History of Hendee the company that produced the Indian Motocycle 1897-1953 

My former brother-in-law Edgar Hendee was a great nephew of George Hendee. He is still living at the age of 88.

Indian Motocycle's history is quite convoluted, and the attempts to revive the name in more recent years has finally (I think) succeded! The new bikes (built, I believe, in Iowa) are truly excellent. I have ridden the new Scout (cruiser style bike) & the FTR (standard style based loosely on their flat track racer). Both are fully competitive in the modern motorcycle market. I love the old classics though & would be happy to own any of them for their historical cachet!

Back in the early-80's, a friend and I bought a '52 BSA B33 500 basket case and were looking for parts. The former BSA dealer in town had literally thrown out their stock of BSA parts a year or so before. They only sold Suzuki motorcycles at that time. We were told who picked up those BSA parts and where he lived. I believe his named was Hugh Darby. We went over to his address and were blown away. The guy lived in a log cabin and had an old western town facade in his back yard and it wasn't a bunch of miniatures either. They were actually storage sheds. Now, he wouldn't show or sell us any of the BSA parts. He'd probably been more akin to selling his first-born. He did invite us to see his restored motorcycle collection. It was in a separate purpose-built building of which the inside was like a motorcycle dealership. In one half were Indian motorcycles and the other half were Hendersons. All the bikes were perfectly restored. Many had made it to the front covers of motorcycle magazines over the years. They were absolutely beautiful! The pictures you showed reminded me of what was there. I know the man passed many years ago and I have no idea whatever happened to his collection and have often wondered. I don't think his log cabin and outbuildings are still there. I couldn't find them on Google Earth. There are multiple motorcycle collections and museums still around. It would be cool if you visited them and featured the motorcycles in them.

Very good, thank you wonderful motorcycles great history

For WYR, it’s the 1920 Indian Scout, and the ‘37 Indian 4. Knowing little about motorcycles, I guess I’ll learn something in the coming months. I couldn’t help but notice the streamlined design of those late-1930s bikes!

Great history on a company that had an early impact on motorcycles. As a ten year old in 1966 I saw an Indian motorcycle with its distinct logo parked by a baseball field in Phoenix and always wondered why this brand failed.

Every new parent stays awake for several months ....

The Model "O" was an opposed or flat twin as opposed to a "V" as you described it, it was modeled after the British Douglas. Which the British described the engine as a "fore and aft" design. Great work to you, thanks for covering motorcycles.

Very nice change of pace and very well done, as usual.

I love them all

Love motorcycle Monday very informative

Nothing is new? What it's like motorcycle episodes are new! I'd choose the 1916 Indian Power Plus and the 1928 Indian Four, although they are all awesome. My favorite Indian is Deepika Padukone but the 1906 Indian Double Cylinder Racer is pretty sweet too. I enjoyed the episode.

Have you been to Wheels Through Time motorcycle museum in North Carolina? Man, that place is chock full of Indian and H-D bikes, all in running condition. They even ride them through the museum!

Indian had standardized on left-hand throttles early on, as a way to increase appeal to Police who had their guns holstered on the right. Harley countered by using a non-spring-return throttle which stayed put where you let go of it. The in-line 4 started as the same engine Henderson motorcycles used; not sure if Indian bought the company to do that or not. In WW2, the US chose Harley to be their primary bike which hurt Indian financially. After the war, Indian had only a flathead bike, and Harley had their 'Knucklehead" OHV engine and in 48 the "Panhead" which Indian had nothing to compare to; it was a faster better bike and spelled the end for Indian. They tried several ploys such as selling re-badged Royal Enfeild bikes from Englandas well as selling scooters, but by then Harley dominated the US large bike market, and England was shipping over smaller bikes to sell as fast as they could make them. Jay's done a good overview of Indian history here for those who might not know it's history, but even a 6-hour episode couldn't really cover all the details of Indian. The brand being sold today has absolutely nothing to do with any of the old iterations of Indian; they simply bought the rights to the brand name. WYR is the 24 Chief and the 40 Indian 4. Both are iconic Indians. If I could choose one Indian, it would be Burt Munro's Bonneville Streamliner Indian which topped 200MPH unofficially.

