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Original Doodle Bug

There were 40,000 Doodle Bugs manufactured from the spring of 1946 through the fall of 1948 by Beam Mfg. of Webster City, Iowa.  They were produced in four runs of 10,000 each.  The first production consisted of Standard Models A (Briggs & Stratton) and B (Clinton).  Only 750 to 1,000 of the first production were the Model B, making it the rarest of all Doodle Bugs.  All Doodle Bug motor scooters had kick-start engines and were painted red from the factory.  The only accessories available were three headlight/taillight kits which consisted of :  1) Bendix headlight generator with a Do-Ray taillight for B & S only; 2) Do-Ray headlight and taillight with a 6-volt battery which would fit all scooters; 3) Make-A-Lite headlight and taillight with a 6-volt battery which would fit all scooters.  In addition, there was one Delta brake light kit that used a type D battery.

First Production Facts:

bulletWhite Handle Bar Grips
bulletFluid Drive Clutches
bulletFive-Slotted Belt Guards
bulletSide Panels were Flared at the Bottom (horse's hoof)
bulletSingle Control for Brake and Throttle
bulletModel A had Fuel Shutoff In the Gas Tank
bulletNon-Shutoff Fuel Filter Mounted On the Engine
bulletKill Switch was Push/Pull
bulletB & S was a Model NP (Type 306705)
bulletClinton was a Model 710ASLB

 

The second and third production runs were Standard Models C and D,  all Briggs & Stratton powered.

2nd & 3rd Production Facts:

bulletBlack Handle Bar Grips
bulletSide Panels Were Rounded at the Bottom
bulletThree-Slotted Belt Guards
bulletFuel Filter with Shutoff Mounted On the Gas Tank
bulletEarly Model C's had Fluid Drive
bulletLater Model C's and all Model D's had a centrifugal clutch
bulletKill Switch was Toggle
bulletB & S was a Model NP (Type 306707 & 306709)

 

The fourth production run was the Super Model E.

Fourth Production Facts:

bulletThe Super Doodle Bug was the same as the Standard Model D except it had Separate Controls for the Throttle (left) and the Brake (right).
bulletThere was a Parking Brake on the Brake Control Handle.
bulletB & S was a Model NP (Type 306715)

 

Last modified: 07/09/05