Friday, February 3, 2023
  • Advertise
  • Submit Story Idea
  • Submit Event
  • Calendar
Arlington Today Magazine
  • Home
  • Categories
    • Arlington News
    • People
    • Community
    • Commentary
    • Business and Education
    • Featured
    • Wellness
    • Scene
    • Design and Interiors
    • Uncategorized
  • Digital Editions
  • Join the Newsletter
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Categories
    • Arlington News
    • People
    • Community
    • Commentary
    • Business and Education
    • Featured
    • Wellness
    • Scene
    • Design and Interiors
    • Uncategorized
  • Digital Editions
  • Join the Newsletter
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Arlington Today Magazine

Something different – and remarkable

Richard Greene by Richard Greene
August 31, 2021
in Community
0 0
0
Starting early with social emotional learning
0
SHARES
231
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Texas Health Resource Breast Care Oct 2020

Regular readers of our monthly feature on classic cars have likely turned to this page and wondered what’s up with this old bicycle with some kind of motor attached.

  I’ll explain.

Related posts

February 2, 2023

February 2, 2023

  What you are looking at is the oldest known original, unrestored, running American motorcycle in existence. What’s more, we know its first owner, or, at least, his fascinating tale.

  W. B. Twiss’ transportation while in college at Dartmouth and graduate school at Harvard was this 1902 Indian Motorcycle – the 14th assembled by the company that preceded Harley Davidson by more than a year.

  When Mr. Twiss took a position as an English Instructor at Rutgers University, believing he would be frowned upon riding the motorcycle around campus by the conservative faculty there, he transported the Indian to his new home in New Jersey inside a crude crate made from scrap lumber.

  He stored it in his basement for 61 years until he sold it to a plumber who left it untouched and still in its crate until removed last year, some 111 years after Twiss had put it aside.

  That removal and uncrating was meticulously accomplished by its current owner Shawn Coady, a second-generation classic car collector and motorcycle enthusiast, who realized he had come into possession of an extremely rare artifact of American history.

  In 1902, Indian sold a modest 143 motorcycles during the early years when automobiles were few and expensive. The $200 Indian was a more attainable mode of personal transportation. By 1913, the company was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world, producing more than 32,000 annually.

  Coady explains that the first Indian represents the forefront of motorized transportation in America, predating the first U.S. gas station by four years and Ford’s Model T by seven.

  His mission has been to preserve the vehicle, not to restore it. The purpose being to present it as a work of museum-quality conservation true to when it came out of the Indian factory in 1902.

  So, he put the team of Brian, Collin and Braeden Howard together with that assignment. Documented on these pages is how that work progressed over a period of eight months. Yes, those are Q-tips, small brushes, experimental solvents, and tiny tools in the hands of those whose mission was to remove some of the rust and decades-old debris to reveal, not damage, the original finishes.

  In the process they also discovered some remaining 100-year-old oil in the crankcase still in pretty good condition.

  Now, here’s something they achieved that is amazing. They didn’t want to risk damage to the motor by disassembling it so they could make an internal inspection. All the mechanicals appeared to function, so they decided, after lots of back-and-forth discussions, that attempting to start the motor was a risk worth taking. With the spark from a 100-year-old spark plug, it ran for the first time in 111 years.

  Next stop for Coady was to enter it in the prestigious annual assembly of the world’s most spectacular motor vehicles known as The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering. The event has been staged over the past 20 years in Monterey, Calif.

  Surrounded by automobiles valued well into seven and eight figures, the Indian was recognized with the coveted Spirit of The Quail award – second only to the best of show prize reserved for the best of the 200 automobiles that annually enter the competition.

  To provide a little more perspective for an event most folks aren’t familiar with, tickets, limited to a maximum number of 5,000 spectators to allow for the best fan experience, start at $550 and then sell on the aftermarket for twice that sum.

  What’s next for the 1901 Indian is a feature-length documentary film being produced by my son Brian. Now you know how I discovered this rarity and was able to make it something different in this month’s feature.

 

Related Posts

  • Pudge puts Arlington in the spotlight – again

    When the Texas Rangers won the American League West Division Championship in 1996 for the…

  • Remarkable success Downtown

    The 2018 annual report on the progress of revitalizing Downtown Arlington has been released, and…

  • Lots in store – literally

      Only a stone’s throw separates the old Wesley Mission Thrift Store from the new…

Tags: Behind the WheelsShawn CoadyW. B. Twiss
Arlington Parks & Rec Oct 2020

Follow Us

  • But first   coffee    The Arlington Dunkin    located at 5801 Office Park Dr  today announced it will help keep the community running with a happy hour celebration offer throughout the remainder of August  Every day beginning now through Monday  August 31  guests can power through the rest of the month and receive a FREE  Medium Hot or Iced Coffee with any purchase from 2-6 PM   On behalf of local Arlington Dunkin    franchisee  Hiren Patel  Dunkin    is proud to keep Arlington running throughout the month of August
  • Nothing soothes the soul like a trip to the Majestic Smoky Mountains  Read all about the Greene family   s    COVID-cation    and travel safety in the link in our bio
  • Read the latest message from UTA   s interim president  Teik C  Lim  by clicking the link in our bio
  • The City of Arlington announces Unity Council  Read all about this positive way for the city in the link in our bio
  • Here   s to the All Stars  Click the link in our bio to find the complete list of Arlington Today   s 2020 All Star businesses in over 160 categories
  • Put DFW Restaurant week on YOUR calendar  Support your favorite Arlington and local DFW restaurants this August 31-September 6 during restaurant week    For more info and participating restaurants  click the link in our bio
  • This Arlington radio station is making movie magic   Read all about Crystal Vasquez and her upcoming documentary about local radio station     The Ticket     by clicking the link in our bio
  • With the school year starting soon  it   s important to know what   s going on  Read all about AISD and MISD   s back to school plans in the link in our bio
  • August is for the All Stars        Click the link in our bio to read our latest edition of Arlington Today and check out your local All  Star businesses
  • 12 Mighty Orphans: There’s a fascinating ‘story behind the story’ regarding this fine film

    12 Mighty Orphans: There’s a fascinating ‘story behind the story’ regarding this fine film

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • March Scene

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Visionary Who Didn’t Give Up

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Boot-scootin’ Boogie

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • In case of emergency: Mansfield Fire Department introduces the ‘Vial of Life’ initiative to keep residents on the ready

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Arlington Today Magazine

Arlington Texas Area News and Events Magazine

Follow us on social media:

Recent News

  • (no title)
  • (no title)
  • (no title)

Category

  • Arlington News
  • Business and Education
  • Commentary
  • Community
  • Design and Interiors
  • Featured
  • People
  • Scene
  • Sports
  • Uncategorized
  • Wellness

Recent News

February 2, 2023

February 2, 2023
  • Advertise
  • Submit Story Idea
  • Submit Event
  • Calendar

© 2022 Arlington Today - Designed by Advent Trinity Marketing Agency Web Design

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Categories
    • Arlington News
    • Community
    • People
    • Commentary
    • Business and Education
    • Featured
    • Wellness
    • Scene
    • Design and Interiors
  • Digital Editions
  • Join the Newsletter
  • Contact Us

© 2022 Arlington Today - Designed by Advent Trinity Marketing Agency Web Design

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add Arlington Today Magazine to your Homescreen!

Add