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The Story of the Indian Motorcycle
Indian began making motorcycles in 1901 as the Hendee Manufacturing Company in Springfield, Massachusetts. The first production model was in 1902 and 143 units were produced. During the 1910s Indian became the largest manufacturer of motoIndian began making motorcycles in 1901 as the Hendee Manufacturing Company in Springfield, Massachusetts. The first production model was in 1902 and 143 units were produced. During the 1910s Indian became the largest manufacturer of motorcycles in the world. The company was renamed the Indian Motocycle Manufacturing Company in 1928.
The Scout and Chief V-twins, introduced in the early 1920s, became the Springfield firm's most successful models. Designed by Charles B. Franklin , the middleweight Scout and larger Chief shared a 42-degree V-twin engine layout. Both models gained a reputation for strength and reliability.
The first 1922 model Chief had a 1000 cc (61ci) engine. A year later the engine was enlarged to 1,200 cc (73 ci). In 1950, the V-twin engine was enlarged to 1,300 cc (79 cubic inches) and telescopic forks were adopted. The engine was fed by a 42mm Mikuni "flat-slide" carburetor that was mounted on the left side of the engine, a feature unique to early Indian motorcycles. This carburetion package delivered smooth throttle response throughout the entire RPM range. To ensure optimum lubrication, the motor featured a proprietary oil pump system. The Chief's drive train featured a constant-mesh, five-speed transmission, primary chain drive and rear belt drive.
With the gasoline engine being introduced around the turn of the century Indian predated the legendary Harley-Davidson, and was America's oldest such marquee first made in 1901. Bill Harley and Arthur Davidson developed their's in 1903 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Indian motorcycles were recognized and respected throughout the industrialized world for its leading edge design, durability and quality coupled with style and beauty. The bike had the characteristic of "over-styling," a feature Indian motorcycles were famous for. The outrageous fenders made sweeping curves that complimented the classic lines of the vintage bike.
Regardless of business debacles and unwanted mismanagement, Indian motorcycles were able to survive the Great Depression. The company was struggling in 1949, and because the British pound had been devalued against the dollar, the imports were cheaper than ever. By then another British company, Brockhouse Ltd. had been financing Indian, and a year later Brockhouse bought it outright. But the failure with the V-twin was impossible to recover from, and Indian was split in half: one half for manufacturing and the other half for sales. Sadly, amidst lawsuits and charges of fraud, the Indian Motocycle Manufacturing Company went bankrupt in 1953 leaving a bitter taste in the mouth for those who remember the glory days of Indian motorcycles.
