Charles Lindbergh and his Excelsior "X"

[servicardenise]

That would make a lot more sense. Thanks for the correction.

You are welcome

[c.o.]

There was just this brief reference to the picture:

On the Cover
The stately pile in the
background is "Round Hill" the
estate of Colonel Green, in South
Dartmouth, MA. The cycle is a
Cleveland. And the lucky man
standing behind it is the Lone
Eagle, Charles A. Lindbergh.

I was talking to Gene Harper recently and he is a student of Lindbergh history. Gene made the comment that Lindbergh loved motorcycles and they were a significant part of his early life. As we all know, you're a biker for life and I can't believe Lindy was any different.

Well it's a great cover photo if nothing else. Now I'm wondering if Gene has an opinion on the Tornado connection????

[gharper]

I don't have any idea about the Cleveland 4 connection. Over the years, I've read almost every book Lindbergh wrote , looking for specific details of his motorcycle. I've never found a motorcycle reference (by Lindbergh) to anything other than his series 20 X machine. I do have 2 pictures of him riding what looks to be an Ace through a field. This picture was dated 3/11/1930 and was taken in Monteray Ca.

I've tracked Lindbergh's motorcycle all over the country up until March of 1928. At that time, he left the machine in St. Louis when he boarded a train to San Diego to assist in the manufacture of The Spirit of St. Louis airplane. The transatlantic flight occured a few months later, his life changed drastically and it appears that the machine stayed there for some time. I can't find a definitive reference to the machine until the 1964 article by Ted Hodgden detailing the restoration of the X.

So, I'm very curious where the reference came from mentioning that he donated the motorcycle to The Henry Ford in 1943. Also, the sale price of $290.00. I have a 1921 sales brochure that lists the series 20 magneto model for $435.00, dated Sept. 1920.

Gene

[c.o.]

Thank-you for commenting Gene. Maybe that Cleveland belonged to the estate owner? I guess we may never know.