Minerva founder Sylvain de Jong traveled to the United States to hone his knowledge of the bicycle manufacturing process. It a wise move, since it resulted in two new cycles: the Romania and Minerva. "With an obvious fondness for mythology, de Jong settled on Minerva, the ancient Roman goddess of wisdom and the arts, as the name of his first motorized cycles added to his company's product line in 1899," states "The Nethercutt Collection: The Cars of San Sylmar." After World War I, he visited the United States again to study manufacturing processes. Minerva eventually had economic difficulties, but it was able to rebound from them until The Great Depression took its tool in the 1930s. "Minerva, Belgium's most-famous marquee, was a high-quality, expensive automobile," states information provided at The Nethercutt Collection's museum addition. "This beautiful town car ... is the only known product of the Floyd-Derham coachbuilding firm." "{Minverva} produced a handful of spectacular cars, including the 1928 convertible town car in The Nethercutt Collection," according to The Nethercutt Collection, "which was originally built for Gen. Billy Mitchell and fitted with a body by the Floyd-Derham Co. of Philadelphia. "The 1928 models were powered by a 362.5-cubic-inch sleeve-valve six-cylinder engine. While this was a strong motor, it was no match for Packard's twin six or the Cadillac V-8. MANUFACTURER Minerva Motors Antwerp, Belgium COACHBUILDER Floyd-Derham Co. Philadelphia, Penn. ENGINE Sleeve-valve Six cylinders 3.74" bore 5.5" stroke 262.5 cu. in. displacement 32 hp PRICE WHEN NEW Unknown

Abandoned motorized valve Where it goes form 2 1/2" - 1 1/4", The first section of 1 1/4 pipe is slightly back-pitched to the first elbow.