1914 USA Connecticut photo postcard woman Indian motorcycle and sidecar

RPPC photo postcard. of woman sitting on motorcycle with sidecar, barn in background. The motorcycle is most likely an Indian (Hendee) motorcycle, circa 1913–1915. Sidecar has licence plate ‘Conn 9790 1914’ ‘AZO’ photographic paper dates it to 1904-1918 Indian Motorcycle was founded in 1901 in Springfield, Massachusetts, by George M. Hendee and Carl Oscar Hedström. Originally called the Hendee Manufacturing Company, it began as a bicycle manufacturer producing the Silver King and Silver Queen brands. Hendee, a competitive cyclist, partnered with Swedish engineer Hedström to create a gasoline-powered bicycle, marking the birth of America’s first successful motorcycle prototype The first Indian motorcycle, known as the “Single,” was produced in 1902, featuring a 1.75-horsepower engine and quickly gaining popularity Indian quickly became a leader in motorcycle innovation. In 1907, the company introduced the V-twin engine, the first American production V-twin, which offered smoother operation and greater power than single-cylinder competitors Indian motorcycles dominated early racing, including a 1-2-3 finish at the inaugural Indianapolis Motor Speedway race and victories at the Isle of Man TT . These achievements cemented Indian’s reputation for performance and reliability.