Frank DeViney
FRANK DE VINEY was born in Camden around 1900 to Elwood and Bessie Deviney. His father’s family originally had been from Burlington County. The 1910 Census shows the DeViney family living at 734 Pearl Street.
Motorcycles arrived in Camden about the same time automobiles did, and were quite popular. Frank DeViney was fascinated by them as a boy, and spent much of his free time at the shop of William Heckenhorn, who had a Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealership at 1246 Haddon Avenue. Frank DeViney eventually was hired by William Heckenhorn. He married around 1920. In 1923 Frank DeViney opened a Harley dealership of his own, the successor to William Heckenhorn’s operation, at 1124–1126 Kaighn Avenue, where he had a sales, parts, and service operation. He sold motorcycles to the general public and to local police departments. Frank and Myrtle DeViney also lived at 1124 Kaighn Avenue when the 1930 Census was enumerated.
One of Frank DeViney’s first acts upon opening his business was to found the Camden Motorcycle Sporting Club, which engaged in touring, racing, and hill-climbing events throughout South Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. The club also fielded a team in the Eastern Motorpolo League, which competed in the sport of motorcycle polo, also known as motoball. Frank DeViney participated in the sport in 1929, but is not listed as a player in any of the news articles discovered to date. Other players on the Camden Motorcycle Sporting Club’s team included Bill Gommel, Walter Norris, William Raub, Bruce Saunders, Lou Ellis, Charley Ellis, Clayton Albertson, Freddy Galardi, Walt Norris, C. Wentzel, Freddie Gomba, and men only known by their last names: Garriardi, Sherttuck, Oilinger, L. Lewis. Clayton Albertson also operated a motorcycle dealership in Camden.
Frank DeViney was still in the motorcycle business in Camden as late as May of 1934. By 1947 he had left Camden. His wife Myrtle G. DeViney passed away at the age of 96 in May of 1998. She last had been a resident of Forked River NJ.
Cops and Firemen in First Practice
Camden Courier —
Bluecoats and Ladder Climbers Get Ready for Field Day
MR. YOUNGER IN CHARGE
Firefighters Have Large Team of Athletes
Charles Younger, physical director of the Camden Y. M. C. A. and in charge of the candidates for the police and firemen teams which will compete in the first annual police and fire field day on September 19 at Forest Hill Park, sent his proteges through their stiffest workout of the season yesterday morning with several of the committee in attendance.
Plans were arranged between Younger and Captain Stehr, of the First district, to build a temporary track around the local high school’s gridiron. Meanwhile both the police and fire candidates will do their stuff under the watchful eye of Professor Younger on the the Forest Hill track, outside of the enclosed athletic field.
In a confab over the arrangement of the cinder track, Stehr suggested that a 100 and 220-yard straightaway be constructed on the west side of the field.
Joe Connell, of the Highway Department, also gave the field a once-over, as did Captains Golden and Humes. After the members of the committee had inspected the grounds, they witnessed the candidates going through the paces.
Archie Riess, who is in full charge of the “cops,” declared that but nineteen men would be candidates for his team, while Walter A. Merts [sic], of Engine Company No. 1, acting as manager of the ladder-climbers, counted up twenty-nine candidates on his list. These men will compete next Tuesday, the first three in each event to qualify for field day. The events will be run off separately, that is, the “cops” in one division and the firemen in the other. The bluecoats who will compete this Tuesday are as follows: Everett Joslin, Joseph McDonald, Vernon Jones, Frank Nelson, Bill Rogers, Harold Dunnit, John Bright, Edyard Callahan, Walter Larson, Gus Pfliderer, Clarence Phifer, Thomas Welch, Stanley Wirts, Charles Naylor, George Rothwell, Richard Donnelly, Lester Gleason and Joe Keefe.
The firemen who will also attempt to qualify on Tuesday include Fred Schucker, Harry Wagner, Chris Moll, Harry Layton, Edgar Ellender, August Havercamp, Frank Huda, Harry Kleinfelder, William Foehle, Tom Shanahan, Harrison Pike, William Rudd, Lester Anderson, William Wood, George Townsend, Allen Palmer, William Swartz, Nelson Fill, William Mourtvey, John Strauss, Frank Oberman, Edward Menzies, John Mulligan, Frank Kates, Clifford Hare, Nelson Andrews and Harry Leigh. From the present outlook the “Cops” seem to be coming out second best. The firemen are confident of finishing once more in front of the bluecoats, they having beaten Stehr’s cohorts at the last Armory meet.
