Historic Hood River
1913 Indian Two-Speed
Notes
I enjoy going back to photos I’ve looked at before to see what additional detail I can tease out of them. You might remember this 1915 picture of the Agricultural Experiment Station when it was on Tucker Road in the “McCan House” opposite the Catholic cemetery. I decided to see what I could learn about the motorcycle. Although the tank is bruised, it doesn’t have other signs of age. I posted it on a vintage car site, where someone from Sweden cross posted on an Indian motorcycle site, and of course I now know more than I ever imagined about it.
I am told this is a 1913 two speed Indian, which is a rare model. It had a longer frame than the regular single speed 13’s to get room for the transmission, so it was initially thought to be a 1914. I also learned after 1915 Indian switched out this Hedstrom engine, and the first year for rear springs was 1913.
But what I really want to know is how the fuel tank got banged up on this fancy new bike? I’m sure there is a story there.
Dale Nicol
You can see a 1912 Indian Motorcycle on display at WAAAM.
Kyle
I’ve got a good guess for how the rear of the 2 dents got there. It looks to be about the right distance back for it to have been caused by the right handlebar hitting it. The other tank dents, who knows.
I also don’t like the looks of that fork. Those look like dents, and the fork is not a good place or dents… it’s got work to do!
Kenn
Saw an Indian four being ridden at the Aurora war plane landing yesterday,
The four engine that Indian used was from the previous Henderson bikes. We once used fours for funeral escort because they were so much quieter than a twin passing the family car.
Kenn
Appears no front brake but neither did cars have them in that era.
Kenn
KRO (Kenn rambles on) Tank dents are minor compared to what I did to my first Indian. After I ran it under the side of a garbage truck the front wheel was UNDER the tank.
nels
@ Kenn, I just bet there is more to the story! You lived well and survived. Congrats.
Dale Nicol
Kenn…..Regarding the Henderson 4 cylinder motorcycle. WAAAM has a 1923 Henderson Model K Deluxe motorcycle next to a 1930 Long Henderson Longster III airplane. It’s using the same Henderson motorcycle engine.
WAAAM is a great place to see airplanes, car and motorcycles of the same year or close to the same year. You can see how the technology was rapidly changing "way back then"!
Kenn
Dale, of the four air museums in the Portland area WAAAM is for sure my favorite, with planes, cars and bikes. Next would be the military planes at Madras, static or when flying.
Judy
What, Kenn, do you mean to say you weren’ t around then?