offers detailed information on each part of the motorcycle, from carburetor to siren. Trainees are shown how to run the engine and operator the speedometer (mark 04:50), as well as how to operate the front and rear wheel brakes. Each element is put together starting at mark 05:30 as the training officer starts his engine, and then shown how they operate together on the road (mark 06:37). New recruits are encouraged to also learn from veterans as part of their on-the-job training (mark 07:45) “and learn your job by doing,” we are told.
The motorcycle shown at 1:29 appears to be a Harley 74 cubic inch panhead. This was the sport bike of its time as it featured overhead valves instead of a flathead. It was 1200 cc or 74 cubic inches with a 3 speed transmission. It had no rear suspension in those years unlike the Indian Chiefs. They had six volt systems unlike todays 12 volts. Supposedly they were not preferred by police as the indian motorcycle could be set up having the accelerator on the left, freeing up the gun hand. Their top speed was around 89 mph but could be modified to go faster later on, but on the roads of the day that was much faster than any car of the times could maintain. They ran a chain in both the primary and final drive and had an oil piston under the seat for comfort.
Although the Knucklehead was one of Harley's crowning achievements, by the mid 1940's the Big-Twin was in need of an update. Harley engineers updated the Knuck's upper-end with aluminum heads which reduced operating temperatures, and added hydraulic valve lifters which reduced engine noise. The new heads were topped off by redesigned rocker covers which resembled upside-down roasting pans, prompting the nickname "Panhead."
The V-twin engine displaced 73.73 cubic-inches (advertised as 74ci), which was derived from a 3.44" x 4" bore and stroke. With 7:1 compression ratio, 50 horsepower was produced at 4,800 rpm. The bottom end was basically unchanged, but the engine cases were modified for the new cylinders, and a new camshaft was designed for the new valve system.
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Пікірлер: 76
1945 - 55 as a motor officer in LA on a'Harley freakin Davidson had to be incredible. The women, the weather, the movies & music..jeez...
What a sweet ride. This is one bike Harley should still be making. They have lost sight of their heritage.
First year for the Panhead engine and wishbone frame. 1948. Last year for the Springer (except for a few 1949 solo bikes and sidecar outfits that were optioned with the springer).
Back when men were men and America was Great ! The greatest generation.
@vyashtuijnman6417
4 жыл бұрын
Ok boomer
@timmensch3601
4 жыл бұрын
Very true I hate to say it but my generation is worthless compared to americans in the 40s and 50s noone cares about being nice to others and being Courteous
@1TruePatriot
2 жыл бұрын
@@vyashtuijnman6417 Such a vacant response, jealous response, yet it displays your raging insecurity, for all to see, on the web. Well done!
@wandamaddox7824
Жыл бұрын
@@vyashtuijnman6417 Ok turd.
That bike is specifically a 1948 FL. Last year of the springer front end, only year Panhead motor + Springer (except sidecar bikes in 1949)
Awesome peice of History. Thanks for sharing.
"There have been SIX lives lost on this freeway!"... Wow, how times have changed. And YOU KNOW Cops aren't like they WERE, anymore.
Very cool to see !! thanks for uploading
I SURE WISH WE WERE BACK IN THOSE DAYS.
@EvilMoran
6 жыл бұрын
Ray Charles not being my nationality no way!!
This is one magnificent motorcycle! :D Now combine it with that uniform and those policemen damn near look like terminators XD
Check out the LAPD Spec voltage regulator, shielded plug & coil wires, locking speedo, front brake drum cooling fins, extended exhaust & dual headlight ... Even the earlier VL & EL models were required to reach 100 mph
Coolest Video on KZread. Thanks for the upload. Subscribed!
Thanks!
@PeriscopeFilm
2 жыл бұрын
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1948, the first year for the Panhead engine, and the last year for the springer front suspension. Note also the special finned front brake drum specified on these LAPD police models.
1948 Panhead, one hell of expensive vehicle as for now!
Can you imagine black and white body cams with vinyl sound?
Great video.
The early version of CHiPS .
@Page-Hendryx
3 жыл бұрын
CHiPS already existed though.
They had great looking uniform !
Cool.
i saw a movie on the late show form this time period about the los angeles motorcycle police starring ralph meeker and keenan wynn.
How cool
Always wear your hat for safety
@kurtfoulke5130
2 ай бұрын
They must have glued them on every morning 😅
Wonderful film, really miss the old days. Why does it always seem that way? Does anyone remember or can direct me to a movie that was very similar to this film. Couple of guys join the LA Motor Officers training class and they learn all the in's n out's of being a Motor Ofcr in LA. Was made about the same time as this film or maybe soon thereafter. thnx
That's gotta be the bedt job in existence.
