Camel Back

[HarleyCreation]

I don't consider the "1901" Indian image (also used in 1902 catalog below) to be a line drawing exactly, but more a photograph that has been modified by the publishing process and possibly retouched. I'm not sure if it's a "half-tone" or what, but catalog images were often different looking (Harley too) from the actual photo from which they were derived. That's what the "1901" Indian image looks like to me.

Without other evidence we don't know if this image is the first Indian, or if the first Indian was a cruder prototype. This bike looks pretty finished to me. Possibly it was a second version and more of a 1902 mockup that wasn't exactly like production bikes. But I feel it was something they did actually build even if NOT the very first bike. We find something very similar in first images of Harley-Davidson motorcycles where the earliest known image is a rather crude, actual line drawing. By comparison this "1901" Indian image is pretty darn good.

Question: When did this "1901" Indian image first appear in pring? I can document it to the December 1, 1901, issue of Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal. But did it appear any earlier in print than that? If so, how much earlier? That would tell us a lot as the first Indian prototype appeared in May of 1901, if I'm not mistaken. There are several months between May and December of 1901 to mock up a second model and take a photo of it.

[HarleyCreation]

Here's something interesting.

Jerry Hatfield in his Indian photo book says there was a right-side photo of the Indian motorcycle in the June 2, 1901 issue of the Springfield Sunday Republican newspaper.

That is very early!

However, in the book he shows a different image; the same one we are calling a 1901 Indian and that also appeared in the 1902 catalog.

Question: Was the image in the June 2, 1901 Springfield newspaper article EXACTLY the same bike as the late 1901 & 1902 catalog image? If it was exactly the same, then the image posted and reposted here must be the first Indian.

Or does it differ in some way and shows an earlier variation instead?

Seeing the bike pictured in the June 2, 1901, issue of the Springfield Sunday Republican would pretty much answer the question of what the first Indian motorcycle must have looked like.

[c.o.]

Here's the first mention of a Hendee/Hedstrom machine in England from the Nov 26th, 1902 issue of MotorCycling. Courtesty of Tommo....

[HarleyCreation]

Here's the first mention of a Hendee/Hedstrom machine in England from the Nov 26th, 1902 issue of MotorCycling. Courtesty of Tommo....

Hmmmm.....I wonder if the report of an Indian going to England for the 1901 Stanley show was actually for the 1902 show.

[c.o.]

I find 1902 more reasonable... I just don't buy 1901... but then again that's just my speculation........

[Chris Haynes]

Even H-D once claimed to have started in 1901.

[HarleyCreation]

Cory,

I'm leaning that way too. I'd like to see that supposed 1901 Indian in England clipping. You can't be too careful in this game.

Chris,

Yes, and Indian once claimed to have started building bikes in 1900. Hendee even said he met a guy riding a 1900 model Indian and even gave the serial number of the machine. Fancy that.

All great liars....

[micmac]

Great thread. This is why I keep paying my dues, stuff like this.

[Tommo]

I've searched my later issues of Motor Cycling but can find no further comprehensive article on the Indian that is hinted at in the posted 1902 item.
I can only suppose that it appeared in an issue that is missing from my collection.

[HarleyCreation]

I looked up the 1901 "Indian-in-England" reference again. It was cited on p.41 of the Summer 2000 issue of The Antique Motorcycle.

Supposedly a Hendee motorcycle (Indian) was on display at "Stand 31a" at an English auto/cycle show, the original info in "The Autocar," Nov. 30, 1901 issue.

If anyone in the world reading this has access to The Autocar for 1901, could you please look up the Nov. 30, 1901 issue and tell us what it says about Indian in England?