WOW, $275.⁰⁰, for a motorbike, when back then, you could buy a brand-new automobile, for $600.⁰⁰!? Also like the concept,of 'Motorcycle Monday'!!!

WYR: All of them. Old Harley-Davidson bikes: Throttle on the right, toe-to-go. Old Indian bikes: Throttle on the left, toe-to-stop.

Mr Hendee and a certain Mr Arthur Davidson were friends, because of their shared interest in cattle ranching and (no kidding) motorcycles... My Grandfather rode a Powerplus w/sidecar. Those later twins were actually vertical twins, basically Royal Enfields...don't get me started about Clymer... 1916 Powerplus (that is the same year as my Grand Dad's) 1940 Indian 4 My Favorite of all, either the 1941 4 or any of their Dispatch Tows....

Can you please make a video about the 1960 oldsmobile 88

Royal Enfield. British Bangladesh India manufacturer??? Unusual Story🤔👍

Mabel at the wheel. 1914 Charlie Chaplain First Indian Motorcycle on film 📽️👍 enjoy the movie 😉👋👋

'24 Chief, '40 Indian 4.

Would the song be , 'Hopelessly Devoted to you' by Olivia Newton John.

1940 😎👍🏼

Bike companies for videos? Harley, of course, Triumph, BSA. Royal Enfield, Brough and Brough Superior (not the same), Henderson, BMW, Zundapp, Ural, Honda, Rikyo...

Those Indian fours are fascinating. Dad told me about riding a Henderson four. Noticeable torque effect from the inline. Back in the days before standardized controls, many motorcycle cops liked the Indian because, unlike the Harley, the throttle was on the left, thus allowing a right handed man to ride and shoot.

I know a LOT about the post WW2 Indians. I owned a 1950 Arrow from 1972 when I was discharged from the U.S. Navy until 2016 when I moved to my present home in Tennessee and gave it to a young cousin of mine who always admired it. The Arrow and Scout and Warrior of 1949 on were VERTICAL engines, single and twin, NOT a V twin ! The twins were side by side VERTICAL engines. The Arrow, model 149 had a 244 CC (15 CI) single cylinder engine, the Scout model 249 had a 488 CC (30 CI) two cylinder engine. This was later increased to 500 CC (30.5 CI) in the Warriot. These were made to compete with the British motorcycles beginning to be imported to the U.S. after the war. They did not sell as well as expected. When war surplus Harley 45's could be had for a much lower price, they struggled to compete. In an ill advised attempt to keep their dealerships going in the early 1950s Indian made an arrangement with AJS-Matchless to sell their bikes in Indian dealerships. In the 1950s motorcycles bearing the Indian name and trademark script were made by Royal Enfield in England and sold by Indian dealerships. They were hard to get parts for, and required special Whitworth wrenches which few Americans had, so they went over like a lead balloon. By this point, in the late 1950s the Indian production ceased and Floyd Clymer took over the name and made some bikes bearing the old trademark, small dirt bikes which were a sad ending to the old line.

MY FRIEND GRANDFATHER ROAD FOR INDIAN IN THE 20 s HIS NAME WAS KENNY TATTOM AND AS A CHILD HE WAS A GRAND OLD STORY TELLER IN THE LATE 40S HE OPENED A RESTAURNT NAMED KENNY ' S BAR -B QUE IN RAWDON QUEBEC AND IT IS STILL IN BUSINESS.

Motorcycle Monday was a success to me. Very interesting history of Indian cycles. In high school, (1968-'72), many friends had motorcycles instead of cars. Kawasaki, Suzuki and even the lowly Honda 90. Lol I only saw a couple of Indian brand cycles but it was legendary.

Very good information on the Indian..I always prefer Indian over HD..it seems you have the same enthusiasm for motorcycles too..👍👍👍 I like..

