what color white to do an all white chief

[cscott]

thinking of painting my 1930 chief all white, does someone know which white it was? thanks

[PaulCDF]

"Thinking of painting my 1930 chief all white,"

Well . . .
In the Library the 1930 Chief 74 Pamphlet states:

'FINISH-Indian red with gold
striping standard. Chromium
plating. Special colors optional
at extra cost.

Additionally in . . . Let's say it together: "The Library":

There Is:

Indian finishes: This information furnished
courtesy Jerry Hatfield,

1920-1923 all models: standard, Indian Red;
optional, white or dark blue fine
double gold stripes around edges
of tanks. Fenders striping, Scout
only: . . .

1924-1926 Chief, same as 1920-1923; Scout
striping was changed to single
line; . . .

1927-1929 same as 1924-1925 except Scout
fenders were changed to unrib·
bed design . . .

Nothing specific to 1930 found by me other than what is offered above.

1930 start of the Great Depression would they have changed from what they were using and had on hand?

BUT seeing as it is YOU CS.

I took the question to Elons' GROK (Why waste all that computing power on space exploration when we got bikes need painting?)

Here is what Grok offers:

"The optional white on 1930 Indian Chiefs was the same basic factory finish listed in the AMCA/Hatfield notes you already have for 1920–1929: simply called “white” (with fine double gold pinstripes on the tank edges). No factory documents, catalogs, or Hatfield updates I could locate specify a unique shade, DuPont code, or change for the 1930 model year.

indianmotorcycles.net

Restorers and period photos of surviving 1930s Chiefs (and closely related 1930 101 Scouts) consistently describe and match this optional “white” as a warm off-white/cream enamel—not a stark, appliance-style pure white. It’s often referred to simply as “cream” in restoration discussions and appears as a soft, slightly yellowish-cream when paired with the standard Indian Red in two-tone schemes."

"No evidence of any shift in 1930. Indian’s paint specifications carried straight over from 1929 (as the Hatfield/AMCA notes imply by stopping at 1929 with no break noted).
The 1930 model year was already tooled and in production planning before the stock-market crash fully hit; paint was already on hand from existing suppliers.
The DuPont family bought a controlling interest in Indian in 1930, which actually expanded color options in later years (they supplied dozens of DuPont Duco/Dulux enamels). But the basic optional white/cream for Chiefs remained the pre-merger formulation through the early ’30s."

facebook.com +1

"No 1930-specific factory color chart, parts catalog entry, or Hatfield addendum lists a different white. Later DuPont codes (e.g., various “cream” or “ivory” mixes like 93-005 in some 1930s schemes) appear in discussions of 1938+ bikes, but restorers treat the 1930 optional white as the same continuous cream shade used since the early 1920s."

scribd.com

If you’re restoring one and want a modern match, most vintage Indian specialists mix or order from DuPont-style formulas that replicate the warm cream enamel (often described as “cream yellow” or a soft ivory-cream). The AMCA judges and 101 Scout/Indian Chief clubs generally accept a well-matched cream that looks correct next to original red with the gold striping. That’s the most definitive info available from factory references, Hatfield’s work, restoration forums, and period descriptions."

GROK did offer a couple of pictures of Indians one a 4 cylinder the other a MODERN Indian (Grok is not always correct). These pictures were "Webpages" and I hate those things.

While I had Grok up it suggested "DuPont paint codes for 1930s"

"Here’s what detailed research turns up on DuPont paint codes specifically for the optional white/cream finish on 1930 Indian Chiefs (and closely related 1930 101 Scouts).No Exact 1930 White/Cream DuPont Code Found The optional white listed in the Hatfield/AMCA notes (and carried over into 1930) does not have a publicly documented specific DuPont Duco or Dulux code in available factory references, restoration guides, or enthusiast forums for the exact 1930 model year.

indianmotorcycles.net

Indian’s pre-DuPont ownership (through most of 1930 production planning) used generic “white” or “cream” enamel descriptions without the detailed numbering that became common after the DuPont family’s full control and expanded color offerings took hold.
The DuPont merger influence began in 1930, but widespread adoption of coded Duco/Dulux enamels (often in the 93- or 94- series) appears more prominently documented starting in 1931 and later.

Closest References for the Period One restoration-oriented source explicitly lists cream (yellow) 93-005 as a DuPont code associated with early 1930s Indian finishes (sometimes paired with Indian Red schemes). This is frequently cited as a warm, slightly yellowish cream/ivory enamel—matching the visual appearance restorers aim for on 1920s–early 1930s Chiefs and Scouts.

scribd.com

Forum discussions of vintage Indian cream often describe a shade “more yellow than modern Ivory,” sometimes referenced as DCC5729 Cream Yellow (a later or internal DuPont reference seen on tank decals and similar-era bikes). This aligns with the soft off-white/cream look in period photos and restorations, rather than a stark bright white.

indianmotorcycles.net

For comparison, the standard Indian Red around 1931 is well-documented as DuPont Duco #22857 (or matched to current 658 Red / 0-94-658-M). No parallel white code from the same era surfaces in the same threads.

Practical Advice for Restoration Most AMCA-judged restorations and 101 Scout/Indian Chief club members match the 1930 optional white/cream by eye or by using a custom mix that replicates the warm cream enamel with the fine double gold pinstripes. They avoid pure “appliance white” or modern bright whites. If you’re having paint mixed: Start with DuPont-style formulas referencing 93-005 (cream/yellow) or a “Cream Yellow” equivalent.
Provide photos of original-paint survivors or Hatfield-era examples to your painter.
Specialists (e.g., those who supply air-dry Dulux enamels for vintage Indians) can often cross-reference or batch-match from surviving chips.

Later 1930s Indian schemes (1934+) used many more DuPont-coded colors due to the expanded palette, but the basic optional white/cream for 1930 remained the simpler pre-expansion shade. If you have access to an original paint chip from your bike, a surviving 1930 Chief, or Jerry Hatfield’s full unpublished notes, that would be the gold standard for an exact match. Otherwise, the consensus in the vintage Indian community is to use the warm cream described above with gold striping for authenticity. Let me know if you want leads on painters/suppliers who specialize in these early DuPont-style enamels or more on red codes for two-tone schemes."

HOPEFULLY some one with real world knowledge will chime in.

[Green Indian]

These are some screen shots I took from an auction site that was selling some old advertising, not sure if the colors are automotive or perhaps related to enamels used in appliances. But they are DuPont colors and some of the names, Tangerine Orange were Indian colors offered at the end of production.

Just thought you’d appreciate the range, the Ivory color is what I’d choose if I were painting a 101 Scout and wanted to pair it to a blue or red.

[cscott]

wow, thank you for all that information

[Steve Slocombe]

I used Wimbledon White on my 1930s Harley Police bikes. They did not have titanium dioxide bright white pigments in the 1930s, so this is a very faint cream colour. There may be a RAL code for it if you are interested. Picture of a 1935 bike in this colour is attached.
35vldd02.JPG

[ammorest]

Steve: Isn't that Ford Wimbledon white the same as the Harley Birch white That Harley started using in 1957? Thanks.
Dave