Saturday evening post

[Sargehere]

Funny, the sellers of this thing call it the "infamous bike of the century."
The word infamous, to me, means, "famous for all the wrong reasons," exemplified by FDR on Dec. 8th, labeling "December 7th, Nineteen hundred and forty-one," as "a date which will live in infamy."
Geez, I wonder just how many folks this bike has killed? Riders, or just pedestrians who got in its way?
And, all the time I looked at that photo of the cover, I didn't notice that it had no 1947-50 'redball' tank emblems. Whether the original did or not, it may have just been the Saturday Evening Post's way of not copying Harley-Davidson's trademark to its cover.

[Paquette]

Is there some reason my posts do not get to the AMCA forum? It seems like I am always farting in the wind when I post messages so I guess I will just keep my thought to myself from now on--

[Chris Haynes]

Found the magazine article about Mil Blair & his building of the TEX bike.

In Earlyriders issue one.

Comparing the photos maybe 2 different bikes, all the seat & bags are different also no tank emblems on magazine bike like original Post picture

To me Mils/ Earlyriders is a much better job

I was talking to Mil last year and he was building a TEX bike then. Not 30 years ago.

[Sargehere]

Is there some reason my posts do not get to the AMCA forum? It seems like I am always farting in the wind when I post messages so I guess I will just keep my thought to myself from now on--

That one did, Michael! Keep farting! We like what comes out! Well, you know...

[Edd]

Can't believe all the bad press over a good looking bike.

I saw this bike at Super Swap in Syracuse last week and I found only one thing bad.
It wasn't parked in my garage.

Ed

[Mr. Big]

Asked and apparently answered on the eBay listing....

"Q: The bike you are trying to pass off as an original was created by Mil Blair in Los Angeles. Tex was painfully recreated by Mil over the past few years. It was entered in the January Las vegas autction but did not meet reserve. Bear in mind that if someone does buy this from you believeing that it is the original bike, then finds out that it is a recreation you may find yourself in hot water. Good luck, Feb-13-10
A: This bike was built by us over the last year..It was US that had it at the Vegas auction..Mil Blair had nothing to do with it..Get your facts straight or you may find yourself in hot water..."


Also, aren't the seat and saddlebags brown leather in the Post pic? Or is it just my failing eyesight? Seems like a big miss if they are.

[Sargehere]

..."aren't the seat and saddlebags brown leather in the Post pic? Or is it just my failing eyesight? Seems like a big miss if they are."

Good eye. I have an about 14" x 17" poster of that Post cover here, and maybe the artist was just trying to express the light reflecting off the bags and seat, but they're definitely the color of a brick, as is the non-reflecting fur cover, a solid brown. Not like the replica bike. Hmmm...

[Chris Haynes]

I guess two different builders were recreating the same bike at the same time. Alas I guess neither one is the original Tex bike.

[flat-happy]

now one will get the patina treatment and stored in a barn for a couple of months and turn up on the tv show "pickers". first time a 1950 panhead without a senior first will break the $20000 mark.

[rbenash]

Wow interesting twist to this thread So how many Tex bikes are there now, 3? I'm loosing count Here I thought it was the original, just restored. Great info.

[Mr. Big]

Good eye. I have an about 14" x 17" poster of that Post cover here, and maybe the artist was just trying to express the light reflecting off the bags and seat, but they're definitely the color of a brick, as is the non-reflecting fur cover, a solid brown. Not like the replica bike. Hmmm...

Well, Michael has raised his hand as the crafter of the seat and saddlebags so I'm assuming he can tell us the decision behind the selection of the leather color for the replica. And while I'm at it, I'm curious about a couple of other things. Is the front wheel a solid rim? Or some kind of period piece that was available back then? The front wheel is not visible in the Post pic so I was wondering why not a spoke wheel like the rear. And the gas tank seems to have a "crease" above the shifter gate? Or is it just a reflection? Well crap, the more I stare at it, the more it looks like a reflection.....I've got WAAAAYYYY too much time on my hands...

[flat-happy]

it is a spoke wheel with hubcaps on it

[Mr. Big]

it is a spoke wheel with hubcaps on it

Thanks. I'd never seen one before this. Was this a popular option back in the 50's?

[Sargehere]

Yeah, they're basically two big circles of tin, Mr. Big, spun against a hardwood buck on a lathe, chromed, in this case (may be s.s.) and they screw together, sandwiching the spokes between. New, they look great. But leave them on too long without maintenance, attention, and your spokes and nipples all go to rust. Then you NEVER want to take um off. he he. Definitely a popular '50s period accessory. NOS ones have gone on ePay recently for mucho moola. They weren't Harley, but aftermarket. They're also available in repop, so prices are lower.

[flat-happy]

popular and rare then AND today----see the ones on my avatar? these were an earlier version and i don't think anyone is making repops of these ones