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I have wanted to share this Excelsior project with my fellow AMCA members. Now that our diligent forum administrator has changed the title of this category, I think it’s more usable. I hope more members take advantage of this and show what they are doing. For example, seeing how Slojo tackled some of the obstacles on his Gray Ghost build has been very useful, and inspiring to me, and showed how most any problem can be solved.
I have already posted much of this on Buzz’s CAIMAG forum so it will be a re-hash for some of you. I parked the Excelsior project last June, but I’m now back on it and have more to add. So, I’ll start with a bit of Excelsior history, and the history of my 1916 Big X..
I have a good friend in Orlando named Charlie Carter. Charlie was a past editor of “The Antique Motorcycle” and was known as Mr. Excelsior back in the 70s and 80s because of his great interest in the Chicago Brand X. Charlie had a printing industry related business in the old part of Orlando, and it was always enjoyable to stop in after work for a cocktail, and some B.S. In addition to Charlie’s motorcycle collection, the owner of the building he was in, was a prolific collector of old cars, stock cars from the Daytona beach racing days, and real period hot rods from the late 40s and early 50s. Needless to say, there was always something interesting to look at.
In addition to Hendersons, Excelsiors, and Indians, Charlie had the fenders, a gas tank, most of a motor, a transmission with clutch, and many of the odd brackets, and control parts for a ’16 X. I looked at that stuff for the better part of year before the hook got set. I had just finished a Series 20 Excelsior and I didn’t know if I wanted to go back down that rough road. Particularly, building a bike from parts. Still, I found myself looking at pictures of ’15-’19 Excelsiors, and liking the styling more and more. I don’t remember the details of the deal but I got what Charlie had.
That year I went to Davenport and I’m thinking it was 1990. I didn’t have expectations of finding anything major for the Ex, but, Mike Smith had a 1916 Excelsior frame, fork, and handlebars and that was the most advantageous purchase I’ve ever made in this hobby. My long term project suddenly became most of a whole motorcycle.
I wish I had taken more pictures of the ’16 X pile as it grew, but that was in the days of film cameras and I was more selective of what I took pictures of. This is the only picture I can find of the ’16 in parts. It’s really a better picture of my 1919 Henderson in parts.
I have already posted much of this on Buzz’s CAIMAG forum so it will be a re-hash for some of you. I parked the Excelsior project last June, but I’m now back on it and have more to add. So, I’ll start with a bit of Excelsior history, and the history of my 1916 Big X..
I have a good friend in Orlando named Charlie Carter. Charlie was a past editor of “The Antique Motorcycle” and was known as Mr. Excelsior back in the 70s and 80s because of his great interest in the Chicago Brand X. Charlie had a printing industry related business in the old part of Orlando, and it was always enjoyable to stop in after work for a cocktail, and some B.S. In addition to Charlie’s motorcycle collection, the owner of the building he was in, was a prolific collector of old cars, stock cars from the Daytona beach racing days, and real period hot rods from the late 40s and early 50s. Needless to say, there was always something interesting to look at.
In addition to Hendersons, Excelsiors, and Indians, Charlie had the fenders, a gas tank, most of a motor, a transmission with clutch, and many of the odd brackets, and control parts for a ’16 X. I looked at that stuff for the better part of year before the hook got set. I had just finished a Series 20 Excelsior and I didn’t know if I wanted to go back down that rough road. Particularly, building a bike from parts. Still, I found myself looking at pictures of ’15-’19 Excelsiors, and liking the styling more and more. I don’t remember the details of the deal but I got what Charlie had.
That year I went to Davenport and I’m thinking it was 1990. I didn’t have expectations of finding anything major for the Ex, but, Mike Smith had a 1916 Excelsior frame, fork, and handlebars and that was the most advantageous purchase I’ve ever made in this hobby. My long term project suddenly became most of a whole motorcycle.
I wish I had taken more pictures of the ’16 X pile as it grew, but that was in the days of film cameras and I was more selective of what I took pictures of. This is the only picture I can find of the ’16 in parts. It’s really a better picture of my 1919 Henderson in parts.
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