Those were real bikers in those days. It's a lot easier to operate today's modern bikes.
👍
"make safety your first rule"....whilst wearing a cloth cap for head protection plus cotton shirt and pants for abrasion resistance. Lol!
@lostinpa-dadenduro7555
4 жыл бұрын
Yeah but most of these guys were WWII vets and probably not afraid of much.
@derekcollins1972
4 жыл бұрын
@@lostinpa-dadenduro7555 True,but not being afraid doesn't make them safe.
@lostinpa-dadenduro7555
4 жыл бұрын
Derek collins I know but confidence is also important to riding well. You can second guess yourself into a riding mistake and lay it down. I got the collarbone plates to prove it. 😀
@derekcollins1972
4 жыл бұрын
@@lostinpa-dadenduro7555 True enough.Under confidence can be just as bad if not worse.
@lostinpa-dadenduro7555
4 жыл бұрын
Derek collins Yeah. When I finally took training the instructors said be confident but not careless. 👍
Hey when are they gonna have the police auction? Like to pick me up a couple of these here newfangeled "Panheads"
How can they hold the crusher hats
👍👌👏😍
Why did he get off on the wrong side of the bike?? You never get off on the traffic side . :-( :-) I would love to have one of those bikes. Neat stuff
@xxsunnymelodyxx77
3 жыл бұрын
Low side dismount was taught until the very late 1980s.
Is that the Pasadena Freeway?
@danielrodriguez2285
5 жыл бұрын
Yep, 110 freeway, one of the oldest if not the oldest freeway in Los Angeles.
@Snowblind3699
Жыл бұрын
Actually it the oldest freeway in the country
The title should say Harley Davidson.
@kurtfoulke5130
2 ай бұрын
Japan was still Smoldering in 48, America was in the process of rebuilding it.
They didn't discuss how to stop the thing or how to take curves , yikes!
Motorcycles had manual transmissions!? 😮 why, better yet how!?
those are 74 ci harley panheads not indian scout. otherwise nice to see the old footage.
@PeriscopeFilm
7 жыл бұрын
thanks we have been trying to figure it out. know anything about the history of that bike in police service we can add to the description when we modify it?
@wvincagold
7 жыл бұрын
It was the sport bike of its time as it was overhead valve instead of a flathead. It was 1200 cc or 74 cubic inches with i believe a 3 speed transmission. It had no rear suspension in those years unlike the indian chiefs. They had six volt systems unlike todays 12 volts. They were not orefered by police as the indian motorcycle coukd be set up having the accelerator on the left freeing up the gun hand according to legend. Their top speed was around 89 mph but could be modified to go faster later on, but on the roads of the day that was much faster than any car of the times could maintain. They ran a chain in both the primary and final drive and had an oil piston under the seat for comfort
@gabrieleangelocalvillo3364
7 жыл бұрын
The bike should be a 1948 FL, The only year Where tis bike was produced with old style springer forks. . In 1949 they discontinued this kind of fork, mounting a telescopic one (Hydraglide)
@rickheeke3856
6 жыл бұрын
20 seconds into the film, there is an Indian Chief. Partially obscured by the titles, but no mistaking thos full valence fenders.
Where do I apply ?
@Page-Hendryx
3 жыл бұрын
You peaka Panish?
Puede gue sea del 1948
Hard to watch with the added numbers, and the origin film maker did not do it.
@PeriscopeFilm
6 жыл бұрын
Here's the issue: Tens of thousands of films like this one were destroyed and many others are at risk. Our company preserves these precious bits of history one film at a time. How do we afford to do that? By selling them as stock footage to documentary filmmakers and broadcasters. If we did not have a counter, we could not afford to post films like this on online, and no films would be preserved. It's that simple. So we ask you to bear with the watermark and timecodes. So, in the past we tried many different systems including placing our timer at the bottom corner of our videos. What happened? Unscrupulous KZread users downloaded our vids, blew them up so the timer was not visible, and re-posted them as their own content. We had to use content control to have the videos removed and shut down these channels. It's hard enough work preserving these films and posting them, without having to deal with these kind of issues.
Who watch in2150y
Look Ma! No helmet!!
wow; night and day from my 2012 FLHTP...lol! Even the basics are different since the controls are different...Of course all the electronics on my motor means I have no idea how to service it...Since we are both retired (oh and BTW GFY police hater trolls...) I had to buy an extended warrantee from HD and have the dealership work on it...
Riding with those hats must have been annoying. You look the wrong way and it gets blown off your head. o_O I'd rather have a helmet thank you.
@TheDieselbutterfly
4 жыл бұрын
Dont be such a girl.back in my day we ground the meat off our heads in a spill and thats the way we liked it