Indian

History

Foundation of a mark of legend

In 1899 Hedstrom Oscar, was implied in the races of bicycles on track. Eager to develop a tandem motorized for the drive of the runners, it takes as a starting point an engine Of Dion-Button to create its own engine.

George Hendee, who was representative in the bicycles was impressed by the services of this tandem and proposed an association with Hedstrom.

From this association was born in the 1901 their first motor bike, to which they gave the name of Indian.

This motor bike was extremely advanced for its time, with a concentric carburettor, developped at the point by Hedstrom itself, a transmission by chain, a Allumage by winds and a Cadre which integrated already the engine.

First twin-cylinder

In 1908, the first twin-cylinder in “V” is put in production. With weak cubic capacity (600 cm), it is equipped with a “semi-collapsed” distribution where the exhaust and inlet valves are opposite. It is not less powerful and enduring: Indian gave itself time to test this engine since 1906 in a test “coast to coast”. The motor bike thus equipped will spend 31 days to connect San-Francisco to New York.

Promotion by the competition…

In 1909, American Wells decides to import of Indian in England where it settled. To promote qualities of them, it engages some in famous the Tourist Trophy: one of them will finish second of the test as of the first attempt.

In 1911, Indian returns in force and gains Senior TT with the British pilot Oliver Godfroy. This success is supplemented by the 2^ème and 3^ème places.

For the anecdote, one will note that these motor bikes were deprived of Frein front, in accordance with the American habits of the time, which judged the brake before dangerous.

The competition and the tournaments in order to show the supremacy of a mark were current thing at that time: to answer a challenge launched by Collar, founder (with his brother) of the Matchless mark, From Rose tree, pilot from Indian, will go as far as asking the American mark to prepare a specific motor bike to him in order to beat his competitor on the famous track of Brooklands.

Thus was born celebrates it motor bike with engine twin-cylinder of 994 cm to 4 Soupape S by cylinder. One, if not the first of the history. For the anecdote, still: it was deprived of accelerator: a cut contact made office of it…

After having beaten several records, of which a mile to 140,70 km/h, Of Rose tree gained the challenge, by 2 handles against one.

… and by the innovation

In order to sit its reputation, Indian is not satisfied to show its superiority in competition: it innovates by proposing, in 1913, a back suspension, with blades like one… electric starter (in option).

In 1913, the production of Indian is of 32.000 machines. Despite everything, to maintain this production, Indian must invest. The financial ones will then take, as from this moment, more and more of importance, which will lead, in 1916, the founders Hedstrom and Hendee to leave the mark which they founded.

New range

To face competition, it is necessary to produce more powerful, for less expensive. From this precept was born the “Powerplus”, always twin-cylinder with 42°, but with side valves, which will both know an excellent reception in the United States and abroad, the more so as it will be widely diffused there because of “the effort of war”: 41.000 of these machines will be provided to the armies.

Since its foundation Indian seems to have a goal: to produce a machine lighter and less expensive than what is usually done in the United States Thus the year 1916 sees the appearance of “O Light Twin”, twin-cylinder flat longitudinal, which will not know, it is the least which one can say, the success of his/her big sister - Powerplus.

The firm of Springfield does not remain less not persuaded than there exists a place for a machine of average cubic capacity. The “Scout”, of only 600 cm but twin-cylinder in “V” as it is from now on of habit in the United States, makes its appearance in 1919 and will be such a success that the production will beat in 1920 its record of sales with nearly 40.000 motor bikes.

In 1922, Indian decides to work out models of big-engined car starting from this “Scout”: they will be most famous of Indian: the “Chief” in 1.000 cm ³ and “Big Chief” in 1.200 cm.

1925 see appearing one 350 cm equipped with one-cylinder vertical with side valves, the “Prince”, who will not be a great success and will remain in production only three years.

In 1927, Indian repurchases the mark ACE, which produced exclusively of the 4 cylinders on line, semi-collapsed, supplementing its range with “Indian Four”, and proposes from now on a very broad range of motor bikes: of 350 cm one-cylinder to the 4 cylinders 1.200 cm.

The businesses are badly

Like many other American companies, the Crash landing of Wall-Street strikes Indian of full whip in 1929.

Roof of bad luck, Indian changes four times of director into a few months. The production falls down to approximately 4.500 units.

The production will remain almost unchanged until 1940, where the famous mudguards with “long skirts appear”, which will remain like a typical image of Indian.

The American firms will invest themselves very early full-time in the Second world war. On this sad occasion, Indian will produce, initially, the “741” of 500 cm, derived from the Sport-Scout of 750 cm.

The soldiers will ask for better adapted models, answering a precise schedule of conditions, in particular with the use of a transmission per Cardan joint. Also, Indian will launch out in the study of expensive “841”, equipped with a longitudinal twin-cylinder in “V” (like the Moto Guzzi V7). The assessment of this conflict will be catastrophic for Indian.

Not only, it is found at the end of the hostilities with an important stock of spare parts ordered by the army, that it will refuse to pay him, but it completely forsook the civil production, like its distribution network for this period.

Retry

In 1948, to renew a range going back to pre-war period, Indian launches out in the manufacture of models faithful to its basic ideas consisting in wanting to produce models of weak cubic capacity which however were only success to date:

It is the “Arrow”, one-cylinder of 220 cm (which will not remain a long time in production), the “Scout” twin-cylinder vertical of 440 cm ³, quickly replaced by the “Warrior” of 500 cm.

Not only, they really did not answer a market demand, which was always fond of delicacies of powerful models, but their unreliability will be at the origin of the fall of Indian.

Sad end

As from 1955, the name of the mark will be repurchased by various factories, most of the time in the intention to start again a production already wavering, by giving him a prestigious name.

One will see the name of Indian carried by Royal Enfield, Matchless, Jawa/CZ, Horex or others Velocette.

The height of the horror will be reached by stationary engine scooters Briggs and Stratton.

Glimmer of hope

In July 2004, however, “Stellican Limited”, specialized in the revival of old marks (it, had previously repurchased the mark Chris-Craft), repurchases the old firm of Springfield. Right now several models, faithful to the image of Indian, are available to the sale.

See too

Internal bonds

Burt Munro beat several retie world speed on Indian Scout modified.

External bonds

Indian Club France
Indian Club Austria
Indian Club Germany

Simple: Indian

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