Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: george_wright on October 27, 2010, 09:59:58 AM

Title: For you bikers
Post by: george_wright on October 27, 2010, 09:59:58 AM

I know some of you are motorcycle aficionados.  Thought you would enjoy this  trio (http://www.shorpy.com/node/9225?size=_original target=_blank) (new window).

Title: For you bikers
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on October 27, 2010, 10:29:48 AM

Cool

Title: For you bikers
Post by: oddmetersam on October 27, 2010, 04:55:05 PM

For the guy closest to the camera, what's more impressive: His bike, his protective leggings, his gauntlets...or his hair!
 
Seriously, though, great shot! Thanks.
 
-Sam

Title: For you bikers
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on October 27, 2010, 07:18:14 PM

And I must say, I've never worn jodhpurs on a motorcycle - but on that one I might!
 
Peter

Title: For you bikers
Post by: bigredbass on October 27, 2010, 11:52:25 PM

This is just fabulous, and I'm tickled to discover Shorpy, I love old photos.
 
Amazing to note this photo is from a glass negative, not all that uncommon in the early 1900's, before paper-backed emulsions finally took over.
 
Then as now, the OEM horn on most motorcycles leaves something to be desired !  Notice the hard-tail aft:  The leaf-spring you can see alongside the back wheel is for the seat!
 
119 hours from DC to Frisco would be a pretty good time today, barring you 'Iron-Butt' types.  
 
The text goes on to note that this little trip was part of an exercise to demonstrate the effectiveness of motorcyles as couriers in wartime:  The backstory to this was that before WW2, Harleys were an OK motorcycle IF you couldn't afford an Indian.  Indian and Harley both were tapped for war production as were most industries then;  Harley exploded under the huge wartime revenues they were able to recieve.  Indian could not keep pace, lost gov't contracts, and with bad postwar management was gone by the mid-fifties.
 
Thanks, George !
 
J o e y

Title: For you bikers
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on October 28, 2010, 06:09:50 AM

I just looked - didn't see anything to read - but the caption says 1915; that would be before US entry into WWI as well, which was the intended venue for said courier duty. Many classic Indians lie ahead at this point.  Also, I beleive the coil spring is for the seat & the leaf is, indeed, rear suspension; look where it mounts, and note the lack of an upper member on the tail section.
 
Peter

Title: For you bikers
Post by: David Houck on October 28, 2010, 08:35:09 AM

Peter, look below the picture; there is a section where viewers have posted comments.  In that section, Dave, who submitted the photo, posts an article from the Washington Post dated July 18, 1915 which is the text that Joey is referencing.

Title: For you bikers
Post by: David Houck on October 28, 2010, 08:41:50 AM

Joey; I agree, it's a very nice collection of photos.  So my thanks as well George!

Title: For you bikers
Post by: benson_murrensun on October 28, 2010, 08:50:59 AM

The kick yer ass look on their faces is kinda incongruous with the lovely knit sweaters. Just sayin'. ;-)
But, oh, those bikes!!!! Sweet!

Title: For you bikers
Post by: 811952 on October 28, 2010, 11:55:31 AM

Those had to be the coolest guys in town, and they surely knew it.  Great photo.