Title:    FRANKLIN'S INDIANS
Irish motorcycle racer Charles B Franklin, designer of the Indian Chief
    Period Covered:
        1890-1932
    Models Covered:
        Indian Scout and Indian Chief 1901-1953
Publisher :  Veloce Publishing 2018 
Author:  Harry Sucher and Timothy Pickering
ISBN: 1787112233    ISBN-13  9781787112230
Binding:  Soft Cover        
Pages: 368 pages
Number of photos: Illustrated: with   160  pictures                              
Dimensions:  19.2 cm x 24.8 cm
Book  Condition  NEW 
Language  English
Country of Publication:  USA
Availability:  In Stock 
Shipping Weight  <  1 KG
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ABOUT
::- The Indian has been the iconic image for American big V-Twins down the years, due in no small measure to the motorcycles designed by Charles B Franklin - the Indian Scout and the Indian Chief. Charles Franklin was born and raised in Ireland where he quickly became involved in motorcycle racing during the pioneer years. He rapidly established himself as Ireland s first big star of racing and was the first to represent Ireland in international motorcycle competition.

In the Isle of Man TT he consistently finished in the top eight, and in 1911 claimed second place, a remarkable achievement in itself. But it was when he moved to Indian in the USA, where he became the Chief Design Engineer, that his genius really flowed. His designs catapulted Indian back into the forefront of motorcycle design in the 1920s and 30s and his racing engines and motorcycles won much glory for Indian against stiff opposition. Franklin introduced remarkable improvements in sidevalve combustion chamber design that pre-dated the work of Ricardo.

He championed an holistic approach that popularised new features such as the semi unit-construction powerplant , helical-gear primary drive, double-loop full-cradle frames and a host of other improvements to the early motorcycles. This book not only chronicles his life but also sheds much new light on the history of Indian motorcycles and the often turbulent times of the Indian Motorcycle Company itself. A much needed book for all Indian fans and all who love the history of the classic American V-Twins.

An in-depth study of Charles B Franklin and the iconic Indian motorcycles that he designed
 Irish-born designer Charles B Franklin was one of the foremost motorcycle racers            and record breakers of his era       
Franklin’s racing achievements included second place in the Isle of Man Senior TT,  and being the first man to cover 300 miles in 300 minutes on a motorcycle
This story sheds new light on the often turbulent history of the Indian factory itself,  here interpreter  within the social history of the global motorcycle industry
 Franklin’s Indian Scout and Chief designs helped establish the popularity of the              heavyweight American v-twin, and saved the factory from an otherwise certain                 demise in the early 1920s
How the Indian race program won much glory against the Harley “wrecking crew”           and other adversaries in the racing game 
The influence of the Indian designs upon the industry, leading to global improvements in motorcycle design
Franklin’s discoveries of “squish” pre-dated those of Harry Ricardo
Tales of motorcycle people and events on both sides of the Atlantic from 1903 through to 1932
This book is now part of the accepted canon for Indian motorcycle history, and is one of two books on the subject recommended by the 101 Association of America

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