Very cool Jay, this is the first of your motorcycle videos I’ve seen and I really like it. For the WYR I’m going to take the scout and the 28 inline 4 having ridden my grandpa’s 29 Cleveland inline 4 that came with a factory guarantee to do 100 mph I have to say there is something totally exciting about those early bikes with virtually no suspension or brakes , basically a engine, tires and handle bars but they are a ton of terrifying fun and talk about turning heads 👍👍

Well presented, Sir!

My Dad owned a 1940 Indian four he said it was the best bike he ever owned. It has a art deco type of style. His last bike was 1986 Honda 1100 Gold wing when he was 72 years old.

Great video, great series on motorcycles. I had the Harley and friend had the Indian. Great job on the history.

Carl Oscar Hedström, born in Lönneberga, Småland. The place Astrid Lindgren chose för "Emil i Lönneberga".

Great historical coverage, Jay. Indian, seemingly stuck in a time warp, and BUELL, not yet starting up production.

San Diego to New York is impressive, given that a road system didn't exist yet. Sleep or no sleep.

I recently saw a Harley Davidson documentary that told that all the while Harley Davidson was making revolutionary new parts and advancements they weren’t patenting them. Indian found this out and set about patenting them. Pretty soon Indian had control of Harley Davidson.

Great video

Fantastic Jay , Great Idea for new series ,well done thank you

Three wheel motorcycles 🏍️ would be interesting Jay!

‘20 Scout. If it was good enough for Burt Munro, it’s good enough for me! ( watch Worlds Fastest Indian )

Great vid!!!!! 🤜🤛 🏁

Great first episode of Motorbike Monday.

"Warchester" is pronounced "Whoo-stah."

Great history of the Indian Motocycle!

I choose the Power Plus.

Friend James Deemer's mom was a Hendee.

Got the Motocycle right! Good !

Hi Jay! VERY interesting history on George Hendee and the Indian Motorcycles! My great uncle had an Indian for a while. I will have to see if I can find the picture of him on it, and see if I can decipher which model he had. WYR 1920 Scout. My favorite Indian 4 is that 1940 model with the beautiful skirted fenders. Might just be my favorite Indian bike of all time!

Nice video, I had the pleasure to work on many Indians from all over the world. I worked for a guy named Wally Komondy who knew Indians inside and out with a full machine shop to boot. Sometimes I wish I could go back in time, if you're still alive and happen to see this Wally it's 2 tall. Thanks for teaching me all you did.

Honda Cub 50 Taking the World on two wheels. I heard it said there's more honda cub 50s than refrigerators produced 🤷.🤔 that's an achievement 👍

I always liked the looks of the older Indian bikes. In the WYR, I chose the 1920 model, and the 1940 chief. Would really like to ride one some day.

Before they banned the circus stunts globe of death & wall of death in the 60's the 101 was the only bike safe enough to perform the stunt.

Very, very, very cool video I always loved the Indian motorcycles awesome!!! 25 -40

leyenda vivas 👍

Henderson

Hi Jay. Cheers from New Zealand

It's midday Tuesday here in New Zealand 😊

Enjoyed this one. Well done first motorcycle episode lots of good pictures and history. The 40,s 50'5 models were good looking bikes with the skirted fenders. , First pick 1916 Indian power plus, second 1940 Indian 4.. Read some of my Indian history book today, found a magazine article that Indian made 4 prototype cars in 1927 , but abandoned the idea. only 1 exist in a museum.

You're so correct. Unfortunately nothing is new

A little too much in this video for me. I would prefer if you just focused on one model at a time, like you do with cars. That said I would prefer a 1970 Sportster. LOL.

Are you actually trying to sound like a robot reading from Wikipedia? Annoying enough to make me check out 😢

What a great episode - well done! I will have to watch this more than once. For a company to consider - Vincent. WYR: 1920 Scout and 1940 Indian Four. Thank you very much ~ Chuck