Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/693447
46 nJuly 2016n www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS by Kenzo "I realized that in the name Indian we had a winner for bicycles. When the motorcycle came along a year or so later, it simply was out of the ques- tion to think of calling it anything but Indian. The name fi tted the motorcycle even better than it did the bicycle, and before many moons had passed, the new warrior had deposed the Old Chief from the Wigwam." —George Hendee, speech made before the Springfi eld Rotary Club in 1931 Popular history has the iconic Indian Motocycle Company starting in 1901 with the fortuitous partnership of Carl Oscar Hedstrom and George M. Hendee. In reality, the company that manufactured the motorcycle wouldn't assume its popular name until November 1923. Before that it was known as the Hendee Manufacturing Co. and its fi rst product was a bicy- cle. Yet the story actually begins two decades before that and refl ects the transition that took place in America as bicycles morphed into motorcycles. In 1879 Albert Pope imported 50 high-wheel bicycles from England and three years later had acquired the Weed Sewing Machine Company—the foremost machine tool and forging fac- tory in America—to manufacture his Columbia bicycles. The 1880s expe- rienced its fi rst bicycle craze, which included the formation of local clubs, a national organization, long-distance touring and racing competitions. With a 1:1 pedal-to-wheel ratio and the diame- ter of the huge front wheel reaching up to fi ve feet, these high-wheel bicycles required athletic strength and stamina to operate on competitive levels. From 1882 through 1886 the National Amateur High Wheel Champion was George Hendee and the speed record he established in 1886 wouldn't be broken until 1892. America's second bicycle craze came after the arrival of the safety or "ordinary" bicycle. The Overman Wheel Co. was the fi rst to introduce this new design where the two wheels were not only smaller, but also the same size, and the new crank and chain allowed for more effi cient—and faster—propulsion. The ordinary didn't require athletic strength to operate: ladies and more dignifi ed gentlemen now could respectably enjoy bicycling. In 1897 American industry would man- ufacture two million bicycles, or one for every 30 people in the U.S.A., and bicycle racing would become the most popular sport in America with over 600 professional racers on the circuit. One of these was Carl Oscar Hedstrom. It was announced in January 1892 that George M. Hendee was manag- ing the bicycle fl oor of the Hulbert Brothers store that sells King and Queen of Scorchers bicycles. He was a racing legend and, although past his prime, still entered bicycle races. In March 1893, Hendee became the New England agent for Rudge, Sylph, and Overland bicycles. In July he was offered the presidency of Warwick Cycles, but declined. That year he also participated at the Springfi eld track as a judge and timer. In mid January of 1894 he sailed for England where he apparently made arrangements with suppliers of bicycle components. By December he had completed his mod- els of the Silver King and announced an installment program that was to begin on January 1, 1895. The fi rst Silver King bicycle ad appeared in the January 4 issue of The Wheel. George Hendee made Silver King bicycles to order at his shop in the Stacy building at 41-43 Taylor Street in Springfi eld, Massachusetts, using parts imported from England. (At this time the Duryea automobile was being produced on the third fl oor of this building.) On November 23, 1895, Hendee sold half interest to Eddie Nelson, who had been working with him for the past year, and the business acquired a $10,000 loan from Nelson's father-in- law, Mr. Holbrook. Hendee & Nelson Manufacturing Co. was formed and the shop expanded to include 10,000 sq. ft. on two fl oors at 478 Main Street. At this time there were two U.S. Patent Offi ces, one for bicycle-related inventions and one for everything else. Between 1890 and 1896, over $100 million had been spent on bicycles and fortunes were made in stock spec- ulation of existing businesses; by the end of 1896 there were 300 bicycle manufacturing companies in the U.S. Wooden board-track velodromes across the country hosted events at which thousands of spectators attended. Bicyclists also were taking touring trips and railways advertised popu- lar destinations for cycling tourists. The League of American Wheelmen (LAW) had over 100,000 members and THE EARLY HISTORY OF INDIAN Part 1: George M. Hendee, bicycle race legend From bicycles to motorcycles The Orient tricycle converted into the Autogo of 1900. It was virtually identical to the 1900 Canda Quadracycle made in Newark, New Jersey, and the Regas from Rochester, New York. The Indian version didn't appear until 1906. Orient bicycle ad—the Waltham Mfg. Co. quickly expanded into motor vehicles Aster engine The fi rst American automobile factory was in the same building as Hendee's bicycle shop See "Indian," page 61, column 1