Hi,
I just thought it might be of interest to include this info about PUCH and other mopeds. I'm sure many people already know this, but maybe some don't.
During the 1950's-70's Sears sold mopeds (and small displacement motorcycles) under the Allstate name (which they also used to sell insurance, and a number of other things. The Allstate insurance of today is distantly related to PUCH mopeds, then!). These mopeds were manufactured by the old PUCH factory in Austria, before it was bought out by Piaggio.
Of course, since Sears was in on it, J.C. Penney and Montgomery Wards would not be outdone, and so both also made similar trade agreements with European moped manufacturers.
J.C. Penney imported Austrian mopeds made by Kromag, and they were sold under the name "Pinto".
Montgomery Wards sold Motobecane mopeds with their own name (Mont. Wards) proudly emblazoned on the side of the gastank.
Sales of the Sears Allstate models were quite good until mopeds began to drop in popularity and Sears stopped carrying them. The Mont. Wards models sold somewhat less than the Allstates, and the J.C. Penney "Pinto" sold rather poorly, hence their rarity today.
G.S.
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