1951 Indian Chief question

[Jerry Wieland]

On a 51 Chief with engine number C 423x B where the x is really a digit, what would the frame number have looked like. Jerry

[tfburke3]

On a 51 Chief with engine number C 423x B where the x is really a digit, what would the frame number have looked like. Jerry

Jerry Hatfields Resto guide shows the 1951 serial# and motor # as c-2001 and up.
Tom

[Jerry Wieland]

Jerry Hatfields Resto guide shows the 1951 serial# and motor # as c-2001 and up.
Tom

So the C in the engine # does not get converted to a 3 like it does in earlier Chiefs?

[tfburke3]

So the C in the engine # does not get converted to a 3 like it does in earlier Chiefs?

No,its a C.I have C-20** frame # .
Tom

[Jerry Wieland]

OK Thanks for the information. Jerry

[Yellow53Chief]

Hi,
The serial numbers for 1950 Chiefs are a little unusual. The best information is that two batches of 1950 Chiefs were built. The first batch of 500 were machines CEJ1001 through CEJ1500, with frames 3501001 through 3501500. The second batch of 500 were machines C-2001 through C-2500 with frames C-2001 through C-2500. About half of the surviving C-2000 series machines are registered/titled as 1951 machines for various reasons. For 1951, the best information is that one batch of 500 were made. These machines are C-4001 through C-4500 with frames C-4001 through C-4500. The vast majority of surviving C-4000 series machines are registered/titled as 1951 machines. Of the 500 C-4000 series Chiefs that were built, I know of only about 25 survivors. Many of these machines were exported, and this may explain part of the poor survival rate. I do have a few photos of C-4000 frame numbers. PM me and I'll send you what I have. It is interesting note that the C-2000 machines and C-4000 machines have a dash (-) in the engine and frame serial number stampings. One of the few times Indian used a dash (-) in earlier times was for the 1939 machines. The later CS 1952-53 Chief machines did not use a dash.
I have seen instances of people restamping frames incorrectly, using the wrong stamps. An example would be engine C-2462 with frame 3502462. Machine C-2462 originally came with frame C-2462.
I just checked my records, and the above example of engine C-2462 was later claimed to be in frame C-2462. Could it be that the earlier claim was a misprint? Maybe, but it wasn't my misprint. Is it possible that frame C-2462 was found and reunited with engine C-2462? Possible, but unlikely. The most likely scenario is that the 3502462 received a second restamp to currently show C-2462. Multiple restamped engines and frames do exist out there. It can get quite messy.