Vintage Pics of the Day

[JoJo357]

Thanks JoJo and it must have been 2008 when I saw the bike at Oley. The rider was an old guy then and I had to start the bike for him for the return journey. Where is it now?

Ya Steve, that's the 20 million dollar question. I've only seen a couple V's in that color combo over the years, and that was many m()()ns ago. Someone has that sweet 34' somewhere.

*M.A.D.*

[pfindlay]

Picture 4344 shows Ray Tursky on a 34VLD when he won the Jack Pine trophy, and #4346 shows him on a 35VLD when he placed third the following year. I saw the '34 at Oley a few years ago. Apparently Tursky sold it around 1938 and the new owner had kept it since then. It was in the late season Copper Du Lux paint scheme. Somewhere I've seen a magazine article on that bike.

Is this also Ray Tursky, on Henderson KJ?

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[JoJo357]

Sure looks like him. Great picture Peter.

*M.A.D.*

[JoJo357]

*M.A.D.*
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[Steve Slocombe]

It looks like a last year 1931 Henderson in #4352 with that headlamp, and the Servicar in #4354 is a 1935 from the paint scheme.

[ammorest]

Great picture of a 1931 KJ. Too bad it's missing the Auto-Lite generator. Cool shoes, though.
Dave

[ammorest]

A debated issue on a 1931 KJ is the holes in the horn face. Round versus rectangular. The bike pictured has round and probably is original. I have seen several with rectangular holes but few with round holes. Could it be they used both? Were the rectangular non motorcycle? Did the manufacturer change design? Plus, in 1931 Henderson was not very forthcoming with literature since they were about to cease production of motorcycles. Any opinions?
Dave

[jcrawford]

Yeah! Where can I get a pair of those COOL shoes Ray has? ...... would love to have a KJ like that too! Great photo.

[pfindlay]

A debated issue on a 1931 KJ is the holes in the horn face. Round versus rectangular. The bike pictured has round and probably is original. I have seen several with rectangular holes but few with round holes. Could it be they used both? Were the rectangular non motorcycle? Did the manufacturer change design? Plus, in 1931 Henderson was not very forthcoming with literature since they were about to cease production of motorcycles. Any opinions?
Dave

This picture is from a 1997 AMCA magazine. It shows John Scharle's bike as restored, with the rectangular hole horn. I also have pictures of two '31 KJs that Rich Schultz restored with the same horn. I wonder if someone made up a batch like this and they made became the norm back then? It's hard to argue with the period photos that show the round holes. Or, maybe the supplier just changed the look mid-year.

1931 Henderson KJ restored AMCA Mag 1997-summer.jpg
Peter

[JoJo357]

*M.A.D.*
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[Steve Slocombe]

Here's me on my 29 KJ having fun. The bike was titled as a '31 with that headlamp, but is a '29 from the serial number. It has the early horn and the accessory spark plug shield shown in picture #4359. Casting date on the crankcases is 4-19-29 so it is just coming up to 96 years old. Ah, the fun they must have had!

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[exeric]

Great to see a picture of you, and your '29KJ, Steve and both of you are looking tip-top. The KJ series is a tough bike to do, but so glad to see so many of them back in service thanks to devoted enthusiasts who love the culmination of the Henderson brothers, and Schwinn's legendary motorcycle.

[pfindlay]

Here's me on my 29 KJ having fun. The bike was titled as a '31 with that headlamp, but is a '29 from the serial number. It has the early horn and the accessory spark plug shield shown in picture #4359. Casting date on the crankcases is 4-19-29 so it is just coming up to 96 years old. Ah, the fun they must have had!

Great picture, Steve, thanks for posting it. Is your KJ black or dark blue?

If anyone has one of those accessory spark plug shields, I'll buy it. After one ride on my KJ I understood why they were mounted.
Peter

[Steve Slocombe]

Thank you Eric and Peter. What a great bike is the Henderson KJ! It seems a backward step to go from side valve back to inlet-over-exhaust, but those inlet valves are huge, and presumably inspired by the 1925 Excelsior Super-X that was so successful in its early days. It was maybe the first 36 bhp production bike, and I was always told you need that to do 100 mph, which is why you see how popular they were in 1929 with the Highway Patrols, plus they were easy to start and a comfortable ride. This bike was restored in 1978 in New England and heavily chromed, as we all did then. I bought it as a tired runner and restored it again. I was able to get the chrome off the wheel rims and paint them, but for the rest I had to strip the chrome and replace with period correct nickel. For Peter the colour is dark blue, I hope Henderson blue, and I think one of our Dutch members is reproducing those spark plug shields. I'll try to put you in touch.

[Tom Wilcock]

Here is a picture of a brand new 1929 Henderson with sidecar our local police department bought. I am now restoring what I believe is that bike.
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