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

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Look at the 19" and 21" tank model motobike cover art again. The 19" model is simply much better looking! And thats what its all about,,,,,getting the prospective buyer to LOOK. Frame size comes later,,,,,Right?
 
Yep!
And that is why Car commercials used to have smoking hot babes pop the hood to tell you all about the latest features.
The old CEO of Carl’s Jr. said it best, when he was asked why he used sexy women in his commercials?
He said, “Because, ugly women don’t sell Hamburgers.”
He got lambasted for saying that, but, sometimes, the truth hurts.
Advertising, is all about attracting eyeballs.
 
Great thread and fantastic new information! I wonder what year this Columbia was built as it does not have the collared lug at the seat tube liek the Westfield Indian frames posted, both photos and particularly the catalog images show that collared joint. For general frame dating purposes it would be interesting to know what year they changed to the trumpet style lug. Does anyone have a date range for that change? Mid 20s, late 20s, early 30s? Maybe catalog shots would give hints?

Collared lug shows in the catalog illustration and Fordsnake's frame shot.
1585854196181.png

1585854288377.png


No collar on this lug.
1585854058843.png
 
While doing some research last night I came across this in the 1920 catalog. I had theorized that this was the case but the literature confirms that if a bike has a decal on the down tube it was not originally equipped with a tank. Yep the dealer could have added a tank but if you see one so equipped today my bet is that a collector added it at some point maybe even adding a faux restoration to the tank and decals. V/r Shawn

1177106
 
Does anyone know the Indian Motobike model numbers for 1917, 1921 1922 and 1927?
Carlton the following is for the fully equipped (tank and light) models
1917--Model 32
1921--111T
1922--??
1927--151T (I don't have the '27 catalog but both the '26 and '28 cats list this as Model 151T)

V/r Shawn
 
Is this correct so far for the Motobike Electrically Equipped Model #'s

1916 – 12
1917 – 32
1918 – 51T
1919 – 71T
1920 – 91T
1921 – 111T
1922 – ?
1923 – 131T
1924 – 151T
1925 – 151T
1926 – 151T
1926 – 151T
1927 – 151T
1928 – 151T
 
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1916- Model 12 (no "T") unequipped motorbike is Model 11
1917-Model 32 (no "T") unequipped motorbike is Model 31
The rest except as I noted originally I can't say for sure. V/r Shawn
 
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