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The Whizzer Pacemaker Models
By Leonard Davis
from Bob Baker’s newsletters 13, 14,and 45
italicized additions from "A Complete History of Whizzer"
by Will Larsen
The Pacemaker Model was first introduced by Whizzer in June 1948 and continued through 1952. The Pacemaker was unique in its time. A Schwinn- built chassis predominated,(the first 500 or so were built by Whizzer in house), with an all- new telescoping front fork with dual coil springs. It had 24" Lobdell wheels with a Sturmey-Archer expanding front-wheel brake, and a coaster brake on the rear. Heavy-duty .105 ga. spokes were used and the automatic clutch was standard when first introduced. We will attempt to give a general guideline as to the model year changes. We do not assume to be 100% correct and in fact, invite any documented additions or changes. Remember, you could have a 1948 model with a 1952 title, or any such combination, due to a dealer having a machine in stock for some time.
A quick guide by engines:
1948 and 1949- J series engine. Carter N655, N666, N703, N704; Tillotson ML5B carburetor.
1950 and 1951- 300 series engine. Carter N703,N704, Tillotson MT12A carburetor.
1952- 700 series engine. Tillotson MT12A carburetor.
The 1948 model year can be identified by the following: There were no welded-in motor mounts; The front fork tubes did not have the round "Safety Plate" for mounting the fender. The fender was mounted by two braces which fastened to the axle, bicycle style. To keep the fender from rotating with the wheel a guide was bolted to the top of the fender which extended up into the bottom of the head stem of the fork. The guide is part number W5034; Stud;fender Align. The 1948 model did not have the single pointed rubber in the spring fork, but instead had 2 rubber washers, part number 5009, which went on top of the fork tubes under the shield. They used New Departure rear hubs, and when equipped with front wheel brake, they used Sturmey-Archer, and when not brake equipped, they used the Bendix Heavy-Duty part number 15068.
The first 1948’s used a bicycle type saddle, mounted on a seat post, bicycle style; the later 1948’s used the two large coil springs fastened to a cross-bar that was welded to the frame, and had a saddle nose spring mounted on a lug at the front, which was also welded to the frame.
These machines were painted "Whizzer Maroon" with a cream stripe on the fenders. *(Bob Baker says "no trim on the ‘48 fenders")
The only extra accessories offered were:
Lamp Kit AC 192
Luggage Rack 15060
Front Wheel Brake AC 198
Speedometer AC 154
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The 1949 Pacemaker was announced in March. The 1949 Pacemaker still used the "J" engine with the Carter carburetor. Only now they used three front fender braces with a "safety Plate" fastened to the fork ends so as to hold the fender stationary. They also started using the single pointed rubber bumper in the fork assembly. The 49 had the motor supports, with the exception of the spring bar support, welded into the frame. They now had "Whizzer" type saddles mounted on a Z position nose bracket and the rear saddle spring mounted to the frame on a cross-bar that was slid through a tube welded to the frame. The lower spring ends were now mounted ton a long 5/16" vertical bolt giving somewhat of a height adjustment. There was also a bracket welded to the frame now to take the clutch adjusting bolt-screw, tension spring, part number 1009 with wing nut number 8121. Sometimes during 1949 the 5" Whizzer expanding brake coasting type hub made its appearance. The chrome "Hall" generator assy. number 21285 also came in ‘49, with manifold stud-mount. (20355 gen. only) The color for ‘49 was called "Whizzer Red". *(Bob Baker says "not ‘til 1950.")
The 1950 Pacemaker announced in September 1949 differed from the 1949 only in the engine, and the tips of the fenders were painted in solid where the stripe had come in on the 1949.
The 1950 had the 300 series motor which has the high compression head, 7/8" valves, and larger oil breather. It still used the Carter carburetor, and still used the flywheel magneto.
By 1950 all front wheel brakes, where equipped, were Schwinn. Sturmey-Archer was discontinued sometime in 1949. The 1950 had as standard equipment, the 5" expanding rear coaster brake. All Pacemakers were maroon, the 48 being darker than the 49 - 52.
The 1951 Pacemaker had a change in the frame at the rear wheel. The 48 through 50 model, the main frame coming down from the saddle was flared out and bent on around and forward to the pedal crank box. The "flare" at the rear wheel was done away with in 1951. No other major changes were made. With this change, the lower rear fender brace was fastened over the rear axle.
For 1952, the last production year of the Pacemaker, the big change was from the 300 engine with flywheel magneto to the 700 series with the alternator. The solid painting of the fender had also been dropped.
1952 marked the end of production for all Whizzer’s own models, including the Sportsman, Ambassador, and Pacemaker. While no production figures are available, the 49 Pacemaker must have been the peak year, or possibly 49 and 50 as these are the machines we now see in service. The Pacemaker probably outsold the Sportsman.
Whizzer advertised the Pacemaker in 1953 and 1954, and may have had enough overstock and parts left for both years. |
In the early Whizzer Pacemaker, ‘48, ‘49, ‘50, the lower top tubes continue around the drop out and end up at the bottom of the seat mast and down tube, below the bottom bracket. ("Loop frame" ) This feature was discontinued in the 1951 model.
The early 1948 Pacemaker used bolt- on engine mounts, and the seat was mounted to the seat post as on a bicycle. The rear fender braces were bolted to the drop- out, and the front braces went under the axle nuts. If there is a gusset plate welded to the head tube Whizzer made the frame. If not, the frame was made by Schwinn (after the first 500 Pacemakers, Schwinn made the frame)
The 1949 and later had the engine mounts welded in. The seat was mounted to the toptube in the front and to a cross tube welded across the seat stays in the rear, like a motorcycle. The rear fender bracws bolted to a tab welded to the frame above the drop- out. The loop frame was discontinued in 1951, with a more conventional drop- out used.
The 1952 and later had a bracket welded on for the exhaust pipe and another for the chain guard.
