early sidecar

[c.o.]

Clyde!!! Thank-you for taking the time to help identify the hack. I can't tell from your picture but would the consensus still be that the body is Harley? I've yet to find a picture that quite matches the nose on that tub. The body does look similar from the side view but I'm curious as to what a National hack looks like from the front... I'll have to do some digging.......

[exeric]

Cory, I think the body is a good match to the picture that Clyde posted. I thought it was Harley at first but I now believe it's all National.

[c.o.]

Eric, I think you fellas have me convinced......... The old hack needs a little work and I just may hang it off the Powerplus when it's all sorted out.... Thanks again to everyone for all their input. Clyde it looks like you've solved my mystery!!!

[Clydeflathead]

early sidecar

Mr. Othen, I realize this is just an artist's rendition, but it is the only front view of a National sidecar I have. This is a flyer from Feb. 1922. You can see the body front
in the upper right corner of this flyer. I believe your hack is all National, although your
wheel has me stumped. This is really very interesting sidecar history, as National Dairy or Hastings Mfg. ( the same company owned by the Hasting Father and son combo) had
a hand in the production of the Rogers,National, and Goulding sidecars. This flyer also
shows the early Goulding chassis (the model G ) Why they fell out of favor with Mr. Rogers and later Mr. Goulding caused the demise of their business. Creditors took over Hastings Mfg. in April 1922, Hastings Mfg. was sold May 14th. 1924, and officially done in
on May 17th. 1924. Of course Rogers went on to produce his sidecar in Chicago,Ill. Mr Goulding went on to produce his sidecar in Milwaukee, Wis. later moving to Saginaw, Mich. in 1926.

[pisten-bully]

Was this the same Ralph Rogers who bought Indian in 1945?

[c.o.]

Clydeflathead, your efforts and research regarding my sidecar are greatly appreciated. The latest attachment has me 100% convinced that you have correctly identified the hack. When I went to pick up the Powerplus, I went only knowing that it came with an old sidecar. The previous owner was under the assumption that it was a Rogers. I didn't know for sure and that is why I asked on this board. It never ceases to amaze me on how much can be learned here. Do you folks down south see such hacks showing up at meets? Later today I'll get some better photos of the wheel posted for a possible ID. I have no idea whether it really belongs to the hack or not. It was found in a seperate out building under a pile of other treasures on the farm.

[Tommo]

Here's some 1919 National Stuff

[Tommo]

And 1917 and 1919 Rogers adverts

[Tommo]

Opps! The 1917 advert is the narrow one on the right

[c.o.]

Thanks Tommo!!!

Here's a shot of the footrest inside and the door latch...



and a few of the wheel....

[pisten-bully]

Was this the same Ralph Rogers who bought Indian in 1945?

Answered it for myself. Different Ralph.

[Clydeflathead]

early sidecar

pisten-bully, The reason I did not answer you was, I had no answer. I know very little on the Indian Motorcycles. As for Ralph Roger's sidecars, I find some of the history very interesting. National Dairy produced His sidecars, Then He produced his sidecars, before selling out to Ero Mfg. who produced the Rogers sidecars. I have included some flyers of the Rogers model M, model M1, and the model P. They also had a model H. Ero Mfg. say they made some improvements to the Rogers Model P in their flyers. It's a wonder they could keep up with who, was making what ,back in the day.

[pisten-bully]

Clyde, Ralph B. Rogers who took over Indian from DuPont was born in 1909... so it's highly unlikely he was in the sidecar business in 1917. When I saw your research and your documents (really good stuff by the way) I wondered out loud if it was the same Ralph Rogers. He presided over the demise of Indian.

[Clydeflathead]

early sidecar

pisten-bully, Thank you for the quick Indian history lesson, sometimes I don't know which I enjoy more, the old motorcycles and sidecars or the history and stories behind them.

[Tommo]

Cory,
That wheel looks like a 36 hole Eclipse wheel to me and appears to be a front wheel rather than a sidecar one.
Most sidecar wheels are threaded externally on one side to take a hubcap and have a fixed axle rather than a hollow one.
What do the rest of you guys think?