The response of the US government to the declaration of war against Germany in April 1917 was astonishingly rapid. Virtually overnight, 4 Million men were drafted, and military contracts handed out to every likely contributor to the war effort, including the motorcycle industry. By 1917, after the ‘terrible ‘Teens’ leveled the majority of American motorcycle factories (due to rising material and labor costs), only the Big 3 (Excelsior-Henderson, Indian, and Harley-Davidson) were able to supply motorcycles in large quantities required. Smaller brands also supplied machines (like Cleveland’s little two-stroke single) in miniscule quantities.“Women’s Machine Gun Squad; Police Reserves, New York City. Pracitising with Lewis machine gun to be sent to the front. The killing range of this gun is two miles, and it fires about 500 shots per minute. Capt. Elise Reniger, manning the gun, Miss Helen M. Striffer on the rear seat, and Mrs. Ivan Farasoff driving” [National Archive]The Excelsior and Henderson brands had both been incorporated under Ignaz Schwinn’s two-wheeled Chicago empire by October 1917 (read ‘The Big X and the Big 3’ for more) but at the start of the war only Excelsior was under Schwinn’s control. The Henderson Motorcycle Co. was struggling with a red balance sheet and was unable to capitalize on military contracts to stay afloat a few more years, although after the Schwinn takeover a few Henderson 4s were adopted for military use. When US inspectors documented the factory and testing regime at Schwinn’s Chicago factory, only Excelsior v-twins were built there, and these are the machines documented in the National Archive.“Demonstration of the Excelsior motorcycle” [National Archive]These photographs – to the best of our knowledge – have never been published previously (except in our Excelsior-Henderson story here), and document mostly the testing regime of the day: find a nasty place to ride, and have at it! Excelsior V-twins are very tough motorcycles, and were faster than both their Indian and Harley-Davidson rivals in 1917/18 in production form, so would have been the bike to have in WW1! While the British rode Douglas, Triumph, and Trump singles and v-twins, an Excelsior of this era would have walked away from them all. Enjoy the photo series!“Manufacture of motorcycles for the US Army at the plant of the Excelsior Motor Manufacturing and Supply Co., Chicago Ill. Assembling Department.” Note the massive new reinforced concrete factory, built by Schwinn in Chicago as the home of his newly acquired Excelsior brand. [National Archive]“Manufacture of motorcycles for the US Army at the plant of the Excelsior Motor Manufacturing and Supply Co., Chicago Ill. Motorcycle engine testing department. Capacity 100 motors per day.” [National Archive]“Motor cycles for the Army manufactured by Excelsior Motor and Equipment Co, Chicago, Ill. Testing for uphill on rough rocky ground.” [National Archive]“Photo shows an Excelsior motorcycle with the side car, used by the New York National Guard. 1917.” [National Archive]“Demonstrating the Excelsior motorcycle.” [National Archive]
Hi Paul,
I find the Excelsior and Indian “how they were built” factory shots fascinating. It’s a part of motorcycle history that’s poorly documented. The Excelsior engine test department is particularly interesting. I suspect it’s not testing as we know it but instead the belts are spinning the engine over so to both provide a preliminary break in and so the testers can listen for any untoward noises from mishaps in erection. Note the engines are not bolted in but merely clamped down with the large Tee bolts on the cylinder heads. Obviously a plentiful oil supply is needed and would make the department very slippery if not controlled. I think the large inverted Y pipe is actually sucking away oil laden exhaust air from which a certain amount could be retrieved to be used again.
These are fantastic photos. Thank you very much for showing them.
Bob McGrath
Hello Mr. Paul:
After completing my 6th motorcycle ride around the world, http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorcycleadventurerally.com ,I was looking at what kind of adventure I could do next . When the announcement came out that the Billings Hill Climb (Montana) was celebrating 100 years of continuous running, I looked at my 1936 Indian Sport Scout and thought, “Why not.” Last week I was notified my Entry had been accepted. So on July 27, in the spirit of 100 years of motorcycles trying to top the hill, I hope to pilot my 18 horsepowered 82 year-old Indian at least 100 feet from the start. It will be a new adventure for the Sport Scout. I’ve raced it up Pikes Peak (when not paved), on the big track at Daytona and flat tracked at Sturgis with it, but never a Hill Climb attempt.
I like the new motorcycles but love the old ones and what their owners did before there were push button starters.
Dr. G
Chief, World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine
Self-proclaimed “World’s # 1 Motorcycle Adventure Sleeper”
Author: MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURER – 1912-1913 first motorcycle ride around the world
Wow, you assembled the Charles Stearns Clancy diaries? Fantastic work! Sounds like we need to investigate this 100 year thing with the Billings Hill Climb, in our Century-celebratory moment. Time for an e-greeting.
I like the beautiful pillars factory building hall, very modern if you compare with European factories of those days.
Those bikes was well made to resist to the Us tracks. The only one i have seen in my life was a four cylinders imported in the 30.
The Indian factory (who was i think the most huge of the world) is also impressive. I never had the time to see the remains in Springfield…
Hello Mr. Paul:
Yes, I did the MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURER book, over a 16 year period of research, even riding a majority of the same route Clancy did in 1912-1913. I also edited his draft manuscript that he was unable to sell about his first motorcycle ride around the world, THE GASOLINE TRAMP. Both are the same for about 75%, but no photos in GASOLINE TRAMP, and he made some changes. Both should be read together to truly get a taste of what the 21 year-old adventurer was up against in 1912-1913 on a 7 hp, four cylinder Henderson as he became the true “first” person to “girdle the globe.” Quite a different adventure from the 100’s out there today circling the globe with credit cards, Internet, GPS’s and even tour guides and fixers with trucks following carrying luggage, spare parts and even spare motorcycles.
Dr. G
Chief, World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine
Self-proclaimed “World’s # 1 Motorcycle Adventure Sleeper”
Author: MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURER – 1912-1913 first motorcycle ride around the world
Sensual Survivor: http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorcycleadventurerally.com