Cushman

Cushman is an American vehicle and equipment brand whose history began with engines and later expanded into scooters, military transport, utility vehicles, golf carts, turf-care equipment, and specialized off-road machines. Everett and Clinton Cushman established the business in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1903, and it was incorporated as Cushman Motor Works in 1913. The company initially developed engines for practical applications such as farm machinery, pumps, lawn mowers, boats, and harvesting equipment. Its Model C engine, introduced in the early twentieth century, became associated with agricultural machinery, including grain binders. During the 1920s, Cushman developed the four-stroke Husky engine. In the economic conditions of the Great Depression, the company looked for a new way to increase demand for its engines and began producing Auto-Glide scooters in 1936. Scooters became the brand's most recognizable products and offered relatively simple, economical transportation at a time when many consumers sought an alternative to automobiles. Cushman scooters were generally heavier and larger-engined than many European competitors, but they were known for straightforward operation, durability, and an automatic centrifugal clutch. The company promoted their fuel economy and low operating cost. Cushman also developed products for military and institutional use. The Model 53, commonly known as the Cushman Airborne, was designed for use with United States Army airborne units and could be transported by parachute. Other three-wheeled and delivery-oriented models served as base messengers, package carriers, and utility vehicles. After the Second World War, the company sold step-through scooters such as the Model 50 and Model 60 families, Highlander models, and increasingly motorcycle-like products. The Eagle, with an exposed engine and top-mounted fuel tank, became the company's best-known and longest-running scooter design. Late-1950s models such as the Road King and Pacemaker adopted more contemporary, streamlined styling, and some Cushman designs were sold through Sears under the Allstate name. Scooter production declined as the American market changed and ended in 1965, although some Eagle units were sold as 1966 models. Cushman subsequently concentrated on golf carts, industrial vehicles, turf-maintenance equipment, and compact commercial transport. Trucksters, produced from 1952 through 2002, were used in settings ranging from ice-cream vending and stadium maintenance to municipal and police work. Other product families included the Haulster, Minute Miser, Titan, Tug, Bellhop golf carts, Golfster vehicles, Trackster tracked all-terrain vehicles, Trailster off-road vehicles, and the Westcoaster Mailster used by the United States Postal Service. The company became a division of Outboard Marine Corporation in 1962. Ransomes of the United Kingdom acquired Cushman in 1989, and Textron later purchased Ransomes, bringing Cushman into the Textron group. Under Textron ownership, Cushman has continued as a manufacturer of personal, industrial, turf, golf, and custom vehicles rather than as a mass-market scooter maker. Its heritage remains visible in the collector market, especially through postwar scooters, the Airborne, the Eagle, and the Trackster, while its contemporary identity is centered on low-speed transportation and specialized utility equipment.

Cushman's origins date to 1903, when Everett and Clinton Cushman established the company in Lincoln, Nebraska. The business was formally incorporated as Cushman Motor Works in 1913. Its first major commercial direction was engine manufacturing. Cushman engines powered or assisted farm equipment, pumps, lawn mowers, boats, and other machinery. The company's Model C engine, offered in several single- and twin-cylinder configurations, became particularly associated with grain binders and agricultural harvesting. In 1922, Cushman began producing its four-stroke Husky engine. More than a decade later, the company introduced the Auto-Glide scooter in 1936. The scooter was partly a response to the Great Depression: it created a new market for the company's engines while offering consumers a relatively inexpensive form of transportation. Cushman continued developing scooters through the 1930s and 1940s, producing two- and three-wheeled configurations, delivery vehicles, and models suitable for civilian and military use. World War II was an important period for the brand. The Model 53 military scooter was designed for airborne deployment and became known as the Cushman Airborne. Other Cushman vehicles were used for messenger and delivery duties on military bases. After the war, Cushman returned to civilian transportation and expanded its range of step-through scooters. The postwar 50 and 60 series, Highlander variants, and later models appealed to riders seeking uncomplicated operation and economical ownership. A centrifugal automatic clutch differentiated the riding experience from that of many conventional motorcycles. The Eagle was introduced as a more motorcycle-like Cushman and remained in production for approximately sixteen years. Its exposed engine and prominent top tank gave it a distinctive appearance, while other models retained the familiar step-through scooter layout. During the late 1950s, Cushman experimented with modern styling through models such as the Road King and Pacemaker. Sears marketed related vehicles under the Allstate name. In 1958, the company produced approximately 15,000 scooters, but changing consumer preferences and competition from automobiles and other forms of transportation eventually weakened the scooter business. Regular scooter production ended in 1965, with some Eagles sold as 1966 models. Cushman had already diversified beyond scooters. Trucksters, first produced in 1952, served as small commercial vehicles for vending, maintenance, delivery, institutional, and municipal tasks. The company also made golf carts, turf equipment, industrial transports, and other compact vehicles. Its post-scooter portfolio included the Haulster, Minute Miser, Titan, Tug, Bellhop, Golfster, Trackster, Trailster, and Westcoaster Mailster. The Trackster was a tracked, fiberglass-bodied, two-stroke off-road vehicle produced from 1970 to 1975, while the Westcoaster was used by the United States Postal Service. In 1962, Cushman became a division of Outboard Marine Corporation. Ransomes, a British manufacturer, acquired the company in 1989. Textron subsequently acquired Ransomes, placing Cushman within the Textron corporate group. The brand's later development has focused on industrial, personal, golf, turf, and custom vehicles. Although its scooters are now historical products, Cushman's name continues to be used for specialized low-speed and utility transportation, while its earlier vehicles remain subjects of restoration and collector interest.

