Sunday, February 14, 2010

Hail to the Chiefs: Springfield, Massachusetts' Indian Motorcycle museum exhibit





Airbag, shmairbag...put the kids in the wicker sidecar!

High-tech Indian-motorized World War I fire power

Tell me Albert, what part of the name "Shrimp" do you find demeaning?

Helen Kiss, aka The Pink Lady

Check out this ladies' model equpped with a Gucci-like saddle bag

Jane Russell could ride an Indian like nobody's business

The Indian-powered motorized toboggan (heated seats were not an option)

Indian Motorcyles were one of many industries located in bustling Springfield, Mass.

You don't have to be a motorcycle enthusiast to get all revved up about a cool permanent exhibit at the outstanding Museum of Springfield History in Springfield, Massachusetts. The Esta Manthos Indian Motorcycle Collection features more than two dozen antique motorcycles that were produced by the then-politically-okay-to-be-named Indian Motorcycle Company's huge Springfield factory from 1901-1953. Looking at these magnificent bikes and the crazy things people did with them, you can't help but think that people certainly were a lot tougher 100 years ago than we are today. Seatbelts? Go fry ice. Airbags? So's your old man. And women were no slouches back then either, as the Motor Maids of America will attest. They even had an Indian-motorized toboggan back in 1945. So here's to you, Springfield. This exhibit is a real feather in your cap.

3 comments: