Treasure Hunting Stories

[LouieMCman]

I got a story to tell when I get time to type it....but in the mean time how about some pictures with the stories???

Louie

[LouieMCman]

Ok, here’s my story. My mother was born and grew up in the small southern Ohio town of Blue Ball (yes this is true). When I was about 6 or 8 I remember going to the neighbors rather large garage and playing in his cars and sitting on his motorcycles. Fast forward about 30 years to a Wauseon meet were the buzz was that some old motorcycles were found and of course were being called the Blue Ball bikes. When I heard about them I knew it had to be the same bikes I sat on in the garage of Dick Doan way back when. At the time my father still worked at the steel mill were Mr. Doan’s daughters husband worked so I ask my dad to contact him and see what the deal was with the bikes. From there I think the bikes were tied up in the courts for a couple years and finally bought by one of the OVC members in Loveland, Ohio. A couple years later at Wauseon I had the chance to ride one of my friends ’13 Excelsior single that turned out he had bought from the member in Loveland and was in fact one of the Blue Ball bikes that I had sat on almost 40 years ago. And yes, I offered to buy it if he ever wants to sell. There’s always room for one more!
Louie

[c.o.]

Cool one Louie, maybe you'll end up with the Excelsior one day! Good one about the Blue Balls!

Hey ID, on my way home from work today I got sidetracked by a big pile of junk that I hoped would turn up a find. Well it didn't supply much except a few good old oil cans and a really cool old tricycle, but I've got the fever! Better luck next time maybe. I had a good look at the Henderson in the Antique Motorcyle. Very Nice!

[I.D.]

Cory, I still have my green mongrel.Okeefe Ranch was the best kept secret in BC .Owen,Darryl,Art and the guy,s put on a great event with all the amenities.That short flat track was just right for the gearing on my hillclimber which was a good thing since it only has one gear (high).Also got to get some track time on a WR and a 648 Big Base scout there. One of the best parts for me was getting to talk to the late GREAT Walt Healey.If the world had more guy,s like him it would be a better place.Walt in his 80,s was still riding his sidecar outfit in the winter to dealer ( I think Yamaha)conventions in the US.Got to see him crash the burning wall at Okeefe several times.Unfortunately progress has this meet on the ropes and I don,t know if they are going to have it this year.With the border hassles from 9-11 I haven,t been up there since.Paul, Have you been checking out Ebay lately,as I have seen a few of the Scout clutch baskets you were looking for on there. ID>>>>>>>>

[c.o.]

Ian, your right about old Walt. He was quite the character. I had the opportunity to have a few visits with him at different rallies over the years and it was always a pleasure. That Yamaha sidecar outfit that you referred to roasted me and my Beezer climbing up the Roger's Pass one year enroute to the Okanagan. He said that it felt best at about 80mph! As far as the rally goes I do believe that they are having it again this year according to the O'Keefe web-site anyways. Rumours were flying around last year about it being cancelled and it sure seemed to affect the turnout. The event I believe is being run by different folks as I didn't see Art around at all. Daryl and Jim Green were on hand as well as Ron Lacey and his WR and of course the infamous Son of Howdy was there to keep a few of us up all night! It was a good time overall anyway. Paul was the first guy to ever take my Scout for a ride, via the back of my Ford pickup that is! It was the first year in about 8 that I didn't have two wheels together to go. But I think at the very least my Beezer chop will be making the pilgrimage over the hump again this summer and hopefully the Scout in the not so very distant future!

[mcarver]

