Hendee Mfg Co. / Indian Motocycle Co. Bicycles Information Thread

[Gary Mc]

1950's Indian Lightweight Bicycles Brochure (Early 1950's)

Early 1950's Indian Lightweight Bicycles Brochure
The Indian Company - Springfield, Mass.

These bikes were manufactured by Phillips Cycles Limited of England. Included 2 models, the Indian Scout & the Indian Princess. While not early nor American made, they are a part of Indian's heritage and as such will be covered in this thread.

 

[bricycle]

You are so diplomatic!
Is this the same Indian (heritage)?

 

[Gary Mc]

You are so diplomatic!
Is this the same Indian (heritage)?

Yes, but long story short, the Indian heritage was pretty sad by this time, even Indian motorcycles were nothing more than rebadged English "Royal Enfields".

 

[bricycle]

when was the last year of the "real Indian" motorcycles?

 

[Gary Mc]

when was the last year of the "real Indian" motorcycles?

1953 I believe but 1949 started the slide or some would say in 1945 when Ralph Rogers bought the company from Dupont.

 

[fordsnake]

Here's a great video on Hendee and his accomplishments. click on the video on the left side. http://www.usbhof.org/inductee-by-year/125-george-mallory-hendee

 

[fordsnake]

I’ve unearthed more interesting information that supports known and unknown facts about George Mallory Hendee and his companies. My recent findings: In 1894, George began assembling safety bicycles under the name of Geo.M.Hendee Bicycles...The Silver King of Safety.

New News! George had a smorgasbord approach to bike building! He offered a menu of bike parts to choose from for the Silver King and Silver Queen; thereby building a custom bicycle?

(ad transcribed);Practically, every machine made to order.
Prices, $50, $85, $90 Weight 22 to 30 lbs.
Any style tires. Any style rims. Any style saddle. Any style pedals. Any style gearing.
Guaranteed for one year. Catalogue
GEO. M. HENDEE, 478 Main St., Springfield, Mass.

 

[fordsnake]

Surprisingly, George had a few inventions, in 1890 he invents an Anti Vibration Springer. In 1896 he attends a bicycle trade show with a novelty rear fork…soon after this tubing design becomes the standard in the industry!
To expand his line of bicycles, Hendee ventured into a partnership in 1895 with Edward Nelson...the company was renamed Hendee & Nelson Mfg. Co. They continued to make the Silver King, and Silver Queen bicycles.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

This partnership between Hendee and Nelson was short lived. It’s interesting that George allowed Hendee & Nelson company to go bankrupt? (After all he was a minor partner in the Springfield Coliseum, he could’ve leveraged his interest? He became a half partner of the track in 1900).

Hendee immediately purchased the entire H&N inventory at auction in 1898 and renamed the company Hendee Mfg. Co.

LIQUIDATION, EVERYTHING MUST GO IN 1898!

(ad transcribed) After Saturday there will be no more offered at this ridiculously low price. When you consider that these are genuine Silver Kings build by the Geo. Hendee Mfg. Co., of Springfield, Mass., and are guaranteed through built of Pope Co. 50 percent carbon seamless tubing and Springfield drop forging. Fifteen different styles of saddles, pedals, tires, etc., to select from, no wonder the dealer’s say it is the biggest bargain ever offered. Notice the tubing he's using...the start of an early relationship?

 

[fordsnake]

Here are two incredible articles written with authority about the Indian origins. What make’s these articles archival worthy are they were written when both Hendee and Hedstrom were the captains of the Indian maiden voyage. If the historical content had been miswritten I’m sure they would’ve rebut it’s publishing.

THIS IS BIG NEWS!
The origin of the name “Indian” was a serendipitous action that changed a man and an industry! I had always read that the Hendee & Nelson bicycle lineup existed of three models; Silver King, Silver Queen and the American Indian, and the word American was later dropped for International acceptance? Not so!

Even more enlightening is how the name Indian came to its fruition? Excuse my doctoring the content in photoshop...but each article had multiple columns.

The article below speaks to where Hendee met Hedstrom…but more importantly it references the year November 1898 that George incorporated Hendee Manufacturing Company under the Massachusetts laws.

 

[sam]

Some of the british history of Indian is at:
http://www.icenicam.ukfsn.org/download/201307cammag.pdf