Indian 1913 7 HP T.T. Two-Speed Model

Indian 1913 7 HP T.T. Two-Speed Model 988 cc IOE V-twin frame & engine # 70E691

By 1913 Indian becomes the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world; the 1913 production amounts to almost 32,000 machines. There are 2,000 dealers all over the world and Indian controls some 42% of the domestic American motorcycle market, as the factory claims. Four models are catalogued, a single speed single and twin and a two speed single and twin. The Indian engineers have done their best to make the machines even better than they already were in 1912: the catalogue for 1913 mentions no less than 11 improvements and 29 refinements. The most striking improvement is the introduction of rear springing.

This particular two-speeder has spent all her life in The Netherlands; her home was the village of Oostzaan near Amsterdam. She was seen on the roads till after the second world war; in the late fifties she was restored both cosmetically and mechanically and became part of a private collection. About 20 years ago the former owner acquired the Indian. He had the magneto rewound and fitted as an extra a PowerPlus type of kickstarter, because the original “foot starter” with forward swing is not very easy to use and has to be operated while the rider sits on the machine.

The electric lighting became only available as an option in 1914; the former owner thought that electrical equipment would make an excellent addition to his machine so he purchased original front and rear lamps in the US and had replica battery boxes made and fitted. At the moment the lighting is ornamental, no batteries or wiring are fitted.

The factory didn’t think a dynamo was necessary; “when the lights become dim the battery in service should be cut out and the fresh battery cut in; at the first opportunity the exhausted battery should then be recharged for reserve”, the 1914 catalogue states.

The Brooks B190 saddle top is fitted on leaf springs; this type of saddle was often fitted to export models and can be seen in contemporary British Indian catalogues. With the machine come a pair of soiled 1913-type Dutch Vredestein tyres that were not safe for riding anymore. A pair of original sparking plugs is mounted. These are for display only and modern plugs are available of course for riding. She’s road-registered and the engine is running but will need some recommissioning because she’s been on display most of the time and has seen no real road use since the 1950s.