buried (or not ) treasure

Ok people, I tried to post this story a couple of weeks ago but I was visiting relatives and the ^%$#$% dial up modem made me lose everything after 20 minutes of typing! Here goes try #2. About 12 years ago I was wasting time before I had to be at work bartending. I was young, dumb, poor and all the rest, but I liked rusty old junk (now I'm older, dumb, poor and I still like rusty old junk!) Anyway I rode my special tall frame 1930s Schwinn "motorbike" bicycle down to this little store front on the near east side of my hometown. This area is one of the oldest business districts in Spokane (1890s) and ironically only a couple of blocks from where my business is now. This little shop was run by an old tool and die maker and his buddy in their spare time. They repaired old slot machines and dealt in Coca Cola signs and such. I sauntered in and casually inquired about old bicycles or motorcycles or anythihg relating to the aforementioned items. The proprietor denied any knowledge or possesion of same. After a few minutes of chewing the fat I was about ready to make for the door when he says out of the blue, "wait, now there is something I've got hanging in my barn, at least I think it's still there..... it's a bicycle frame but it says INDIAN on the front and looks like somebody cut out the seat tube to make room for an engine." I lost interest in the door and scrunched up my eyebrows... see even at that tender age I knew that early Indians were equiped with pedals, but I also had seen my share of "one offs" where people had created something that had not and should not have ever existed. Also I was thinking of old motorcycles in terms of the 38 chief basked case a neighbor of my inlaws had (twelve years later I"m still working on that one boys, stay tuned) and I thought "oh great, I'll probably start out with some really early and incomplete find and spend the next 15 years scrounging for parts." Fast forward almost two years of bugging the poor man to dig the beastie out from his barn where it was forgotten behind the alfafa hay his wife fed her horses with. On a wonderful August day I purchased a 1908 or so diamond frame Indian missing only the front wheel and fork, engine and oil tank, gas tank, stem and handlebars, all linkages, fenders, seat and seat post. What may you ask was left? The frame, rear wheel and hub, bottom bracket eccentric and pedal cranks, and of course the nifty die cut headbadge. I made off with this treasure for $400.00. Then my brand new wife didn't understand when I took it with us on our honeymoon so I could show it to some contacts in I planned on visiting along the way.
Here's the backstory you'll not want to miss: seems the tool maker had hung this junk in the barn about 15 years prior after he found it in the woods in northeast Washington somewhere outside the mining town of Republic, WA. Apparently he and a friend were up there investigating some old mines and somewhere along a forest service road they stopped to admire the "scenery" and water the local shrubbery. The friend said, "Hey, look at that old bicycle leaning against that tree!" They deemed it worthy of dragging home and through it in the back of the pick up and the rest is now history. Now you need to hear the story of the 1906 Indian that was found in the little town of Grand Forks, BC just a stones throw away from Republic, about the same time I found mine, but that is a story best told by its finder Frank Motschko of Kelowna, BC. Stay tuned I have more stories!
Mike Carver

[I.D.]

Mike, What a great story.That wasn,t found in Molson was it? During our national road run I was looking all over that country for the different routes and thought it was probably good hunting for really early motorcycles,I missed a 12 Henderson chassis because I was too lazy to help a buddy haul a triumph he had sold over to oroville.Turns out the guy had this 12 chassis in the family with the engine being lost to a local mechanic many years ago,so the chassis just sat there.Later in the year thru an ad it was sold to another AMCA member.I don,t know what it is about the central interior but it turns up the coolest early motorcycles.I guess Palmer Rutledge was a very active Indian Dealer in that area and sold a lot of machines up there,but they are extremely hard to find.another guy I know dug a t head Cleveland 500 out of dirt hut also someplace in that same area,how many of those things are still around? maybe two.What,s the story on the 38 chief? I.D.>>>>>>>>>

[c.o.]

I can relate to that typing out a message and losing it before you can post it ****s! Great story! Keep 'em coming this is good stuff!

[mcarver]

treasures: buried or otherwise

I'm glad you guys liked that story. Hi ID, I enjoyed your posts. I don't know much about the details of my bike's past (sometimes I wonder about its future!) The 38 chief, now there's a long drawn out uneventful story. It seems about a year before I got wind of the 1908 carcass I was chasing down legends and rumors of old bikes in southeast Wa State in the Palouse area. I had heard a rumor of some farm boys (now in their late 70s) who had buried (they think they buried it, now they don't really remember: remember this for later in the story) a late teens Powerplus when they "cleaned up" the farm in 1949. I actually got permission to dig, yes by hand with a shovel, in the area where all the old treasures were buried with the caterpillar dozer. My mental state was obviously in question and after several hours and numerous "test holes" I had several blisters and an aching shoulder but no 1919 Indian. A few months later I was asking around some more and a neighbor of the "boys" said that the guy on the next place up still had his "1930 something Harley or something". I could hardly contain myself. I made the phone call and sure enough, the fellow said "yep I still have my chief, but it's been in pieces since 1960. You see I learned to fly helicopters in the army and after I got out in 1958 I didn't have much interest in motorcycles." He invited me to come out and have a look next time I was in the area. Soon I was out there and sure enough, it's in a lot of pieces, spread through several buildings in boxes and plastic buckets. He said he had second thoughts and didn't know when or if he'd want to part with it since he'd had it since 1950 before he had his license. Since then I stay in touch and pester him often about letting me take on the burden of putting it back together. The interesting side note is that he also has several parts of a late teens powerplus he was trying to get running when he was in high school. The problem was that while he was away in the army, his dad sold everything but the tranny and wheels for scrap! Remember, this is about a half mile from the place where the neighbor boys "buried" the 1919 Indian a dozen years earier....... coincidence??? You be the judge. Here's a question for ID: is your friend who found the T head Cleveland from Coeur d' Alene? If so he told me the story, if not, then I heard about another one! I have "collected" stories from various people for the last 15 years or so and there have been some good ones, but I love hearing more! I wish I would have found that 12 Henderson chassis! Bring on the stories!! I'll attach a couple pics of my 1908 Indian project (the most recent pics are a couple years old, it's now all in boxes) Good night everyone!
-MC

