Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/714189
70 nSeptember 2016n www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS by Kenzo The story that George Hendee fi rst met Oscar Hedstrom in December 1899 during the races at Madison Square Garden is possible, but not likely, and it certainly wasn't at the New York Cycle and Auto Show the following month. It remains pure spec- ulation as to when and where they fi rst met, but since both men were bicycle builders and racing champions work- ing within the same regional network, it could have been almost anytime between 1895 and 1901. While they had that in common, Hendee's focus was towards business and Hedstrom's, mechanics, with both being highly regarded for their skills. It was a part- nership that would, within a decade, create the largest motorcycle manufac- turer in the world. When Hendee decided to enter the motor bicycle market is also open to conjecture. What we do know is that George Hendee and Oscar Hedstrom signed a partnership agreement sometime early in 1901 and leased Hedstrom's former shop, Worcester Cycle Mfg.—then in receivership—to create the prototype motor bicycle. By the end of April the press was reporting that Hedstrom was building a machine for the Hendee Mfg. Co. and that "hereafter he will be identifi ed with that concern." The curious thing is that the frame—designed specifi - cally to fi t Hendee and Hedstrom— allegedly was built by George Holden, a bicycle frame specialist and superin- tendent of the Hendee factory, and not by Hedstrom. The fi rst tests were conducted in Middletown, Connecticut, and on May 25, Hedstrom and the motorcycle arrived in Springfi eld, Massachusetts, by train. The launch of the Indian motor bicycle took place on Saturday, June 1, at the Cross Street hill in Springfi eld where a reporter at the scene described a crowd of 400–500 people watching as Hedstrom rode the Indian machine up the 19-per- cent grade of the loose-gravel street with power to spare. Indian motor bicycle production didn't begin until the fall. The pacing team of Henshaw and Hedstrom was still in evidence and they gave a half-mile, motor tandem exhi- bition in Buffalo on August 7, in which they broke the world record with a time of 39.2 sec- onds. On August 12, they estab- lish a new mile record for motor tandems and won the 10-mile motor tandem race. Even as late as August 15 it was reported that Hendee was still in the process of raising the necessary capital for the venture and that the Indian prototype was on dis- play in a retail store in Springfi eld. It's safe to assume that Oscar Hedstrom didn't depart for Illinois to begin working with the Aurora Automated Machine Manufacturing Co. until at least late August. At the end of October, Oscar Hedstrom fi led for several patents, including a chain adjuster, an engine valve, a control mechanism for engines, and the iconic camelback fuel and oil tank. Obviously the motorcycle was in production by this date, but the deal between Aurora and Hendee Mfg. wasn't announced to the press until the beginning of November. The Bicycling World & Motocycle Review stated that Aurora had been testing the machine and that "motors are expected to be delivered by the end of the year." On November 7, an Indian motor bicycle was displayed at the New York Auto Show and a week later George W. Sherman sailed for England on the Oceanic to attend the Stanley automo- tive show. The Indian motorcycle that was exhibited in London is the only 1901 model to survive until the present era and we know by its measurements that it wasn't the original prototype (disassembled in 1902). The fi rst ads for the Indian motor bicycle appeared in November and Sherman returned from London with 150 orders and had acquired agents in England, Holland and Belgium. A letter from Hendee on February 13 informed THE EARLY HISTORY OF INDIAN Part 3: Indian Motocycle is born Hendee and Hedstrom form iconic partnership See "Indian," page 74, column 1 Hedstrom with the fi nished Indian prototype. Note the bare tank: the brand was later artistically applied to this photo for publication. The fi rst ad for Indian motor bicycles appeared in November 1901 The 1901 Helefi nger became the 1902 Royal. It has been speculated that Hedstrom met Helefi nger in 1900. George Hendee riding through Hartford, Connecticut, during the famous 1902 endurance race in which he won a gold medal. In 1903 he again placed fi rst in the endurance race.