ORIGINAL1915 INDIAN MOTORCYCLE CATALOG & HENDEE MEDALS!

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This is a handsomely bound green leather book, 10" X 7.25" and 1.25" thick, that was apparently made up by Indian Motorcycles (the Hendee Manufacturing Co.) at the end of 1915 to be mailed to potential and existing dealers. It consists of eight bound-in sections: A basic "business" section and the seven "Honest Injun" booklets that were produced in 1915. Also included in this auction is a 1904 Motorcycle Racing medal that belonged to founder George M. Hendee (It's pictured in the business section), a souvenier coin-like piece from a 1892 bicycle race and vintage original photos of Mr. Hendee. I don't know if t's an Indian Motorcycle Museum (t certainly should be - and it should include the Plymouth-powered BEAST I drove home for a friend in 1957) but if t is, these items should certainly be in it! The pendant of the medal, approximately 1.5" X 1.25", shows a winged device of some sort - I think it's a stylized spark plug - the letters F. A. M. and the date 1904. The reverse of the medal is maker marked ROBERT STOLL N.Y. This medal is featured on page 5 of the first section of the book above the caption "Hard-Earned Trophies of Early Motorcycle Endurance Runs". The 1.5" "coin" is most likely something given to participants. It reads DIAMOND TOURNAMENT, FALL MEET L. A. W., SEPT. 14-15, 1892, SPRINGFIELD , MASS, S. BI. C. Mr. Hendee (like my grandfather) was a race-winning "wheelman" in the pre-motorcycle days. Also included in this auction are ORIGINAL vintage photos of Mr. Hendee, one at 17 years of age wearing his "Wheelman" medals, and the second of Mr. Hendee at a somewhat older age, in a racing costume of the period, with his bicycle. Both of these photos are on page 4 of the book. Both photos are water damaged as can be seen in the scan. The leather bound book has some scuffs on the exterior but the interior is still tight, bright and in exceptionally nice condition. "THE LARGEST MOTORCYCLE BUSINESS IN THE WORLD". This section gives information about motorcycle pioneer George M. Hensee and illustrates his many bicycle racing medals (illustrating one included with this auction), the founding of the Hendee Manufacturing Co. (Indian Motorcycles) and information about the company. It includes photos of the earliest Indians (the first Over The Trail and the original Indian Twin of 1905, as well as views of the interior and exterior of the factory, etc., etc. T are a total of seventy-seven photos in this 32 page section. HONEST INJUN - JANUARY - FEBRUARY 1915 CATALOG. This original bound catalog includes the dealer forms of the period, payment plans, financing plan, advertising plan, sample contract, purchase forms, installment payment forms, storis about the various Indian Motorcycle dealers, racing news, etc., etc. HONEST INJUN MARCH 1915 CATALOG. This catalog includes news about the Paris, London and Australian dealerships, US dealerships, various Indian ads, and lots more. HONEST INJUN CATALOG, APRIL 1915. The future of the motorcycle, racing, police use of motorcycles, and lots and lots of other information. That month Indian mailed out 150,000 consumer catalogs to Indian owners. HONEST INJUN, MAY 1915. This month's catalog deals with Indian Motorcycles in the U. S. Army , US and Australian racing, etc., etc. HONEST INJUN, JUNE 1915. World's recordon 100 mile dirt track, 1600 mile record, Indians in Calcutta , and more. HONEST INJUN MID-SUMMER ALL PICTURE NUMBER. Features Indian Motorcycles having won the Grand Prize at the 1915 SAN FRANCISCO PANAMA -PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION. Indians at war in Eurpoe, 79.83 MPH world's record for Indian, lots of photos of motorcycle activities, a story about 2 nd U. S. Infantry Lt. E. L. Hoffman's 18 day San Francisco-Boston motorcycle trip, Indians in the 1915 War Games at Fishkill Plains, NY, and more. HONEST INJUN, OCTOBER 1915 - 1916 POWERPLUS NUMBER. Great drawings of the 1916 Big Twin, the 1916 Rigid Frame, the 1916 Featherweight plus powerplant illustrations, new ... read more

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