[I.D.]

MC, Bingo ,it was Neil,s Cleveland.Digging for motorcycles show,s the truely low desperation this hobby brings to anotherwise fairly normal individual.When I was an apprentice machinist at the Navy Yard in Bremerton Wa I had a smokin deal on a waterfront cabin by Harstene Island (all I had to do was take care of it,NO RENT)The place had it,s own row boat and the beach right out the front door was crawling with dinner,that is Dungness crab you know the big ones you pay $25 apiece for now.Well there was a real nice family who lived next door in a cabin they had bought in the 50,s for a retirement place. They were probably more than curious who the kid with the old motorcycles was next door so came over and told me this story.I was trying to get my wreck of a 39 four started one Sunday afternoon,when the neighbor comes over to chit chat and say,s you should look at these license plates that are nailed to the wall in my garden shed.Being the naturally curious person I am I said sure and sure as hell there were about 15 Wa motorcycle plates starting in the late 20,s to about 48-49 as I remember hanging on the wall.I said well someone did a lot or riding here a while back ,to which he said yes we bought the place from a guy that had some Indian motorcycles .Apparently he had taken them apart (this is another disease)and put them under the house,which right next to salt water probably wasn,t a good idea.He had a daughter who would have been about 6 years old then who was climbing all over the frames and engines and getting cut on the sharp edges of the frames and such,so being the good father he was he drags all the old junk out from under the house and throws it in the now abandoned well next to the house and backfills it.Well of course you know what my question was ,where is the well and can I dig it up(refer to the beginning of the story for clarification).At this point he,s starting to get a little worried what he,s got living right next door as he couldn,t imagine why anybody would go thru so much trouble,but alas the answer was NO,the reason was the lady of the house loved her garden and had planted quite an arrangement over the top of the well.fast forward 28 years and me an my wife Karen are ridin the 39 Chief thru the area and I get,s this wild idea to see if the plates are still there.We stop in and have a real nice visit everthing just as I last saw it,but the plates are gone.I asked him about the well again and got a treasure map but as long as he,s alive nobody,s diggin in his garden.Now he ,s REALLY worried about who was living next door 28 years ago. I.D>>>>>>>>>>>>

[c.o.]

MC another great story! This is a lot of what it's about for me and obviously countless others. It's the thrill of the hunt and the anticipation of finding pay dirt when it's all over. It leaves us with an urge to find more just so these adventures can continue. As I don't have many of these stories of my own you guys are allowing me to live vicariously through you and the drool is getting thick! I think a book with this kind of stuff would be a good seller within our club members and probably beyond. ID, let's hope you get a chance to do a little gardening one day, it sounds like a good crop could be unearthed. I suppose you've probably heard of Jim Green's digging expediton for his 1913 Ariel. Sometimes I guess the digging for parts is quite literal. I've got a shovel in my truck and the hunt is on! Thanks again guys this stuff is GOOD!

[mcarver]

treasure hunting

Hey Boys,

I'm getting addicted to checking this page for new stories... ID, I don't know how many stories Neil has told you, but I've heard quite a few over the years and I think that was just scratching the surface. He is an archive of amazing finds over the last 50+ years! Unfortunately his health has been not good especially for the last few months. I say a little prayer for him everyday. I think it would be great if somehow we could interview as many of the older members as possible to record their stories before it's too late. Other groups do this all the time for cultural histories etc. Here's an idea: maybe close friends or family members could have these fellows write, dictate or record their stories then donate them to the club as an "oral history" of the hobby (disease, addiction....) of old motorcycles. Perhaps at some point these stories could be published in some form such as a book, or on cd or both.. Let's seriously think about this. I think that if many people all over do a little bit it would be more effective than a few people trying to do a huge project. Ask around, is this a possibility????
-MC

[c.o.]