The tug-of- team of eight men will also be selected by the firemens’ leader. Mertz will choose his varsity from Layton, Smith, Lennox, Walker, Pike, Palmer, Moll, Greenan, Laird, Mulligan, Haver, Merigan and Camp.
The Camden Motorcycle Club may stage a free exhibition of a motorcycle polo game during the meet. Stehr favors this performance, as but forty minutes of actual time is taken up. The local club is willing to donate their services free of charge. Nelson Hubbs, local manager, has dates at the Trenton, Egg Harbor, Allentown and Bridgeton fairs, while his teams have already performed in many eastern states. The “Camden Blue Devils,” as they are known, will furnish more thrills in the forty minutes than sport lovers have ever seen in this locality, according to Hubbs. If they are on the bill at the games, they will also give an exhibition of trick and expert riding stunts. Those on his teams, there being four on each, are well known in riding circles, some of the best hill climbers and polo players being included in the personnel of the teams are as follows:
Blue Devils No. 1—Joseph Bernurt, captain; Frank De Vivey, Carl Preisandanz, Edward Paul.
Blue Devils No. 2—Charles Ellis, captain; George Gummel, Bennett Arnold, Clayton Alberson.
Motorcycle Agent Long Known Here
Camden Courier-Post —
GANGWAY for the new “45” Twin
Here’s your motorcycle—if you want a speedy, powerful, classy, easily handled Twin. New paneling and attractive color combinations. Years in advance of any motorcycles offered heretofore—a motorcycle distinctively NEW.
Come in and see it today. Ask about our easy-pay plan. We’re open evenings.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON Motorcycles
FRANK DE VINEY
1124–26 Kaighn Ave.
Phone Camden 943-M
DeViney Has Seen Many Changes in Business; Organized Club Here
One of the best known names associated with the distribution of motorcycles in this area is that of Frank DeViney, who operates the distributing agency for Harley-Davidson at 1124–26 Kaighn avenue.
When a mere boy, DeViney was a familiar figure around the shop of William Heckenhorn, who was located near the present shop. Several years later DeViney became an employe of this shop and continued with it until 1923 when he opened the Harley-Davidson agency under his own name.
One of the first achievements of DeViney after opening his own business was to organize the Camden Motorcycle Sporting Club and lead the riders on a trip that culminated in a hill climbing contest for prize awards. Motorcycling then was almost entirely engaged in as a sport. Later the use of the cycle became more prominent in commercial use and among police departments. To-day it is estimated that 60 percent of the machines in use are devoted to pleasure, while police work represents about 20 percent and miscellaneous commercial the remaining 20 percent.
DeViney marvels at the development in the Harley machine during the past few years.
“Several years ago,” he said, “the average cost was about $300. The machine was plain, having only one or two speeds, was rather bumpy riding and lacked many of the present day features. The present models are a tribute to mechanical skill and perfection. Equipped with waterproof ignition, interchangeable wheels, safety guards, new style clutch, full floating seat, three speeds forward and reverse, spring front wheel action and a general streamline effect, they are a far cry from the models of old. While these machines are much heavier than those of former years, the weight is so uniformly balanced that they are much easier to operate and handle.
“Motorcycling is a sport all its own and appeals to those who are lured by the open road. Inexpensive operation is also an influencing feature, long mileage per gallon, low cost of tires, small license fee and little cost of upkeep.
“So great has become the demand for used pleasure machines that the supply all over the country is practically exhausted and presents quite a problem to dealers.”
DeViney maintains a complete parts department and a service department headed by a factory trained expert. The repair shop proper is equipped with all available Harley-Davidson tools and machines.
Meteor Motorcycle Club Field Meet
Burlington NJ — 1935
Meteor Motorcycle Club Field Meet, Burlington NJ, 1935
Camden Motorcycle Club Annual Outing
Frank DeViney at center, Myrtle DeViney at right
Motorcycle Trophies
Motorcycle trophies awarded to Frank & Myrtle DeViney
Camden Mcy. Club
Harley-Davidson Enthusiast —
CAMDEN MCY. CLUB, Camden, N. Jersey—Leave it to the genial Frank De Viney to cook up new ideas. Recently he hit on the idea of taking the local club to church. The club seconded the idea unanimously. Came Sunday! Smartly uniformed and purring along quietly and in perfect formation, the club, 54 strong pulled up at the church and parked their machines. They marched down the aisle and seated themselves in a specially reserved section. Their presence caused a great deal of favorable comment about motorcycling and the local club has gained plenty of additional respect.
Meteor Motorcycle Club
Frank DeViney seated, 3rd from right; Myrtle DeViney in front of him