George- Mr.101
	Spring 1982

 

Retrospect - Spring, 1982
By G.Yarocki

Turning a key is what most of us do to start our motorcycles, automobiles, tractors and yes, even some of our lawn mowers. This wasn’t always the way gasoline motors were started as anyone who owns an antique motorcycle or very old car knows.

There is an interesting story written by Dr. Harry V. Sucher and published in our Spring ’82 AMCA magazine about the 1914 Indian electric start Hendee Special. Quoting Dr. Sucher, “The idea of producing an electric starting motorcycle was no doubt inspired by the fact that in 1912 a pioneer automotive engineer named J.F. Kettering had developed an electric starting system for automobiles.” – “ At that time the large capacity V-twin motorcycle, then the most popular seller in the United States, also required no little skill and physical ability. This probably boosted the sales of lightweight machines, although such models were by that time somewhat limited in manufacture.” – “Ultimately, while the system appeared to work well enough on factory machines ridden around Springfield streets, its use on machines used on rough rural roads, then almost universally bad, the batteries were noted as having a very short life.” – “In the end, most of the buyers of these models were given free kick start assemblies to replace the ailing starters, and the whole affair was officially terminated. The Company admitting failure in the matter.”

The big news at this time is that Dr. Earl Chalfant took over the President’s role in the club. Emmet Moore wrote a nice article of introduction reflecting Dr. Chalfant’s main concerns. These concerns are communication between the National and its Chapters, content in our magazine and better control at the flea markets.

This is a trying time for our club as growth brings with it problems not encountered during the early years. For the first time, vendors report that items have been stolen off their stands. At this time there was no security. My wife Milli and I began staying at the meet site during the banquet hours, as this is when certain characters begin to act up. Had not we, and other concerned members, been there over several of those growing years and if Dr. Chalfant had not pursued his tough minded campaign of cleaning up the meets, our AMCA events would be a far cry from the family-oriented meets they are today. In fact, it is possible the AMCA meets could have ended.

On a more positive note, Emmett Moore wrote about the formation of our club. When most us think about our club beginnings we usually think of Ted Hodgdon, at least I do.

Here are some quotations from Emmett Moore’s article written 25 years ago. Quoting Emmett, “First things being first, I think it appropriate to lead off with some recollections of the man who was truly the father of our club, and its first president. This man was Henry Wing Sr. of Greenfield, Massachusetts” – “And this was the man who first conceived the idea of an American club which would be devoted to finding and restoring examples of the many American motorcycles of the past. The idea was sparked by his contact with the Vintage Motorcycle group which had been established some years before in England. He had personally participated in some of the rallies of that group, and this had fired his determination to establish an American club.

“Before the founding of our club in 1954, the collectors of antique motorcycles were few, and those were mostly unknown to each other – and practically invisible to the rest of the motorcycle world.” – “With his mind made up, Wing knew the man to contact first – Ted Hodgdon of Springfield, Mass., a longtime friend and also a restorer of antique motorcycles. Ted had been Advertising Manager of Indian Motorcycles in the late ’20s and early ’30s, and was an immediate convert to the club idea. The third original founder was Henry Wing, Jr. who became our first Treasurer (with all of the $20 in the bank!) who was also interested in old cars and motorcycles, and the fourth member of the group was your writer newly arrived in Springfield from his home town of Cincinnati, Ohio.”

There you have it, there is much more information in Emmett’s and Dr, Sucher’s articles and you may read the entire stories in Vol. 21, No. 1, Spring of 1982.

© 2007 AMCA