Lot details
Registration No: XK 119
Frame No: 715956
Engine No: 715956
MOT Expiry Date: None

Indian's origins lay in cycle production and racing. Silver king cycles, built in Springfield Massachusetts, was owned and run by former cycle racer George Hendee, who promoted cycle races in the city as a means of advertising his products. Many of the events took the form of record setting that required the use of a motorcycle pacer, Hendee's quest to find a reliable "pacer" led him to New York based engineer Oscar Hedstrom who had developed a machine that had proved to be durable and which led to the formation of a company to produce motorcycles bearing the now famous Indian name. The first few machines appeared during 1901 and featured a traditional diamond type frame housing a single cylinder F head engine displacing 224cc. By 1906 the single had grown in capacity to 288cc and was joined by Indian's first vee twin. Throughout this period the machines retained the cycle derived diamond frame, however for 1909 a new loop frame was introduced and the twin cylinder models were offered in road going form. 1910 saw the adoption of an automatic oil pump and a new sprung fork. However, perhaps the most significant innovation that year was the introduction of a two speed, all chain drive with a "free engine clutch". For 1913 the "Cradle Spring Frame" was introduced which employed leaf springs controlling a swinging arm to provide rear suspension and for 1915 a three speed gearbox became available. 1916 was a year of profound change for the company with the F head configuration being abandoned in favour of side valves heralding the introduction of the "Powerplus". During the first year of production the new 998cc machine continued to employ the frame previously used by the 1915 F head twin, but for 1917 a new frame, still using the leaf sprung back end was introduced. Little changed until 1920 and the introduction of a revised primary drive chaincase and controls, to be followed in 1922 by a further revision to the frame design. Production of the "Powerplus"/Standard" series of machines ceased in 1924.
The example offered dates from 1921 and is offered in a disassembles state requiring restoration. It is offered with an old style Swansea V5, correspondence relating to vehicle registration and a number plate.

PLEASE NOTE: There are two boxes of parts and a mudguard with this vehicle. These are available for inspection at the Documents Office.