On The Pegs February 2019 - Volume 4 - Issue 2 | Page 72

On The Pegs
P 72
A PIONEERING HUSKY MAN
GOOD OLD TIMES BLOG
B y K enneth O lausson
P hotos : H usqvarna
Born back in 1882, Swede Erik Hyginus Rud became famous for two things – an
early interest for photography and as someone who bought his first real motor-
cycle at the age of 31 years. With his two-speed Husqvarna Moto-Rève, Hyginus
rode around the western parts of Sweden on his Model 65 and immortalized
everything from weddings to birthdays with his camera.
There was a small cottage, or croft, in the vicinity of Fredsberg in the western
part of Sweden. It’s here where Erik Hyginus Rud was born, back in the noble
year of 1882, and it was here that he grew up under spartan circumstances. From
his father, he soon learned the trade of shoemaker, but just as an avocation to
the daily work that had to be accomplished near home at the cottage. However,
On The Pegs
Vol. 4 Issue 2 - February 2019
P 73
with only one cow and
a small, stony piece of
land it was not enough
to make ends meet in
the average week. Pov-
erty was unfortunately
an influential part of this
young man’s everyday
life, which did not suit
Erik Hyginus at all. It was
duly noted that he was
a gifted youngster with
many talents, such as be-
ing an avid reader.
Consequently, poor
circumstances did not
stop Erik H-R from hav-
ing an appetite for life,
or big dreams. Anything
that was connected to
technical matters for the
future was swallowed up
by this enthusiastic eccentric. He was addicted to developments that made life
easier and that had a technical background. At the age of twenty, Erik was seen
handling his initial high-wheel ‘velocipede’ and five years later he had installed an
engine, making this an innovative vehicle.
With the two-wheeler, Erik had his first experience of riding a bicycle equipped
with a ‘powerful’ engine. In 1913, Erik turned 31 years old and by now, he had
worked enough and would spend his hard-earned money by purchasing his
first motorcycle. Erik had had his eyes on a two-speed Husqvarna machine with
a power-source from the Swiss company Moto-Rève. This Model 65 came from
the Huskvarna factory in mid-Sweden and was manufactured between 1913 and
1915. All in all, some 250-300 units – with pedals - were produced during this pe-
riod. Erik’s motorcycle had a 340cc V-twin engine with a performance capable of
doing 50-60 km/h. It was a proud moment when Erik Hyginus picked up his first
love at the dealer’s workshop.
At the time, there were no filling stations around, so gasoline by the barrel had