early sidecar

[c.o.]

Yup, haulin' Ma around could definitely could put a dampener on things... Cool pic!!!

[Clydeflathead]

early sidecar

Dang, How am I ever gonna make time with my favorite girl, iffin I gotta take her darn maw with us everywhere we go ?

[c.o.]

I could be wrong but judging by the info that has been provided here I believe this could in fact be the wheel for the sidecar (note the solid axle).... I'll wait anxiously for opinions....... Thanks again for the interest in this hack.

[Clydeflathead]

early sidecar

C.O. , Could you post a few photos of the wheel without the endcaps on it ? Also a photo of were it mounts to the chassis would be helpful. I would really like to figure out
if that is the correct wheel or not. I noticed a grease and dirt build up on the inside of the hub, which I see on most used sidecar hubs. The 36 spokes and clincher style rim
would be correct for that era. I think if we can figure out how ,or if ,it can be mounted to the chassis will tell allot about this rim. I like the grease cup in the center of the hub, really neat stuff, very nice sidecar.

[c.o.]

Unfortunately it looks as though the end date was September, 10th.... looks like I'm a little late......

Thanks for all the effort regarding the "National" hack in my shop. At least I know what it is now. It may take me some time to get it rolling as I have a fair bit of work to do to the bike that will be hauling it.....

[Clydeflathead]

early sidecar

Now if We can just get Mr. Othen to hurry up and get it done, snap a bunch of pictures,
and get them sent it, Hard telling how much cash He will win.
Best of luck on your sidecar, it's a beauty !!

[Clydeflathead]

early sidecar

Tommo, National sidecar talked of their new 40 spoke wheel with heavy spokes on the new 1920 models, so the 36 spoked wheel sounds right for that era, but I admitt it has
me stumped, for the same reasons you noted, but I have not given up on the research
yet. I have included a photo and story on the Vibrasorber chassis of 1920, not the same
chassis as Mr. Othen's, but interesting all the same.

[c.o.]

Thanks for the input Tommo!! Interesting.... maybe that would explain why the wheel wasn't found near the sidecar. I guess I'll be looking for a proper one at some point. Hopefully after the snow melts in the spring I'll get a chance to venture out to the prairies to do some snooping around. I've got a feeling that there could be more bike stuff there....

[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?

[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.

[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, 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]

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

Answered it for myself. Different Ralph.

[c.o.]

Thanks Tommo!!!

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



and a few of the wheel....

[Tommo]

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