1. 1989Acquired by Ransomes

   Ransomes of Great Britain acquired Cushman as the company continued its diversification into utility and turf equipment.

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2. 1970Trackster production period begins

   Cushman produced the Trackster, a tracked, fiberglass-bodied, two-stroke off-road vehicle, during the 1970–1975 period.

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3. 1965Scooter production ends

   Regular scooter production ceased, although remaining Eagle inventory was sold as 1966 models.

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4. 1962Becomes an Outboard Marine division

   Cushman became a division of Outboard Marine Corporation.

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5. 1958Peak period for scooter production

   Cushman produced approximately 15,000 scooters during the year as it continued expanding its scooter range.

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6. 1952Truckster production begins

   Cushman began producing Trucksters, compact commercial vehicles that remained in production until 2002.

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7. 1944Airborne military scooter developed

   The Model 53 was developed for airborne military use and became known as the Cushman Airborne.

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8. 1936Auto-Glide scooters introduced

   Cushman entered scooter manufacturing with the Auto-Glide, partly to create demand for its engines during the Great Depression.

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9. 1922Husky engine production begins

   Cushman began producing its four-stroke Husky engine, supporting later expansion into scooters and other vehicles.

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10. 1913Incorporated as Cushman Motor Works

    The company was incorporated under the Cushman Motor Works name.

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11. 1903Cushman business established

    Everett and Clinton Cushman established the company in Lincoln, Nebraska, beginning the business that would later become known for engines and vehicles.

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12. Becomes part of Textron

    Textron acquired Ransomes, bringing Cushman into the Textron group and supporting its continuation as a specialty-vehicle brand.

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Cushman is positioned around practical, compact, and specialized transportation. Historically it combined accessible personal mobility with durable engines and military-oriented designs; in its later and current identity, it emphasizes utility, low-speed commercial transport, golf mobility, turf operations, and customized vehicle applications.

• Auto-GlideMotor scooter1936

  Introduced in 1936, the Auto-Glide was Cushman's first major scooter line. It helped the company create a consumer market for its engines during the Great Depression and established the design direction for later Cushman personal-transportation products.

• Cushman Airborne Model 53Military scooter1944

  The Model 53 was a compact military scooter designed for airborne deployment with United States Army units. Its parachute-delivery role made it one of the most distinctive Cushman products and a notable example of the company's wartime specialization.

• Cushman EagleMotor scooter

  The Eagle was Cushman's most successful scooter family and was produced for roughly sixteen years. Unlike the company's step-through models, it used a more motorcycle-like silhouette with an exposed engine and top-mounted tank, giving it strong recognition among collectors.

• Cushman TrucksterCommercial utility vehicle1952

  Trucksters were small, light-duty commercial vehicles produced from 1952 through 2002. They were adapted for vending, mall and stadium maintenance, municipal work, delivery tasks, and other applications requiring a compact working vehicle.

• Cushman TracksterTracked off-road vehicle1970

  The Trackster was a tracked, fiberglass-bodied, two-stroke off-road vehicle manufactured during the 1970–1975 period. It represented Cushman's move beyond scooters into unusual recreational and utility vehicle formats.

• Cushman HaulsterIndustrial utility vehicle

  The Haulster was a multipurpose small industrial truck intended for material movement and service duties. It belongs to the utility-vehicle portfolio that became increasingly important after Cushman ended scooter production.

• Cushman BellhopGolf cart

  The Bellhop series comprised golf-cart-style vehicles for passenger movement and site transportation. It formed part of Cushman's post-scooter expansion into golf and low-speed mobility equipment.

• Cushman Westcoaster MailsterPostal utility vehicle

  The Westcoaster Mailster was a specialized mail-delivery vehicle used by the United States Postal Service. It illustrates Cushman's role in developing compact vehicles for institutional and public-sector operations.

1. Cushman (company)
2. Cushman official website