Should I Make the Drive?
03-26-08, 07:18 AM
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Should I Make the Drive?
I have a chance to add this old girl to my stable...not cheap and quite a drive, but it seems like a cool old bike in need of some love. Re-badged Phillips for Indian?
Anyone have any info/thoughts?
Thanks,
Steve
Anyone have any info/thoughts?
Thanks,
Steve
03-26-08, 07:21 AM
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That's very distinctive. If it fits, and you feel the draw to it, go for it. You may never see another one.
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03-26-08, 07:34 AM
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A couple of details from the original pics:
Any idea when it was made? I'm leaning towards late 40's...
Thanks,
Steve
Any idea when it was made? I'm leaning towards late 40's...
Thanks,
Steve
Last edited by eastcoaststeve; 03-26-08 at 08:04 AM.
03-26-08, 08:07 AM
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There was a beautiful Phillips "Indian Princess" on Ebay recently, with a head badge a lot like the "Indian Scout" you post. I think it was early fifties. Oh, wait, I found it:
https://cgi.ebay.com/Early-1950s-Phil...QQcmdZViewItem
Look at the shifter. You seem to have the "3 or 4 Speed" model, which dates to 1950-3, based on Martin Hanczyc's excellent article:
https://genetics.mgh.harvard.edu/hanc...satriggers.pdf
Are there fenders? If so, go for it! If not, talk the seller down to a reasonable price.
https://cgi.ebay.com/Early-1950s-Phil...QQcmdZViewItem
Look at the shifter. You seem to have the "3 or 4 Speed" model, which dates to 1950-3, based on Martin Hanczyc's excellent article:
https://genetics.mgh.harvard.edu/hanc...satriggers.pdf
Are there fenders? If so, go for it! If not, talk the seller down to a reasonable price.
03-26-08, 08:20 AM
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If you're asking here, then you're like the addict asking the corner dealer if he should buy a fix or take a pass.
Drop a dime and get yourself straight!
Drop a dime and get yourself straight!
03-26-08, 08:21 AM
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rhm,
Thanks for the e-bay link. That sure seems to be the "sister" to the Scout. Suprised it got 0 bids; price doesn't seem too high for a cool old bike.
Seller says it's a 3 speed, so early 50's?
PM coming soon.
Thanks,
Steve
Thanks for the e-bay link. That sure seems to be the "sister" to the Scout. Suprised it got 0 bids; price doesn't seem too high for a cool old bike.
Seller says it's a 3 speed, so early 50's?
PM coming soon.
Thanks,
Steve
03-26-08, 08:29 AM
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poprad,
LOL, yeah, I know. I've already bought it in my head, (haven't bought a bike since Sunday and I'm feeling shakey), just thought I'd see what my fellow junkies thought before I made the drive.
Steve
03-28-08, 10:46 AM
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Ok, I made the drive (big suprise).
When I get there, the bike is a lot rougher than it looked in the pics (will I ever learn that nothing looks as good in person?)...I figure since I made the drive I'm already commited, so I start to check it over figuring I'm going to need to talk the seller down a bit. When I lift the bike off the ground to check the rear wheel, I hear a weird clunk (oh boy). Turns out the weld at the left seat stay/cluster has "unwelded" itself...which should be a deal breaker, but I'm a sucker for most things old and unloved; long story short, here it is at it's new home:
I figure since it's already in need of a welder I won't feel the need to make it a full-on resto, so it's going to get a general clean/rebuild that may or may not be period correct. I'm shooting for a "what the original owner may have done if he still had it today" build and plan on riding it like a twelve year old.
Steve
When I get there, the bike is a lot rougher than it looked in the pics (will I ever learn that nothing looks as good in person?)...I figure since I made the drive I'm already commited, so I start to check it over figuring I'm going to need to talk the seller down a bit. When I lift the bike off the ground to check the rear wheel, I hear a weird clunk (oh boy). Turns out the weld at the left seat stay/cluster has "unwelded" itself...which should be a deal breaker, but I'm a sucker for most things old and unloved; long story short, here it is at it's new home:
I figure since it's already in need of a welder I won't feel the need to make it a full-on resto, so it's going to get a general clean/rebuild that may or may not be period correct. I'm shooting for a "what the original owner may have done if he still had it today" build and plan on riding it like a twelve year old.
Steve
03-28-08, 11:08 AM
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I figure since it's already in need of a welder I won't feel the need to make it a full-on resto, so it's going to get a general clean/rebuild that may or may not be period correct. I'm shooting for a "what the original owner may have done if he still had it today" build and plan on riding it like a twelve year old.
Let us see how it turns out!
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04-24-08, 07:46 PM
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I just picked up the ladies version of this bike. I don't have the headbadge though.
04-25-08, 01:59 AM
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I agree with that.... she has survived 50+ years so what's a bit of time and energy to put her back on the road, well worth the effort I think.
