A piece of history in a barn

[Grouse]

My friend that let me hunt his land and take my 8 point buck in 2023 knows I'm a motorcycle guy and was telling me his 94 year old father has an old motorcycle in the barn that he used to ride when he was young.  I asked if I could see it and he invited me over yesterday to look at it.

It turned out to be a 1914 Indian that is in ratty shape, but all of the original parts are still there (except the front tire).  It hasn't been run in decades, but it's been in a dry barn and seems to be very restorable.  After looking it over, the old man said he is not interested in selling it and invited me into his house to show me some other things he's collected over the years.  He has a cool custom made 45 caliber muzzle loader that is beautiful and at least 50 years old, but I'm not familiar with the maker.  He has many other things he's collected from around the world as well.  Old firearms, bows, spears, shields and knives adorn the walls of his home.  Each one has a story to go along with it too.  He also has a 1970 Cadillac Coupe De Ville convertibe in the garage that is in pristine condition and keeps on a battery tender so he can take it out for a drive every so often in the summer.

I never pass up any opportunity to meet and chat with people as old as he is.  They experienced an entirely different world and the stories they tell and things they still have in their possession from decades ago always fascinate me.  It's like speaking to living history.

Edited March 8 by Grouse

[Moho81]

Dang, imagine getting that old Indian up and running! 

[Daveboone]

Oh my! That Indian is a jewel! I cant blame him for not wanting to part with it....but even in the condition it is in, ....it is worth a fortune!  A true restoration would probably set them back a mortgage. I wonder if the motor is a total loss oil system? (pretty sure that is what it is called...basically uses a trickle oil feed for lubrication). 

[Daveboone]

A few years ago outside of Watertown, I was admiring a 1930s vintage HD that was parked outside a hardware store. It was very much a "rat", but totally brought into riding condition, safely and legally. While I was admiring it, an old salt walked out of the store...the owner. He was happy to share the bikes history. He bought it as a basket case in the sixties, went overseas and forgot about it. He rediscovered it about ten years ago, and with some friends help got it running (one kick start!). He researched the bike to discover it was sold to the City of Watertown Police department...and was even able to identify the officer it was issued to. Even cooler, he has a great photo of the officer on the bike escorting President Roosevelt when he visited Watertown in the thirties!

[First-light]

Cool story, I thought you were going to end up with the bike! 

[airedale]

Good stuff grouse, that old Indian is still worth some serious coin. I have always gravitated to old timers to pick their brains, the number of valuable things I have learned from them is incalculable, I once read that when one of them old timers pass it is the same as a Library burning to the ground, so true.

Al

[mowin]

Those old timers are few and far between. IMO, the stories these guys have, are far more valuable than the "stuff" they have held onto. 

There's a 94 yr old around the corner from me. He has his dad's all original 1908 Indian motorcycle in incredible condition. Good friend of mine has been trying to purchase it for 15 years, but the owner will not part with it. 

[Grouse]

Most would need to take out a mortgage to afford it.  They are rare.

[Dr Juice]

That’s awesome

[landtracdeerhunter]

The knowledge these people share is priceless. I have earned the upmost respect for them . They are the building block of America.

[Tughill Tamer]

Kewl stuff that's for sure. I also thought you were coming home with the bike.

Sent from my moto g power (2022) using Tapatalk

[landtracdeerhunter]

How many thousand would that 1914 Indian bike be valued at in it's original shape?

Restored, would it be worth 100K?

[Grouse]

If it were restored to like new condition, it would be worth $200K

Indians are far more rare than Harleys.  There is a motorcycle exhibit in the Smithsonian in D.C. with vintage bikes that is really interesting.  Those bikes are worth millions.