Norton Harding Van Sicklen

Norton H. Van Sicklen had a long and varied career in both the bicycle and automobile industry of the United States. He rode his first penny-farthing bicycle in 1878 and until 1886 he was a successful competitor in the track and road races that enjoyed great popularity during the bicycle crazes of the late 19th century.

In 1890, after finishing his active racing career, he began the publication of the successful bicycle trade paper "Bearings". In 1898 this paper was merged with two others to become "Cycle Age" under the management of Samuel A. Miles. Miles in 1899 established the automobile publication "Motor Age", and Van Sicklen took this over in 1904. He continued publication of Motor Age until the disturbed period following the financial panic of 1907, and in January 1908 sold it to Horace M. Swetland of the Class Journal Company.[1]

Following the sale of Motor Age he became the branch manager of the Knox Automobile Co. in Chicago. Later he took great interest in the Automobile Blue Books, and for a year or so he was engaged in their development. In 1910, after disposing of his interest in the Blue Book, he became manager of the F.A.L. Motor Car Co., an assembling enterprise located in Chicago.[1]

Van Sicklen was instrumental in the organization of the Chicago Motor Club and the American Automobile Association, and served a s president of both bodies. In 1913 he began the manufacture of the Van Sicklen speedometer in Elgin, Illinois, a business that he developed into an important enterprise before it was taken over by John N. Willys in the fall of 1919. Willys later sold it to the Stewart-Warner Corporation.[1] During World War I, the company engaged in the manufacturing of aircraft instruments for the United States Government. After the war, in 1922, he became assistant general manager of the Apperson Automobile Co. in Kokomo, and a few months later he was promoted to the position of general manager of the concern, which he held until its dissolution in 1926.[1][3][4]