Good idea MC if a few people take notice of your post maybe the ball could get rolling. It would certainly make for an interesting historic read on our addictions........er....old motorcycles. Heck, between you and ID there would be enough for a chapter or four alone!

[INLINE4NUT]

Ok this one wasnt so long ago butmore than twenty years have pasted ! So I guess it qualifies!
I got a call from an old fellows wife stating they heard I bought old bikes and had a Harley in the barn and it was time to sell,but dont think your coming here and getting it for nothing! I arranged a date and time and showed up promptly! we sat in the kitchen and I had a friend with me the lady said its in the Barn and my husband will take youto see it but dont even go if your not going to offer a fair price weve been through this with some other young fellows and we just tired of the whole thing! Weooked and it still being a little cold went to the Barn and came back to the house where I ask the price and the lady did ALL the talking,she said her price and I kinda laughed to which her husband piped in and said to her I told you he wasnt going to be fooled, at which point he said now sonny you make a good offer and shes yours,I made the offer and much to my surprise he said no I wont take your offer and before I could counter he said its yours but wanted 2500 LESS I ask if I heard the rite figure and he said yes you did and I wont take a penny more! To which I shouck his hand , we counted the money and my friend and I backed up my truck and loaded the bike and thanked the fellow,the barn was like below the house so he walked back to the house and we started to leave he came out the front door and flagged us down,my friend says he has come to his senses and you are going to loose the deal! I rolled down the window and the fellow says hold on Ive forgotten Something! He came back with his original Harley riding jacket which was to small for me but has fit my two daughters fine and is still like brand new!
BELIEVE IT OR NOT !!!

[I.D.]

green mongrel in the den of wolves

Cory ,you asked about my hillclimber in another post so I thought the story of how I came by that bike an interesting story. One of the best meets on the west coast which I think will still be held for a year a two more was at Mike Fischers ranch outside of oakdale California. me and Karen attended this meet a few times and had a great time at this perfect park like setting and as Karen volunteers for everything we were helping sign people in for the camping and such.About mid afternoon an old hammered I think Datsun pickup rolled in to camp and attend the meet. I noticed in the back the green mongrel in the back with a 38 chief power plant thrown on top of it and other Indian parts strewn in the back of the pickup.This really wasn,t a swap meet but a campout and road ride ,but it was obvious this stuff was gonna get flogged,while the guy was signing up, somebody asked him if it was for sale and he said not to bother him until he got set up,he left to find a spot to set up and I tried to keep an eye on where he was going so I could enquire about the green mongrel in the back.After taking a few more registrations in ,I went a hunting,there in the middle of the field he had stopped and was leaning up against the tailgate BS with some of the biggest rust collectors in southern California(you know who you are)kickin tires and puttin on their best I,m not interested shtick.Having been on the losing end of this scenario many times in the past I knew there was not time to waste so walked up to the pickup and instantly noticed the $750 written in magic marker on the tank,so,s I ask him is that what you want for the scout and he say,s yes,to which all the jaws dropped standing around the truck and the shuffle was over ,cylinders and part started coming out of the pickup at greatneck speed ,after buying the scout I started to reach over to put my hand on the 38 chief powerplant (complete all except heads)when in slow motion long time friend and fellow rust addict Rusted and Busted Bob slides his hand under mine and onto the motor.If you have been around long enough you know that when the hand is on the part it,s your deal until you take it OFF.I think $550 was the price on this origninal beautiful unmolested motor and trans and evertime I see Bob I give him you know what for it.He in turn alway,s tells me I got the better part of the deal.So acting fast got me the scout ,but I had a problem as I didn,t have any money on me and was at the mercy of likewise bandits like myself.So looking eyeyball to eyeball with other good friend Lowell(you Calif guy,s know who I,m talking about) I handed the seller $50 and told him I,d be back in an hour with the rest and it was Aok.I scrambled into town and got to a cash machine and got the money,when I got back and we rolled the scout out of the back of the truck I started to roll it away and the seller say,s wait a minute and threw two standard size 40 + sport scout cylinders with heads on the ground and said take these as I don,t like the scout,s .What more can you say but THANK YOU.