Indian Motobike With Sidecar

[catfish]

Must be difficult to ride with that hanging front fender brace and no chain?

People ride bikes?

 

[47jchiggins]

I appreciate all the kind words and thoughts. I would like to get the headlight operational but it appears as if I am missing some parts. Anyone have a view of a complete set, light, switch, wires and batteries? Spare parts?

Thoughts on my theory this could be a leftover 1916 model badged a17?

Thanks,

Todd

 

[fordsnake]

I doubt its a 1916 model...Early Westfield Indians 1915-1917 had a tension bracket dropout.

Indians after 1918 used the recognizable Westfield dropouts

Why not gently remove your badge to see if there are different alignment holes? I think your bike is a transitional model but closer to 1923?

 

[catfish]

I doubt its a 1916 model...Early Westfield Indians 1915-1917 had a tension bracket dropout.

Indians after 1918 used the recognizable Westfield dropouts

Why not gently remove your badge to see if there are different alignment holes? I think your bike is a transitional model but closer to 1923?

Good info!

 

[47jchiggins]

Agree, good info......I'm a little apprehensive about removing the badge, years and years of good dirt and grim inbedd in the screw slots and around badge........

 

[fordsnake]

You may never be able to pinpoint the exact year of your bike…there were many variables that occurred during WorldWar1. The government placed huge restrictions on bicycle manufacturers between 1914-1918 regarding production limitations and steel usage. We do know that in 1915 George Hendee decided to reenter the bicycle business after a 12 year dormancy and contracted Westfield to build and reintroduce his 1916 bikes! Therefore because of Hendee's late entry to remanufacture bikes during the war outbreak, plus the governments mandatories…anything's possible!!! Westfield could've just used available stock to build the early Indians! In 1917 the Government offered a partial lift of its ban…the complete lift was made in January 1918, eleven months prior to Armistice. Just enough time for marketing and introducing the NEW 1918 Indian models, its features and showcasing its new Hendee Mfg. Co., Indian badge!