1929 Indian Crocker

[Barry Brown]

THIS MUST BE ONE OF THE FIRST BOBBERS IN CALIFORNIA
DID YOU KNOW BIGSBY IS ARGUABLY MORE FAMOUS FOR ELECTRIC GUITAR INNOVATION THAN WORK AT CROCKER? HOMER WOOD DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF HIM ! check out the ohv Indian

[c.o.]

Ramble away Barry! This is good stuff............

[rbenash]

When visiting with Milby I did see the 500cc police Guzzi, along with a few Excelsiors and also in his father's garage next door he showed me an almost completed FN 4 engine that he was working on. He had sever Nimbus as I recall. He was a great guy. I met him that one time for the first time and he acted like an old friend. There was just to much to remember and I can't. In the small gararge (not the museum) he had an old Harley belt drive that had a fore/aft flat engine like a Douglas. Spent hours between his fathers house, the garage and the museum and work area. Showed me how he was rebuilding tanks. He was a machinist as well and made parts that he couldn't restore or find. Just a wealth of knowledge. Then when that was done we sat in his kitchen and had some beers. He started parading stacks of old tank decals, spark plugs, just all kinds of cool stuff.

Sorry to hijack the thread I know it's about Crockers. But seeing his name triggered some great memories from that visit. I was in my 20's then and was truly impressed by him and his stories, wealth of knowledge and welcoming persona.

[Barry Brown]

19 year old Homer Wood behind the factory just after taking delivery of Crocker #4, the first one sold to the public. Homer almost immediately rode across the country to do his Masters in mechanical engineering at MIT. In Idaho the valve seats fell out so a series of telegraphs and Al personally machined up a new set of heads ( without seat inserts!) and sent them up. The rest of the journey was uneventfull.

[Early Iron MC]

Here's a unmachined Crocker OHV conversion.

[Barry Brown]

If those came from Janus they are copies of the Australian ones as I was in Milby's garage when he borrowed them. Gwen borrowed them as well years before to make his copies.

[HarleyCreation]

Originally posted by Barry Brown

Sorry, I am rambling, I could go on for hours.

Keep going. It's good stuff.

[Early Iron MC]

I think these are copied off of Milby's set, I got them from a friend who didn't have the skills or money to build a motor with them. Here's some pics. of Gewn's speedway bike.

[Early Iron MC]

Pic. 1

[Early Iron MC]

Pic.2

[Ohio-Rider]

Barry... Thank you again for sharing your knowledge with the rest of us uninformed folks. Please do continue. I'm soaking it all in. I'll be sure to post a photo tomorrow of this claimed, 1929 Indian Crocker that will be displayed here.

Mark... Thanks for the photo of what a Crocker conversion really looks like. I can't wait for tommorow to see what this Indian's powerhouse looks like. -Steve

[Barry Brown]

Homer Wood at Muroc 1936 with his near new 61" hemi head serial #4 stripped for time trials. Homer did circa 110 mph , then rode back to Los Angeles picking up a traffic ticket for no muffler on the way!

[Barry Brown]

Here's what every little Crocker ohv valve Indian conversion wants to be when she grows up, a fire breathing , 84 inch dual port, twin carb ,4 cam, torquer.

[rbenash]

Barry and Mark - thanks for a great thread and education. I've been loving this thread, the history, early pics and awesome trivia on the subject. Please - keep "rambling" in Barry's words!

[petri]

I'm also fascinated by all of this. There are more people following this thread than you probably think. It's really a wonderful way to learn what doesn't seem to be written in any books. Please continue.

Howard