| At the beginning of the twentieth century, Springfield | | | | before the Indian factory became known as the |
| Massachusetts saw the birth of a legend in the shape | | | | 'Wigwam'. |
| of 'The Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company'; | | | | By 1940, Indian has almost rivalled its major |
| its most famous models being the 'Scout' and the | | | | competitor Harley Davidson in sales. The company |
| 'Chief', the latter being in production for an incredible | | | | also produced engineless bicycles, air conditioning |
| thirty-one years. | | | | equipment, aircraft engines along with many other |
| The founders of the company, which was originally | | | | lines. This year also saw the introduction of the |
| known as the 'Hendee Manufacturing Company', were | | | | skirted fenders which were to define Indians for |
| George M. Hendee and Carl Oscar Hedstrom, a pair | | | | years to come. Another innovation that arrived at |
| of former bicycle racers who joined forces to | | | | this time was the sprung frame which made the |
| produce a 1 ¾ horsepower motorcycle. Sales | | | | machine far superior to the Harley of the day. In its |
| began slowly, but soon increased giving the company | | | | basic form, the Chief could reach 86mph, but with a |
| a solid platform to build upon. These early bikes were | | | | little tuning over 100mph was possible. |
| belt-driven and by 1903 were performing well enough | | | | Ralph B. Rogers was the leader of a consortium |
| to allow Hedstrom to create a new motorcycle | | | | which bought a controlling interest in Indian in 1945, |
| speed record of 56mph. | | | | and on November 1st Dupont officially handed control |
| Aurora of Illinois supplied the engine that would | | | | to Rogers. Unfortunately Rogers discontinued the |
| power the 'Diamond framed Single', which carried the | | | | Scout to concentrate on models such as the 149 |
| rich red that would become synonymous with Indian. | | | | Arrow, the Warrior 250 and the Superscout 249. |
| Introduced in 1902, sales rose to 32,000 in 1913. 1907 | | | | These bikes suffered from poor quality and a lack of |
| saw the introduction of a V-twin which, along with | | | | development and by 1949 production had almost |
| Erwin 'Canonball' Baker would set many long distance | | | | ground to a halt. In 1953 manufacturer of all Indian's |
| records culminating with a trip from San Diego to | | | | models was ceased and the import of the 'Royal |
| New York in a record time of 11 days, 12 hours and | | | | Enfield' from England began. These models were |
| ten minutes. As is the case today, competition | | | | badged and sold as Indians throughout the rest of |
| inspired technical innovation and Indian went from | | | | the decade. Later, the Indian name became the |
| strength to strength, winning the Isle of Man TT | | | | property of a company that imported 'Matchless' |
| race in 1911. Not only that, but Indians finished second | | | | motorcycles, however the Indian name wasn't used. |
| and third too. | | | | In the 1960's, one Floyd Clymer began to use the |
| The Indian Chief and Scout appeared in the early | | | | Indian name on imported bikes from Italy, apparently |
| 1920's and went on to become the flagships of the | | | | without buying the trademark from the last known |
| company. By this time, both Hendee and Hedstrom | | | | owner. When Clymer died in 1970, his widow sold the |
| had left the company. Both bikes won the admiration | | | | mark to Los Angeles attorney, Alan Newman who |
| of the public, not only for their looks, but also for | | | | continued to import Italian machines, and later bikes |
| their durability, hence the saying, 'You can't wear out | | | | from Taiwan, but by 1975 the company was in |
| an Indian Scout, or its brother the Indian Chief. They | | | | trouble and in 1977 was declared bankrupt. A legal |
| are built like rocks to take hard knocks; it's the | | | | battle ensued for the rights of the brand name, and |
| Harleys that cause the grief'. | | | | eventually in 1988 the Federal Bankruptcy Court in |
| By 1930 Indian had teamed up with 'Dupont Motors' | | | | Denver cleared the way for 'Gilroy' to resume the |
| who ended the production of Dupont cars to put | | | | production of Indians. These bikes became known as |
| every ounce of energy and resource into the | | | | the 'Gilroy Indians'. In 2006, a London based company |
| development of the Indian. Their links with the paint | | | | took control and created a new factory in Kings |
| industry saw a dramatic increase in colour choice, | | | | Mountain, North Carolina. Plans are being drawn up to |
| with 24 on offer by 1934. This is the time when the | | | | produce a new chief, something we all look forward |
| distinctive Indian head-dress logo first saw light of | | | | to. |
| day on the tanks of the machines, and it wasn't long | | | | |