Why "motocycle"?

[HarleyCreation]

Didn't Indian return to motorcycle after WWII?

Yes, I think I've seen that too, somewhere. Makes sense. The spelling "motocycle" would have looked odd to people by that time. Everyone spelled it motorcycle.

[HarleyCreation]

I would be interested to know why it would take them so long to make it legal. Here's a page from the Canadian Motor Cycle from 1913 showing the new Toronto factory. I call it a factory but I believe it was more of a distribution center.

Cory,

Wow, that is beautiful!!!!

Do you have month of that issue so I can fully document it as a source?

This photo proves that Indian was using the spelling motocycle LONG before they made the name change in the company title in 1923. That strongly suggests me that it had nothing at all to do with possible "patent suits" like Mr. Sucher claimed. Rather it was just something that they had already been doing for years, a tradition you might say, and something that set them apart. This also makes sense with what Jerry said as the spelling without the "r" had been around for years and they just liked it better, it would seem.

Unless this being a Canadian source somehow fits into the picture. Are there any c1913 or earlier American Indian ads or literature that spell it as motocycle?

Either way, this does clarify the issue greatly for what I'm working on.

[aka HAWG]

[QUOTE=Phil Mast;106110]I looked it up in Sucher's Iron Redskin. It reads as follows:

"According to company records of the board's action, this was done simply to avoid any possible legal actions arising from patent suits, which had been a continuing problem within both the motorcycle and automotive industries since the earliest days of organized manufacture." ... page 143


that quote was from november 1923 when indian was reincorperated from the hendee manufacturing company. was indian a motocycle before that - inquiring minds want ro know

aka hawg

[HarleyCreation]

[QUOTE=aka HAWG;106142]

I looked it up in Sucher's Iron Redskin. It reads as follows:

"According to company records of the board's action, this was done simply to avoid any possible legal actions arising from patent suits, which had been a continuing problem within both the motorcycle and automotive industries since the earliest days of organized manufacture." ... page 143


that quote was from november 1923 when indian was reincorperated from the hendee manufacturing company. was indian a motocycle before that - inquiring minds want ro know

aka hawg

It does look that way, at least in Canada!

Scroll up to Cory's photo of the 1913 Toronto building with "Indian Motocycles" on it!

[Vintage229]

" Indian further distinguished itself by not using the term "motorcycle" in its company name. Rather, it was "the Indian Motocycle Company" droppnig the "r" in the word "motorcycle". "Motocycle" was an archaic word that had appeared in the late nineteenth century to describe the new motor-driven vehicles that were also called "horseless carriages." Although "Indian Motocycle Company" was used for marketing and promotional purposes frm the outset, it was not until 1923 that the corporation formally changed its name from the Hendee Manufacturing Company to the Indian Motocycle Company."

Reference: A Century of Indian, Ed Youngblood. Pg. 13

In his Indian Photo History, 1993, p.11, Jerry says Hendee heard the term "motocycle" back in the 1890s, it stuck in his mind, and he recalled it for duty "some years later."

That's the "how" of it, not the "why" of it. Does Jerry say anything else in a different place, maybe?

I believe I have also seen similiar reference in the book "Harley Indian Wars" if anyone has that handy. (Mine is at work.) Basically, he just like the way it sounded.

This would make for an excellent article in the magazine.

[rwm]

herb that's my theory.every business needs an edge. here is the word motocycle in 1910
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=380309802801

[talbot-2]

A quick review of the "INDIAN MOTOCYCLE COMPANY" memorabilia on our (AMCA) website shows that Indian used the name "INDIAN MOTOCYCLE COMPANY" as their company name as early as 1902 up through 1949 and maybe after. It appears that in the late 1940's they started referring to their product as "MOTORCYCLES" with an "R". Previous to that time they referred to their product as "MOTOCYCLES" without an "R".

[c.o.]

Cory,

Wow, that is beautiful!!!!

Do you have month of that issue so I can fully document it as a source?

This photo proves that Indian was using the spelling motocycle LONG before they made the name change in the company title in 1923. That strongly suggests me that it had nothing at all to do with possible "patent suits" like Mr. Sucher claimed. Rather it was just something that they had already been doing for years, a tradition you might say, and something that set them apart. This also makes sense with what Jerry said as the spelling without the "r" had been around for years and they just liked it better, it would seem.

Unless this being a Canadian source somehow fits into the picture. Are there any c1913 or earlier American Indian ads or literature that spell it as motocycle?

Either way, this does clarify the issue greatly for what I'm working on.

Herb, I thought you might find it of some interest. Unfortunately I'm missing the cover to that magazine and there is no where else on the pages that indicate a month. I did dig up this ad from the Nov 2, 1911 issue of MotorCycling. I've also included a cover page for the 1913 promotion of Indian in Toronto. I'm sure I've seen earlier examples but I don't have them in front of me at the moment.

[c.o.]

A quick review of the "INDIAN MOTOCYCLE COMPANY" memorabilia on our (AMCA) website shows that Indian used the name "INDIAN MOTOCYCLE COMPANY" as their company name as early as 1902 up through 1949 and maybe after. It appears that in the late 1940's they started referring to their product as "MOTORCYCLES" with an "R". Previous to that time they referred to their product as "MOTOCYCLES" without an "R".

You made quick work of that talbot-2! I'll dig for my early stuff and see what I can find!!

[petri]

Is there any possibility that a french/european variation on the name was being attempted here just to be different?

une "Moto" is the common term in french for a motorbike or motorcycle.

Howard